Time machine no longer working

DJ-NH wrote:

I had a had drive crash last month (a week after upgrading to Lion) and now it appears that my entire backups on Time Capsule have been corrupted. I am not sure if this was caused ny Lion, but the coincidence is too hard to ignore.

That can happen. As your HD was failing, it may have damaged things on your internal HD, and Time Machine may have backed-up the changes; or the part of OSX that does backups may have been damaged.

I am getting all the errors mentioned in this thread. Someone at Apple Support suggested I use the Disk Utility to repair the TC, so I did it.

Yes, that's the only way to repair backups on a Time Capsule.

Then I came across this Apple article H4522 that says:

"Important: Do not use Disk Utility to erase, verify, or repair a Time Capsule disk. "

That article is very misleading -- it should say that it applies only to "normal" (non-Time Machine) files on a Time Capsule, which can't be seen or repaired by Disk Utility. Disk Utility is the only way to fix backups. See #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

I used Airport to archive my TimeCapsule to another USB disk, and then connecting direct to my MacBook to see if I could see any of my files. It appears that it is in sparsebundle format and I don't know how to convert it back to a useful format

You don't need to convert the backups; they're just stored differently when done via a network. If the repair you did fixed what was wrong, they should be ok, but you'll need to "mount" the disk image by douible-clicking it. The disk image should then appear in your Finder sidebar and/or desktop. It should be named "Time Machine Backups." See the pink and blue boxes in #E2 of the Troubleshooting article for details.

The backups should also appear if you want to use them to do a full system restore (per #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions) or use them with Setup Assistant (per Using Setup Assistant on Lion) or Migration Assistant (per Using Migration Assistant on Lion).

. I took it to the Genius bar, and the guy said "you have a lot of music files on here in a folder called 'bands'"

The "genius" doesn't understand sparse bundles. 😟

Pondini,

I came across your excellent website a while back and appreciated all the work you have done in compiling all the potential Time Capsule recovery steps. Unfortunately, I think my situation isn't covered.

Even after using Disk Utility repair to the Time Capsule, I still get error messages using Time Machine and/or Migration Assistant. It seems that I can't bring it up to view the files.

So that's why I used Airport to transfer to a USB drive and direct connect to my Mac. When I dub-click the sparsebundle icon, I get the error "no mountable file systems". So I purchased Disk Warrior and ran their repair, but still have the mount error.

So my only option is to find some software, somewhere that can re-assemble sparse bundles on my USB drive, so I can try to manually recover three years of data. I never expected to have a double failure like this.

It appears that sparse bundle format is very fragile and I am suprised that Apple would use it as a foundation especially for backups.

SO thanks for the response. I'll let you know if I find anybody that understands how to recover sparse bundles.

Appreciate your help

Regards

DJ

DJ-NH wrote:

. . .

So that's why I used Airport to transfer to a USB drive and direct connect to my Mac. When I dub-click the sparsebundle icon, I get the error "no mountable file systems". So I purchased Disk Warrior and ran their repair, but still have the mount error.

Good try. Assuming the version of DW is compatible with Lion, your backups are beyond repair; if neither Disk Utility nor Disk Warrior can even make them readable (the message means OSX can't even tell what they are), nothing can.

So my only option is to find some software, somewhere that can re-assemble sparse bundles on my USB drive, so I can try to manually recover three years of data.

Sorry, but no such animal exists. 😟 Your only hope is data recovery software, or a service that provides it. See Data Recovery for details.

I never expected to have a double failure like this.

Nobody does, but it happens on rare occasions. There are several threads here where an internal HD failed or was corrupted beyond repair, and while a restore was running, the backup disk failed, too. That's one reason many folks recommend keeping "secondary" backups (or more). See #27 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for some suggestions.

Not sure exactly where this post will be most beneficial, but I used to have great servcie from Apple but now it seems they have me chasing my tail, so I've lost a bit of faith, on a couple of consecutive occasions lately. Basically I have the same issue since upgrading my iMac to lion. I tried reinstalling TC using my original disk and it states that My current version of OS X is NOT Supported.

kjimac wrote:

. . .

