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Time Machine could not complete backup. Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.

Time Machine error message: "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."

Any ideas on how to fix this? I've run disc repair, shut down and restarted the system - error message remains the same.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 21, 2011 3:53 AM

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40 replies

Aug 10, 2011 5:57 PM in response to showbuyer

This is kind of odd, because my Seagate plugged into my Airport Extreme started working again with Time Machine. It now backs up both from my MacBook Pro and my MacBook Air, both of which are running Lion. I'm not sure why. When my Time Machine backup quit working with the Airport Extreme USB disk, I purchased another USB HD for backup, and started using that HD directly plugged into the laptop for my Time Machine backup. However, when for a lark I tried to backup to the Airport Extreme disk, Time Machine recognized the Airport Extreme HD, and both laptops backed up flawlessly (at least I think that they did). Strange .....


When one does something the same way, one expects the same results. I wonder what has changed?

Aug 10, 2011 10:03 PM in response to tjk

Oh, I absolutely agree. As I noted in my post, I'm using a direct connected USB drive for the actual backups on both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. I was just curious as to why Time Machine wouldn't recognize the Airport Extreme drive for squat for the first several days after the Lion install (whereas Finder could see it just fine), but now not only recognizes the drive but backs up to it. I wasn't saying that I actually trusted it. But thanks for the concern anyway.

Jun 27, 2012 7:28 AM in response to lethalbyte1970

I am getting the same error message that many others have mentioned. I have an extermal drive connected through a USB port that I am trying to use as a Time Machine backup drive. I can get it to back up sometimes, but most of the time I get the following error message

Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.

Would your solution of formatting the drive in HFS+ work for this? If so, how do I do that?

Jul 11, 2012 12:09 PM in response to showbuyer

I was getting the same message (Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.)

and after reading the solutions, i thought i would try unpluging my drives and try plugging them in again.

I saw that i had plugged my Seagate 3TB drive in to the usb hub, and the other drive (WD 500GB) into my mac's usb port. I switched them, and Time Machine started backing up to it as soon as i configured it in Time Machine pref.


Simple, but effective.


I hope it works for any one who is having this problem

Time Machine could not complete backup. Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.

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