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time machine looking backup disk

I upgraded my macpro to OSX Lion a few weeks ago. Since that change, my time machine stopped working. I am able to assign a hard drive as the time machine back up drive (I formated it using Mac OS extended). the drive shows up on my desktop with the time machine logo. when I try to make TM run a backup, I keep getting a message "looking for backup disk." The drive I am using is an internal eSATA drive.


Any help would be appreciated.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 7, 2011 5:03 AM

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45 replies

Sep 7, 2011 8:21 AM in response to dlemonroe

I am having the same problem. My Time Capsule suddenly cannot be found, and the Time Machine menu seems endlessly trapped in the "Looking for Backup Disk" phase, despite being directly connected via Ethernet. I can see the Time Capsule in the Finder sidebar but cannot connect to it. I *can* connect to an external HD connected to the Time Capsule by USB though.


This problem cropped up for me after upgrading to 10.7.1.


Oddly, I tried connecting to the Time Capsule with a friend's MacBook Pro running 10.5.8 Leopard, and that worked (I could connect and view the data).

Sep 29, 2011 6:13 AM in response to drummonds

To others on this thread: I fixed this problem by wiping my Time Capsule and starting over. My Mac is now happily backing up to the Time Capsule again.


Upon reflection, I did make some hard drive changes in the past week. I believe in that time I enabled TRIM support, which changed the ID string for my hard drive. I suspect that made it look to Time Machine that the existing sparse disk did not properly match. Time Machine should have produced a better error. But part of the fault was mine.

Oct 17, 2011 3:01 PM in response to dlemonroe

I am having the same problem and thistime it first occurred immediately after an update to 10.7.2. The machine looksfor the backup disc, Time Capsule, for ages and then I get the error messageThe backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/************** iMac .sparsebundle” couldnot be accessed (error -1). The ****** is my computer's name. Airport reset andworking fine, internet connection fine. Just no backups, on Time Capsuleanyway. I am loathe to wipe my time capsule and start again. This seems to beaffecting many people after updates so someone must have sorted it? If not,Apple please fix.

Oct 22, 2011 10:22 AM in response to montcley.jean

I seem to be lucky some of the time. I get the error message 90% of attempts so I then disconnect as advised and backups start. Once - and only once - backups started automatically after reboot. And now and again, after not finding the .sparsbundle, it will pick up backups later without me doing anything. Has anyone actually told Apple of this apparently widespread problem?

time machine looking backup disk

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