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Time Machine won't backup ANY files though no error is given

I have a MacBookPro with Mountain Lion which I bought last November. For several months Time Machine worked fine. Then, about a month ago, it stopped writing anything to the External USB Disk I was using but DID continue to create local "snapshots". I have tried all sorts of solutions, read a bazillion forum posts (including Pondini, etc.). There are no exclusions. I even got a new USB drive and tried that. Nothing. The log shows no errors.


I finally turned of TM, removed the preferencs file, reformatted the external disk, rebooted and tried again. Nothing. TM says there is nothing to back up, or more accurately says:


5/15/13 10:45:26.482 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Starting manual backup

5/15/13 10:45:26.499 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Backing up to: /Volumes/GORT Backup/Backups.backupdb

5/15/13 10:45:26.521 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.

5/15/13 10:45:26.712 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Forcing deep traversal on source: "Macintosh HD" (mount: '/' fsUUID: D529F94C-4C76-364B-972D-62E8137770E2 eventDBUUID: E69B6460-6ACB-4C50-906F-91D8202C8608)

5/15/13 10:45:52.813 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Backup content size: 203.7 GB excluded items size: 13.42 GB for volume Macintosh HD

5/15/13 10:45:52.815 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Found 1419395 files (190.28 GB) needing backup

5/15/13 10:45:52.816 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: 228.34 GB required (including padding), 999.16 GB available

5/15/13 10:45:52.826 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Waiting for index to be ready (100)

5/15/13 10:45:54.917 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Copied 1 files (Zero KB) from volume Macintosh HD.

5/15/13 10:45:54.986 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Created new backup: 2013-05-15-104554

5/15/13 10:45:55.145 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Copying OS X Recovery set

5/15/13 10:46:10.336 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Starting post-backup thinning

5/15/13 10:46:10.336 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist

5/15/13 10:46:10.395 AM com.apple.backupd[32]: Backup completed successfully.


So it seems like it THOUGHT there was something to back up then changed its mind? An advice is welcome.

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 15, 2013 9:05 AM

Reply
22 replies

May 16, 2013 6:50 AM in response to Linc Davis

No, it doesn't copy any files, old or new. I created a new file and it didn't back it up. I also created a new folder and it didn't get backed up either.


5/16/13 8:43:55.356 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Starting automatic backup

5/16/13 8:43:55.374 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Backing up to: /Volumes/GORT Backup/Backups.backupdb

5/16/13 8:43:56.034 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD

5/16/13 8:43:56.036 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Will copy (Zero KB) from Macintosh HD

5/16/13 8:43:56.036 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Found 0 files (Zero KB) needing backup

5/16/13 8:43:56.045 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: 104.9 MB required (including padding), 998.69 GB available

5/16/13 8:43:56.226 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Copied 1 files (Zero KB) from volume Macintosh HD.

5/16/13 8:43:56.292 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Created new backup: 2013-05-16-084356

5/16/13 8:43:56.309 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Starting post-backup thinning

5/16/13 8:43:56.312 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Deleted /Volumes/GORT Backup/Backups.backupdb/Gort/2013-05-15-110148 (12 KB)

5/16/13 8:43:56.312 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Post-back up thinning complete: 1 expired backups removed

5/16/13 8:43:56.357 AM com.apple.backupd[3464]: Backup completed successfully.


Interestingly, TM shows me the directory structure (though not the new folder) but all folders are empty. Other interesting factoid is that it ONLY does "local snapshots" at the regular time. And I can see the folders for each of those local snapshots (but they are all empty). If I do manual backup (i.e. "Back Up Now") then it doesn't back up anything either and when it TM the maroon bar is there, but it is dark maroon and clicking on it only shows a dark shadow of the finder which can't be selected.

May 16, 2013 7:25 AM in response to DrPuk2U

If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out these instructions.


Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:

sudo cat /V*/*/B*/*/L*/.ex*.plist | open -f -a TextEdit


Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).



Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:


☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)


☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.


☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.


Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. Confirm. You don't need to post the warning. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.

A TextEdit window will open. Post the contents of that window, if any — the text, please, not a screenshot.


If any personal information appears in the output, anonymize before posting, but don’t remove the context.

May 16, 2013 7:42 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks Linc. Here you go:


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>sourcePaths</key>

<array>

<string>/</string>

</array>

<key>standardExclusionPaths</key>

<array>

<string>/.MobileBackups</string>

<string>/MobileBackups.trash</string>

<string>/.MobileBackups.trash</string>

<string>/.Spotlight-V100</string>

<string>/.TemporaryItems</string>

<string>/.Trashes</string>

<string>/.com.apple.backupd.mvlist.plist</string>

<string>/.fseventsd</string>

<string>/.hotfiles.btree</string>

<string>/Backups.backupdb</string>

<string>/Desktop DB</string>

<string>/Desktop DF</string>

<string>/Network/Servers</string>

<string>/Library/Updates</string>

<string>/Previous Systems</string>

<string>/Users/Shared/SC Info</string>

<string>/Users/Guest</string>

<string>/dev</string>

<string>/home</string>

<string>/net</string>

<string>/private/var/db/com.apple.backupd.backupVerification</string>

<string>/private/var/db/efw_cache</string>

<string>/private/var/db/Spotlight</string>

<string>/private/var/db/Spotlight-V100</string>

<string>/private/var/lib/postfix/greylist.db</string>

<string>/Volumes</string>

<string>/Network</string>

<string>/automount</string>

<string>/.vol</string>

<string>/tmp</string>

<string>/cores</string>

<string>/private/tmp</string>

<string>/private/Network</string>

<string>/private/tftpboot</string>

<string>/private/var/automount</string>

<string>/private/var/folders</string>

<string>/private/var/run</string>

<string>/private/var/tmp</string>

<string>/private/var/vm</string>

<string>/private/var/db/dhcpclient</string>

<string>/private/var/db/fseventsd</string>

<string>/Library/Caches</string>

<string>/Library/Logs</string>

<string>/System/Library/Caches</string>

<string>/System/Library/Extensions/Caches</string>

<string>/private/var/log</string>

<string>/private/var/spool/cups</string>

<string>/private/var/spool/fax</string>

<string>/private/var/spool/uucp</string>

</array>

<key>systemFilesExcluded</key>

<false/>

<key>userExclusionPaths</key>

<array/>

</dict>

</plist>

May 16, 2013 8:18 AM in response to Linc Davis

Here you go:


/Users/rkwright/Library/Safari/WebpageIcons.db

/Users/rkwright/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 Identities/Main Identity/Database

/Users/rkwright/Library/Saved Application State

/Users/rkwright/Library/Calendars/Calendar Cache

/Users/rkwright/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/iPod Photo Cache

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/SDKLauncher-iOS-bttjrsjoncvq nzflqqvbhwmvegqs/Build/Products

/

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/History

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/History-journal

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Extension Blacklist

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Download Whitelist

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Csd Whitelist

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Bloom

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Bloom Prefix Set

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Safe Browsing Download

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/cx.c3.theunarchiver/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Favicons

/Users/rkwright/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library.xml

/Users/rkwright/Music/iTunes/Album Artwork/Cache

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Favicons-journal

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/macj-wsdk-sample-cavfpidgwda mdscsxyghygdgcsbc

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/Example-ecfreqljkucffcahvyyn vzvmozmu/Build/Products

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EPUB_SDK_Example-akyaqsnyzom cpsdynljkgxwjrkjz/Build/Products

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EPUB_SDK_Example-akyaqsnyzom cpsdynljkgxwjrkjz

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/Example-ecfreqljkucffcahvyyn vzvmozmu

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/SDKLauncher-iOS-curigmykinwr vdawjhinlvskvghp

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/SDKLauncher-iOS-cwrlmkzeuizo lgemngmlhmesrvri/Build/Products

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/SDKLauncher-iOS-cwrlmkzeuizo lgemngmlhmesrvri

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/QA2G25RMZ4.com.wunderkinder.wunderlist-helper /Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.wunderkinder.wunderlistdesktop/Data/Libra ry/Caches

/Users/rkwright/My Downloads/Portland/Boise Photos/iPod Photo Cache

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/LauncherOSX-bqfusgnsvpfdater iyyvhkbiewgl

/Users/rkwright/Documents/Personal/Archive/20130223/Main Identity/Database

/Users/rkwright/Documents/Personal/Archive/Main Identity/Database

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.PassXPCService/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/ePub3-giphuulalihrjtczgupnrj ssewkb/Build/Products

/Users/rkwright/Documents/github/readium-sdk/build

/Users/rkwright/Documents/github/readium-sdk/build/ePub3.build

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/SDKLauncher-iOS-bttjrsjoncvq nzflqqvbhwmvegqs

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.reminders/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/ePub3-giphuulalihrjtczgupnrj ssewkb

/Users/rkwright/Library/Icons/WebpageIcons.db

/Users/rkwright/Pictures/iPod Photo Cache

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX/Data/Library/Cache s

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Default/Favicons

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Default/Favicons-journal

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Default/History

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Default/History-journal

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Safe Browsing Download Whitelist

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Safe Browsing Csd Whitelist

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Safe Browsing Bloom

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Safe Browsing Bloom Filter 2

/Users/rkwright/Library/Application Support/Chromium/Safe Browsing Download

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/pub2png-bxxzfycmsdadxaacvsnk ldihlsmk

/Users/rkwright/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/LauncherOSX-dzometzbanzhomea giyccwqoedit

/Users/rkwright/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.todllc.clockchimesx/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.Preview/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.ImageKit.RecentPictureService/Data/ Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.TextEdit/Data/Library/Caches

/Users/rkwright/Library/Containers/com.apple.ShareKitHelper/Data/Library/Caches

May 16, 2013 9:21 AM in response to Linc Davis

Well, it repaired a number of folders, but not the root.


Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”

Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Headers”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Headers”

User differs on “usr/include”; should be 0; user is 501.

Repaired “usr/include”

Permissions differ on “usr/include/arpa/nameser.h”; should be lrw-r--r-- ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “usr/include/arpa/nameser.h”

User differs on “usr/include/libxml2”; should be 0; user is 501.

Repaired “usr/include/libxml2”

User differs on “usr/include/libxml2/libxml”; should be 0; user is 501.

Repaired “usr/include/libxml2/libxml”

User differs on “.DS_Store”; should be 0; user is 99.

Group differs on “.DS_Store”; should be 80; group is 99.

Permissions differ on “.DS_Store”; should be -rw-rw-r-- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .

Repaired “.DS_Store”

User differs on “Applications/.DS_Store”; should be 0; user is 501.

Permissions differ on “Applications/.DS_Store”; should be -rw-rw-r-- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .

Repaired “Applications/.DS_Store”

Group differs on “Library/Java”; should be 0; group is 80.

Permissions differ on “Library/Java”; should be drwxr-xr-x ; they are drwxrwxr-x .

Repaired “Library/Java”

Group differs on “Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.

Repaired “Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist”

Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics”

Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Resources”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Resources”

Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/Current”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/Current”

Permissions differ on “usr/bin/what”; should be -rwxr-xr-x ; they are -r-xr-xr-x .

Repaired “usr/bin/what”


Permissions repair complete


THe command returns the same info as above

drwxrwxrwx 34 0 0 - 1224 May 16 10:55 /

Time Machine won't backup ANY files though no error is given

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