I tried reinstalling TC using my original disk and it states that My current version of OS X is NOT Supported.

If you're having the same problem as in the first post of this thread (getting a -6584 error when trying to back up to a Time Capsule), follow the suggestions in the subsequent posts. If none of them help, clarify your setup; exactly what's happening; what you've done (including what you mean by "reinstalling TC"); and the results.

If you're not having the same problem, you need to start your own thread, with details of your setup; exactly what's happening; what you've done (including what you mean by "reinstalling TC"); and the results. Adding-on to a thread marked solved, especially on a different subject, isn't likely to get much attention.

I am getting the same -6584 error, and the only thing I have done differently, like everyone else for the majority, is upgrade to Lion. I have tried the steps, but think it's a bit much for the "most advanced computer in the world" (which I love by the way) suddenly doesn't appear compatible and easy to use with Time Capsule, kind of ironic, since Apple really pushes the importance of backups, and the EASE of use with Time Capsule. None of these steps should be necessary, otherwise I feel like I just downgraded to a windows operating system, you know?

And what I mean by re-installing Time Capsule, is that it did come with it's own install disk. So, since I upgraded to lion, I naturally went to Time Machine to turn it on and point it to my new volume that I wanted backed up. It was then that I got the -6584 error, so rather than kill myself with workarounds, and possibly corrupting my data, I simply inserted my Time Capsule Disk, and tried to re-install the software, that is when I got the same error, but with more details, which stated my "Time Capsule is not supported by my current version of OS X (which is Lion 10.7.3).

I have scoured Apple's support site, to find nothing. However, I'm finding it very strange that Apple would do something this careless with a product of this magnitude, and considering the importance and basics of being able to back up your Mac.

kjimac wrote:

I am getting the same -6584 error, and the only thing I have done differently, like everyone else for the majority, is upgrade to Lion. I have tried the steps,

Did you try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting?

Have you tried repairing your backups, per #A5 there?

but think it's a bit much for the "most advanced computer in the world" (which I love by the way) suddenly doesn't appear compatible and easy to use with Time Capsule, kind of ironic, since Apple really pushes the importance of backups, and the EASE of use with Time Capsule. None of these steps should be necessary, otherwise I feel like I just downgraded to a windows operating system, you know?

I don't know where you got that quote, but even if Apple does advertise that, it doesn't say "perfect in all situations, forever."

If you want to complain to Apple, they don't read these forums for technical content. Do it here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/timemachine.html

And what I mean by re-installing Time Capsule, is that it did come with it's own install disk. So, since I upgraded to lion, I naturally went to Time Machine to turn it on and point it to my new volume that I wanted backed up. It was then that I got the -6584 error, so rather than kill myself with workarounds, and possibly corrupting my data, I simply inserted my Time Capsule Disk, and tried to re-install the software, that is when I got the same error, but with more details, which stated my "Time Capsule is not supported by my current version of OS X (which is Lion 10.7.3).

I don't know why you'd think reinstalling older software on your TC is the first thing to try. If you want to upgrade (or downgrade) it, use Airport Utility. 7.6.1 is the current version; a few folks have found that downgrading to 7.6 helped in some circumstances.

I have scoured Apple's support site, to find nothing. However, I'm finding it very strange that Apple would do something this careless with a product of this magnitude, and considering the importance and basics of being able to back up your Mac.

Oh, be serious. There are millions of folks using Lion and TCs; only a handful seem to have this symptom. And a handful of folks will have problems with any hardware or software made by anybody.

I wasn't complaining at all, just pointing out a different take on the issue hoping to help. And I didn't state that Apple claims to have "the most advanced computer in the world" it's just a phrase used to describe how extremely advanced OS X is in comparison to other OS's in the business world and most all social media to date... I'm not technically trying to install "older" software. My TC install disk should work no differently than if I used my original OS disk if I needed to restore my Mac to factory.

