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Carbon Copy Cloner corrupts Time Machine?

Hello all -

I recently had my internal hard drive (system boot) corrupted when Software Update hung. Since I'm on the Apple Protection Plan I contacted technical support. They first tried to recover using my Time Machine backups. That failed, and we found that the backup files were corrupted. I was passed to a Senior Technician. When he learned that I also use Carbon Copy Cloner (currently version 3.4.4) he told me that Apple has been getting a lot of complaints that CCC corrupts Time Machine backup files. When I asked further, he advised that this is a relatively recent development, over the past several iterations of System X.

I tried searching for any existing discussions covering this problem, but did not find anything on point. Does anyone know anything else about this issue? Is it related to Time Machine trying to run while CCC is making a clone? Would turning Time Machine off during CCC operations avoid the problem? Does the new version of CCC (3.5.1) correct the problem?

Thanks. Randy

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.5), (mid 2011); 2.7GHz i7; 8GB RAM

Posted on Oct 19, 2012 10:26 PM

44 replies

Oct 20, 2012 4:03 PM in response to Csound1

CSound1 -

I like CCC too becasue of the ability to boot from the backup in a pinch. I had figured TM would provide backup of more recently modified things in between CCC clones. Thanks.

- Randy

Oct 20, 2012 4:08 PM in response to thomas_r.

Thomas -

Having gone through a couple of total drive failures over the years, I have become unwilling to invest the massive amounts of time to reconstruct everything manually. That's why I had both TM and CCC backups in the first place. I'll shoot for the comprehensive approach discussed here, but will have to budget it over time. Thanks for your continued replies.

- Randy

babowa

Level 9

78,109 points

Oct 20, 2012 6:58 PM in response to Randy Knowles

Randy,

when you're ready to look at some other drives, you've got an excellent Mac vendor right in your area - they are one of the two most recommended for both RAM and external/internal hard drives: OWC (macsales.com):

http://macsales.com/

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:06 PM in response to babowa

babowa wrote:

. . .

you've got an excellent Mac vendor right in your area - they are one of the two most recommended for both RAM and external/internal hard drives: OWC (macsales.com):

Yes, absolutely. 🙂

You'll find some complaints here about all the major makers, just as you will with most any manufactured product. None of them are perfect, and sometimes customers expect too much.

I've seen many positive posts about OWC here; that's mostly why I got one of their Mercury Elite Pro drives about a year ago, and it's been fine.

They have an excellent reputation for service, too.

babowa

Level 9

78,109 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:20 PM in response to Pondini

Yes, they're my first/only choice for RAM and I have one of their Mercury Elite Pros as well. Actually like it a lot better than the two LaCie's I have - for one thing, it is quieter, and, more importantly, it's a 7200 RPM drive vs. the LaDie 5400 RPM - a very noticeable difference when backing up (or doing anything else). So, I intend to get more when my LaCie's go to HD heaven (or wherever they go, LOL)....

P.S. And thanks for jumping in here so quickly!!! You're the best with TM stuff!

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:29 PM in response to babowa

babowa wrote:

. . .

So, I intend to get more when my LaCie's go to HD heaven (or wherever they go, LOL)....

I had good luck with a portable LaCie, but a bunch of folks with bad power supplies for LaCie desktop models a couple of years ago thought they went the other direction . . . 😉

P.S. And thanks for jumping in here so quickly!!! You're the best with TM stuff!

You're quite welcome -- you rounded up a bunch of help -- must be something about Saturday morning!

babowa

Level 9

78,109 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Pondini

you rounded up a bunch of help -- must be something about Saturday morning!

I did luck out on that, didn't I, LOL - or, rather, I should say Randy (the OP) did......

I love it when it works like that!!

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:39 PM in response to babowa

🙂

Oct 20, 2012 9:19 PM in response to Pondini

babowa and Pondini -

Thanks for the tip about OWC. I've actually been buying from them for years, my old Firewire 400 drives were minStacks. I really appreaciate all the responses I got here, and thank you both for making that happen!!!

Now that I have my internal drive reconsituted, I will have to rename my existing TM folder and start a new TM backup from scratch. For final resolution of my inital question I'm waiting to hear back from Mike Bombich. I'll post the definitve answer here when I have it, I have a sneaking hunch I know what it will be ....

Take care everyone!!!

- Randy

Oct 21, 2012 12:21 AM in response to Pondini

Opps - I can't rename the TM folder. I guess if I want to archieve it and start a new one, I'll have to enclose it in a folder to get it off the root?

Humm, I can't do that either. If I want to keep my corrupted TM files (at least for the time being), but start a new TM backup afresh, how do I accomplish that without having to use a different destination drive partition? Thanks.

- Randy

Message was edited by: Randy Knowles

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Oct 21, 2012 7:42 AM in response to Randy Knowles

Randy Knowles wrote:

. . .

If I want to keep my corrupted TM files (at least for the time being), but start a new TM backup afresh, how do I accomplish that without having to use a different destination drive partition?

There's no way I know of. 😟 Time Machine protects its backups rather thoroughly, to keep us mere mortals from corrupting them, but that also limits what you can do with them.

Oct 22, 2012 1:34 AM in response to Pondini

Thanks Pondini -

I guess I'll have to figure out some way to copy the Backups/backupdb folder as an archieve somewhere, possibly onto a CD or DVD. Appreciate your answer.

- Randy

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 22, 2012 3:53 PM in response to Randy Knowles

Randy Knowles wrote:

CSound1 -

I like CCC too becasue of the ability to boot from the backup in a pinch. I had figured TM would provide backup of more recently modified things in between CCC clones. Thanks.

- Randy

Yes it will, that is what I use the online system for, TM would have covered that for me but I want the data offsite, this way I don't have to remember.

Oct 27, 2012 9:26 PM in response to Randy Knowles

Randy, just wanted to give you a thought from someone not as well versed in this topic as I would like to be and also to thank all the pros that jumped right in, I learned a lot.

When I got down to deciding what data I had that I absolutely could NOT lose, I was amazed at how little was there. My tax documentation, Continuing Education certificates, anything pertaining to drug orders/logs (I'm a Veterinarian), basically evrything I would need if any questions came up regarding any Governmental Agency (DEA,IRS,FDA,State Boards etc.). That plus all my Ebay buy/sales data and all stock transactions.

Came to less than 2GB!! So if you have that kind of data ou need to keep both Mozy and Dropbox give you enough for free. You can also have 5 thumbdrives.

Thanks to some of the good folks here, I also have a bootable clone using CCC for my entire system but if I lost everything the only irreplacable are the fikes I mentioned and they are on 7 sources right now including Mozy and Drop box

Carbon Copy Cloner corrupts Time Machine?