Time machine not configured?

I had the same problem where the Time Machine menu bar item said "Time Machine not configured." However, Pondini's link above fixed my problem. Specifically, this part:

1. From the Finder's Go menu go to this location:
   /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
2. Copy the file "NetworkInterfaces.plist" to the desktop (to make a precautionary backup).
3. Delete the file "NetworkInterfaces.plist". Enter administrator name and password if prompted.
4. Restart your Mac.
5. Once restarted, reconfigure your Network and Time Machine preference panes in System Preferences.

That's on the Time Machine Preferences panel?

What are you backing-up to? What happens when you try to select it?

Or does it show "Failed" in red and when you click the "i" icon, you see "Time Machine could not be configured. The built-in network interface could not be found"? If so, see Time Machine: Troubleshooting backup issues.

Yes, I guess that's what you'd call it - it says "backing up" but nothing more happens.

Assuming it was working earlier, it sounds like the preferences file (where the setup info is kept) is damaged or has been deleted. Try a "full reset" per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (but obviously skip steps 1 and 2).

If you never set it up in the first place, see Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #21 if you want to back up to an external HD, or #Q1 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule if you want to back up to a Time Capsule.

I have the same problem. Everything worked fine for a couple of years, and then it just stopped backing up.

I did the full reset and it didn't solve the problem. I have Mac 10.5.8

Any other suggestions?

alextech123 wrote:

. . .

it just stopped backing up.

What happens when you try a backup? Does it fail? If so, with what message?

If not, what do you see on the Time Machine Preferences window when you tell TM to back up?

No message - it seems to start backing up but doesn't get past a few MB and nothing more happens. I tried with another external drive (which works fine with time machine on another computer) and the same thing happens.

So it's hanging, during the "copy" phase. See #D2 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

Nothing changes the message in gray "time machine not configued"

Thanks for this! Actually, it turned out all I had to do was re-start the computer - and everything works fine.

Wish I had thought of that earlier...