What does it mean "the volume has the wrong case sensitivity for a backup"?

Most likely, your backups were on a case-sensitive disk (especially if you let Time Machine format it for you). If so, the drive you copy them to must also be case-sensitive.

Click the partition (indented, under the main line for the old TM disk) via Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder). The Format is shown towards the lower left:

Format the new drive the same way. See #1 in Using Disk Utility for instructions.

Yes, I understand that, but the operative word is "normally."

If TM formatted the drive as case-ignorant, and a user did backups from the OSX drive for a period of time, then wanted to also back up a case-sensitive volume, it would be impossible. The user would have to erase the drive, losing all the previous backups, or start over with a different one.

By formatting it as case-sensitive, TM can back up case-sensitive and/or case-ignorant drives.

There's only one pretty rare situation where a problem arises: if you've changed the capitalization of some names and try to restore the old versions. If the case-sensitivity on both volumes is the same, TM (actually, the Finder) gives you this prompt (one for each file, unless you check the box):

If the OSX drive is case-ignorant, and the backups are case-sensitive, however, it puts up this one:

One message only, no matter how many files there are, and no names, not even in the log. So in a few cases, involving many files, it can be a significant hassle.

crichards wrote:

I've tried restoring both ways. Comman R on power on

And then selecting Restore From Time Machine Backup from the Utilities Menu?

If so, that should work. If that's what you're doing, are you getting the message after going through the various windows that follow that selection? If so, was it on the Select a Destination window?

and by just launching tm

That would be after setting-up a user account; and that won't do a full system restore.

Most likely the new disk needs formatting. Some are factory-formatted as case-sensitive. Macs normally don't use those. Just erase and format it as Mac OS Extended. That should allow you to use it with for your backup data.

I have run into this issue as well, but unfortunately my data is too important to just format over. Did anyone find a resolution that would permit you to keep and use the backup of your data before formatting the drive?

Thanks for any help or guidance you might offer.

CR

It can probably be dealt with, but in some cases it's quite difficult and time-consuming.

What, exactly, is your situation, and how are the drives in question formatted? Are any of them network drives?

Are you trying to make backups, restore from backups, copy a set of backups, or what?

What kind of Mac do you have, and what version of OSX it is running?

iMac 27" running latest mountain lion 10.8

No network drives; seagate 1.5TB formatted case sensitive. The backups are irreplaceable since apple has deleted my original drive and data.

My primary drive was just replaced by apple under warranty. The drive hadn't failed but was one that apple had identified as a drive that was likely to fail. I am trying to restore a backup from the 1.5TB. finder sees the backups but gives me the case sensitive error when I try to restore from the drive.

I tried to copy them from this drive to the desktop but got the same error.

crichards wrote:

. . .

I am trying to restore a backup from the 1.5TB. finder sees the backups but gives me the case sensitive error when I try to restore from the drive.

How are you restoring? Are you doing a full system restore, after starting from your Recovery HD? If not, that's your best bet. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #14 for instructions and the gory details.

Or are you doing something else (if so, what)?

How are your internal HD and the exernal HD formatted?

I'll try to re-create it to be certain but I believe when I attempted it by holdin command R at start-up, then "restore from TM backup" --- it couldn't see the backups that were created prior to today.

I'll attempt it again tonight to confirm.

crichards wrote:

I'll try to re-create it to be certain but I believe when I attempted it by holdin command R at start-up, then "restore from TM backup" --- it couldn't see the backups that were created prior to today.

Ah, that's a different thing altogether.

That sounds a bit like you did a backup (or backups) since the drive was replaced. If so, and if only the new backup(s) appear, the backups from the old drive are likely still there, but you may need to select the old drive's backups via the "pop-up" menu. See section (g.) in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #14.

But if the backups don't show up on the Select a Backup Source window, try repairing the backups, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

If you do get the "Case sensitivity" message, note which window it's on, and let us know if it's possible the old drive had been formatted as case-sensitive (they don't come from the factory that way -- it would have been changed).

It's late here, and I'll be going to bed soon, but will be back online tomorrow.

my TM 'back up drive" and "macbook HD" are formatted the same ( Mac OS Extended (Journaled) ) but i'm still getting the "The volume has the wrong case sensitivity for a backup" message...

There doesn't seem to be anyone else with that problem?

There must be something else going on.

Are you getting that message when trying to select the TM drive? Or trying to run a backup? Or copy backups from one drive to another?

Are you backing-up to a directly-connected external HD? Are some backups already there, or is it empty?

My solution has been to

1) highlight files

2) 'move to trash'

3) take files out of trash to desktop (or where-ever)

This has worked with pics, video, documents, pdf .... so far no fails on any file type.

Hi Edgb2012 and All,

I am having the same problem with a 3TB external drive. I formatted it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then partitioned into 1.75TB and 1.25TB. The 1.75TB I plan to use as my new TM. I used the apple support advice on how to move data from one time machine back-up device to a new one (this 3TB HDD). But I also get the "The volume has the wrong case sensitivity for a backup" message.

I followed this article's instructions for formatting and partitioning my HDD http://osxdaily.com/2013/05/01/use-single-hard-drive-time-machine-and-file-stora ge/

Everything seems to be done the correct way but I still get the message. Any solutions welcome.

Cheers

I seem to have a comparable problem. First, I tried to restore an old TM back-up containing OSX 10.6.8 as I wanted to revert back to it from 10.9.2 (why I did that is, for now, besides the point.. 😉). It appeared to work on the restore for a while, but than didn't boot. To cut a long story short, eventually I was able to do a completely new, clean install of OSX 10.9.2 (Mavericks). At installation I was offered to migrate old stuff from the TM back-up (among other options) and tried that, but it failed and lead to a re-start of the initialisation process.

Eventually I chose to not migrate anything and just set-up a temporary new user-id and try the TM restore from there. THEN I got the "wrong case sensitivity message", which was probably why all the previous procedures failed anyway.

I am puzzled as to why a clean install should have any trouble with the TM backup or migration. Yet, from the above it looks like as I should now re-format my main disk - thus erasing the freshly installed OS and then re-install the whole thing again? SERIOUS?

Please tell me I'm wrong. Please help.