Failed back ups

Question

Level 1

11 points

Failed back ups

My time capsule has been giving me error messages for weeks. Each time it attempts a back-up it fails. The error message is as follows:

Make sure your computer and the backup disk are on the same network, and that the backup disk is turned on. Then try again to back up.

I have had some difficulty maintaining a wifi connection. But if I turn airport on and off it usually connects right away.

I am using a MBP from around 2006 OSX 10.6.8

I'm at a loss how to trouble shoot. It says my last successful backup was in late June. I am able to connect to Time Machine and it shows backups through July and even yesterday. Presumably they are incomplete?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

TL

MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2 GHz), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 4, 2013 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,208 points

Aug 4, 2013 2:29 PM in response to tsl90

I would do a complete new setup.. plug the TC into the computer by ethernet in full isolation from the network.. turn off wireless in the laptop.

Do a full factory reset of the TC.

The Factory Reset.

Power down the TC.

Hold in reset. and keep holding it in. Be Gentle! It is a tiny surface mount switch with a plastic lever.. Attempting to push it out the other side of the TC will not make the switch turn on better.

(I fix TC and have several reset levers bent over and jammed or broken off).

Power on the TC.. remember with the reset held in.. this needs three arms.. a friend or power switch you can get to with your feet..

Keep holding in reset for about 10sec until the front LED flashes rapidly.

Release reset and wait .. the boot will be slow as it deletes previous setting.. only from router side and pulls out the factory defaults. No files are deleted on the hard disk.. but the name of the TC may change.

Now open it with the airport utility.. and do a verify of the backups.

A5 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

See if the backup is still ok.. do a TM backup now.. still fully isolated from the network.

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Answer 2

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 4, 2013 6:52 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks

I will try that tomorrow.

I am also having a lot of trouble printing wirelessly. Not sure if it is related or not. I went to disk utility today and ran "verify permissions". I had a TON of issues. Long, long list. I ran repair permissions and it seemed like all issues were resolved. TC still hangs up and I still can't print wirelessly...

So I ran verify permissions again. Looks like the same long list... I repaired again, but not sure what all that means or if it is related.

Thanks again for the advice and I'll try it when I have time.

TL

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Answer 3

Aug 4, 2013 7:37 PM in response to tsl90

Is the TC also old..??

Please give me the model number from the base.. A1xxx

How long have you had it??

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Answer 4

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 5, 2013 8:31 AM in response to LaPastenague

The TC is less than 18 mo old. I got it new. I've been having more issues the last few months.

Model number is A1409.

I will try the reset tonight. Thanks again for the help. I'm optimistic I will get somewhere.

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Answer 5

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 5, 2013 5:12 PM in response to LaPastenague

Seems to be working. Reset TC. Did a TM backup and seems fine. Verified the Back-up volume and all looks good. I will try some printing now and see what that does...

Thanks a lot.

If there's a way to prevent this, please let me know.

TL

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Answer 6

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 5, 2013 5:31 PM in response to tsl90

Total fail on the wireless printing.

This is the error message I get:

A communication error has occurred.

Support Code : 306 A communication error has occurred. Make sure that the printer is plugged in, powered-on, and properly connected to your computer. Then try printing again.

Really hoped this would help that. If you have any ideas let me know...

Thanks again.

TL

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Answer 7

Aug 5, 2013 6:17 PM in response to tsl90

After a reset you may need to do a full reinstall of the printer.. that is certainly what I would do..

But to troubleshoot your problem we need full info..

Is the printer wireless? USB? Ethernet? connected to the TC?

What printer is it?

Did you go back to 7.6.1 firmware? I would strongly recommend that.. the latest 7.6.3 is not super reliable.

Also to mix printers into the apple network soup, it is a good idea to make sure everything is SMB compatible.. since 90% of the world and all printers basically assume windows.

So all names .. TC name.. wireless name/s, disk share name should be short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.

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Answer 8

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 5, 2013 7:03 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks for the continuted help.