I seem to of offended you and that was not the intent, I do appologize. I am aware that there are a lot of people, maybe not millions due to all of the "quirks" with Lion that are using Lion +TC. And I see after reading all of these helpful threads that it seems to be the users that are upgrading to Lion from Snow Leopard that are having the TC issues. I have lost my share of data, and everyone does and it will always happen, because that's life, software is software and computers are computers. Apple did raise the bar a bit, and they do market the simplicity, ease of use, and human interface standards that are policy. You can find that info if you try to develop software or hardware for them. So all in all I am just a little disapointed in the whole TC + lion upgrade issue and thought there would be more info and direction from Apple on Apple's site since there seems to be more than a handful of people with this issue.

I think your site is fantastic and extremely helpful of you and much appreciated.

I don't know why you'd think reinstalling older software on your TC is the first thing to try. If you want to upgrade (or downgrade) it, use Airport Utility. 7.6.1 is the current version; a few folks have found that downgrading to 7.6 helped in some circumstances.

If you revisit the very first post, It appears that user also tried to restore TC to factory settings as well, I wonder if that user tried using the install disk to do so?

kjimac wrote:

. . .

I'm not technically trying to install "older" software.

From your description, that's exactly what you were trying to do. TC's (and Airports) ship with a disc containing the current version of Airport Utility (for your Mac) that works with current versions of OSX. Once you upgrade OSX, it may or may not work with the older version of Airport Utility on the disc.

Among other things, you use Airport Utility to configure your network, and when necessary or desired, update the TC's firmware, by downloading it from Apple's servers and installing it on the TC.

My TC install disk should work no differently than if I used my original OS disk if I needed to restore my Mac to factory.

Restoring your TC or Airport to factory settings is different from re-installing Airport Utility software or TC firmware, and is done via a "Factory default reset." There are two ways to do that, as detailed in Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ: one involves using Airport Utility, the other the Reset button on the TC or Airport.

Oh, ok. Now I understand! Thank you so much for your time in clarifying this for me. My airport is current my time machine acts like it will back up, but I haven't allowed it since I can't enter using time capsule without getting that error. My iMac is the only upgrade I've done, and my other macs and devices and TV depend on my airport. And they are all working normally for me. I think for now I am going back to snow leopard, I'm afraid I may take my entire home network down fooling with this..

Again, thank you I wasn't sure which direction to go without your explanations. :)

kjimac wrote:

. . .

I think for now I am going back to snow leopard, I'm afraid I may take my entire home network down fooling with this..

That's not easily done -- there is no "downgrade" option, and shouldn't be necessary.

Did you try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting?

Have you tried repairing your backups, per #A5 there?

I don't know where you got that quote, but even if Apple does advertise that, it doesn't say "perfect in all situations, forever."

Not to beat a dead horse, but I just stumbled across apple's claims, and they pretty much do claim it, and they even state that it just got better, please find the humor in their claim and your remark. Sincerely, Kim.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/

It says "world's most advanced desktop operating system" (emphasis added), meaning consumer-level OS, not "most advanced computer in the world."

They don't claim it's perfect or foolproof, as it certainly isn't. Every OS has bugs.

Improved? In many ways, certainly. Better than Snow Leopard? Matter of opinion, but most folks seem to agree. There are things I like and things I don't, just as there were with every OS I've ever used.

Hi Pondini,

Just a quick update. I resolved my issue and I am no longer getting the 6584 error when trying to enter time machine. I could kick myself. When i upgraded to Lion from Snow Leopard, I changed my user account password on my Mac since I had not changed it in a while. Well, I changed my user account password back to what it was when I used time machine before, and it worked perfectly. I never changed the password I have set on my airport, it was still the same, so I didn't even think about changing my password I use to log into my Mac would of had that impact. Thanks for your help, I enjoy referencing your site for troubleshooting.

Kim.