The printer is a canon MX 870. Has worked well previously. I have no trouble when I print connected by USB. I am trying to print wirelessly, and have previously.

Do you mean 7.6.1 firmware for the TC? I didn't change anything, haven't the foggiest idea how. If you can point me to instructions on changing the firmware, I'll see if I'm confortable doing that.

Thanks

TL

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Answer 9

Aug 5, 2013 9:19 PM in response to tsl90

Did you restart the printer? If you changed wireless name then you need to redo the setup of the printer obviously.

If it has worked it should continue to do so.. how did you setup the printer previously to connect to the TC.. did you use the pin or WPS method in the TC or did you manually set it via printer utility via a computer plugged directly in by USB usually??

Change firmware.

In v6 airport utility.. click on the TC.. hold down the option key and click on version.

Select the firmware you want.. and allow the utility to do the update..

It is easy peasy really.. !!

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Answer 10

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 6, 2013 2:51 AM in response to LaPastenague

Got it. I will reset firmware tonight.

I originally set up the printer wirelessly via the utility on the printer. Basically, just turned it on, it found the network, and I entered the network password. And it worked. I could even print wirelessly from my iPhone. That quit working months ago and wireless printing from the computer has been less and less reliable until a couple weeks ago when it quit altogether.

Maybe this was bad - when I reset TC, I makes the new network the same as the old. Same password too. I did set up the printer again. But everything was the same.

If there's a better method to set up the printer let me know. I will change the name of the network and stuff tonight.

Thanks again.

TL

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Answer 11

Aug 6, 2013 3:56 AM in response to tsl90

I would do the firmware downgrade..

Followed by factory reset.

Followed by setup again with all new names.. and new password.. all names short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.. then redo the setup of the printer exactly as you did before.

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Answer 12

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 6, 2013 5:59 AM in response to LaPastenague

Will do.

Just to confirm:

Firmware downgrade, then repeat the same TC reset I did last PM, this time new network specifics, then set up the printer...

Sounds like I have a new project for this evening.

Thanks again.

TL

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Answer 13

Aug 6, 2013 12:05 PM in response to tsl90

This is probably too late to help but yes..

Clear out all your old settings if possible from the printer as well so you start with clean slate.

It is good to clear out all the old wireless names. (every device on the network .. it seems purging out old settings can help).

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Answer 14

tsl90 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 6, 2013 3:22 PM in response to LaPastenague

Just getting started. Hit a snag on the first step...

First, when I got home I was greeted by stacked error windows telling me that the backups failed today. TC completed at least one automatic backup last night. Not sure what's up, but doesn't seem like good news.

So I attempted to downgrade the TC firmware. My TC firmware is 7.6.3, When I hold down the alt/option key and click on that it just changes to 76300.7. I cant find an option to change.

I suspect that part of the reason is my Airport Utility is v 5.6.1 (561.3). I checked for updates and it says none are available. Any way to get v6?

Thanks again.

TL

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Answer 15

Aug 6, 2013 3:56 PM in response to tsl90

Sorry sorry.. you are on 5.6 utility but that is fine.

I am getting old and forget the start of the thread from the end.

You cannot run v6 utility on any OS before Lion.

Upgrade or downgrade firmware is a little more manual in 5.6 utility but that is no problem..

(If you have iOS product you can use the airport utility in that).

You can have the whole works..

In 5.6 utility use the top menu.. base station and go to upload firmware.

No upgrade is available .. because it was on 7.6.3 and if you click the menu it will not usually show downgrades.. but it will if you hold down the option key.

Pick what you want.. I have here an older Gen4 which is able to go right back to 7.5.2.. and any of the earlier ones can do that.. Gen 4 that are 18months old aprox can only use 7.6.x firmware.. for reasons beyond my imagination.

You get a warning message.. yuda yadda yup yap yap...

Update or downdate ?? will then proceed.

You now know all that is able to be known about firmware updating TC.. in v5 utility..

Go Forth and reproduce.. the above steps!!

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