Time Machine doesn't back everything up

Question

Level 1

11 points

Time Machine doesn't back everything up

Having a quirky issue with Time Machine - it's only backing up the 'Users' folder from the OS hard drive, not the 'Applications', 'Library' or 'System' folders. Therefore, if I ever needed it to reinstall it wouldn't have enough of the data.

Any ideas how to tell Time Machine to back up all folders on the OS drive? Nothing I can see in Time Machine settings/preferences with such an option...

For info, the OS is on a 250GB inernal SSD and Time Machine is backing up to a 2TB external drive.

Thanks!

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 19, 2013 9:04 AM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 19, 2013 9:07 AM in response to Andy Worby

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

Open System Preferences > Time Machine > Options, and see if those folders appear in the excluded items list. If so, remove them from the list. The next backup will include these folders. If they don't appear in the list, try adding and removing them.

Also, I remember reading that there was a bug in Time Machine with OS X Mountain Lion that prevents it from backing up system folders. I can't remember if this is the exact problem or it was different, but I think it is. Maybe Pondini can tell you more about it

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Answer 2

Andy Worby Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 19, 2013 9:24 AM in response to mende1

Hi,thanks for the quick reply.

I tried adding the three folders as exclusion items, running a backup and then removing them as exclusion items then running a backup again. Unfortunately, no change.

Will try Pondini and see if there's something on there to go with.

Many thanks!

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 19, 2013 9:24 AM in response to Andy Worby

You are welcome

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Answer 4

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 19, 2013 9:26 AM in response to Andy Worby

I would like that you reset Time Machine to factory settings to see if this works > http://pondini.org/TM/A4.html If it's a settings issue, this should solve the problem

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Answer 5

Andy Worby Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 19, 2013 9:52 AM in response to mende1

Okay will do.

I've just read that they want some diagnostics from affected machines first (before the fix) so I'll wait to get this done and then try the fix...

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Answer 6

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Aug 20, 2013 3:42 AM in response to mende1

mende1 wrote:

. . .

Also, I remember reading that there was a bug in Time Machine with OS X Mountain Lion that prevents it from backing up system folders. I can't remember if this is the exact problem or it was different, but I think it is. Maybe Pondini can tell you more about it

Yup, that's it. 😟

Just for your refernce, see #D10 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

(And I've already heard from Andy.)

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Answer 7

Andy Worby Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 20, 2013 4:11 AM in response to Pondini

Just as an update, I tried deleting the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist preferences file and effectively 'resetting' Time Machine but it made no difference. I ran the diagnostic and reported it as a Bug to Apple. For your info, details of report are below.

Thanks

Andy

20-Aug-2013 10:42 AM Andy Worby:

Summary:

Time Machine is failing to back up all top-level folders present on the main OS hard disc, even though they do not appear in the 'Exclusions' list within Time Machine preferences. As a result, 'System', 'Library' and 'Applications' top-level folders are not backed up. The only folder being backed up is 'Users'.

Upon investigation, the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist preferences file contains exclusions for above mentioned top-level folders (see screenshot 1), although they have 'not' been purposefully added to the 'Exclusions' list via the Time Machine preferences window.

Deleting the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist preferences file and then setting up Time Machine once again via the preferences window does not change the result - the three affected folders still fail to back up.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Delete com.apple.TimeMachine.plist preferences file to perform a full reset of Time Machine.

2. Enter Time Machine preferences window.

3. Select backup hard disc ( in this case, I am using an external 2TB hard disc via Firewire 800 connection).

4. Click options

5. Ensure that only the backup hard disc is selected in 'Exclusions' list.

6. Click Save

7. Commence a Time Machine backup.

8. Allow backup process to complete.

9. Go directly into the backup hard disc.

10. View top-level folders that have been backed up from the OS hard disc.

Expected Results:

All top-level folders from the OS hard disc should have been backed up.

Actual Results:

Only the 'Users' top-level folder from the OS hard disc has been backed up.

Regression:

Problem is continuous, and has occurred for some time, although I do not know from which exact date.

Notes:

I have included the following attachments:

1. Study iMac.tmdiagnostic.zip

2.Screen shot 1 - this is a screenshot of the Time Machine preferences file

3. Screen shot 2 - this is a screenshot of the top level folders within my OS hard disc

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Answer 8

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Aug 20, 2013 4:20 AM in response to Andy Worby

Andy Worby wrote:

. . .

I tried deleting the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist preferences file and effectively 'resetting' Time Machine but it made no difference.

That's the first report I've seen of it not working. 😟

If you quit System Prefs, and made sure no backup was running, before doing that, the next backup should have backed-up those folders.

See if there's another com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file in aPreferences/ByHost folder (if there is one), in either the top-level /Library folder, or the Library folder in your home folder. If so, delete it, too, then do the full reset again, and another backup.

Message was edited by: Pondini

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Answer 9

hknbbk

Level 1

0 points

Feb 15, 2014 9:50 AM in response to Andy Worby

OK guys. This is a general issue everyone will possibly have in the future so I'll try to tell how to deal with it in clean sentences. The source of this problem is Time Machine changes the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file in the /Library/Preferences folder by time and time. So here is the course you should follow to fix it:

1. Make a copy of your com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file on your desktop.

2. Open this file with a plist editor software of your choice. ( XCode, Plist Editor Pro etc.)

3. Find and delete "Exclude" line and its sublines entirely.

4. Save your new com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file on the desktop again.

5. Copy this file to the /Preferences folder. Your mac will ask you for the admin rights to change the original com.apple.TimeMachine.plist. Write down your password and click ok.

6. Everything is done. Restart your mac and you'll see Time Machine backs up everything again.

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Answer 10

gzunino

Level 1

8 points

Feb 28, 2014 9:06 AM in response to hknbbk

I have tried, unsuccessfully all the suggested solutions except for this one. I wish to try it but I'm uncertain about the definition of item 3. Exactly which and how many are the lines that should be deleted in addition to the one that has the word "Exclude"?

Thanks!

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Answer 11

gzunino

Level 1

8 points

Mar 1, 2014 11:04 AM in response to Andy Worby

Hi,

I decided to do a full erase and return the external drive (WD Passport) to Best Buy and exchanged it for a Seagate Slim for Mac. I have just completed a full backup without a glitch!!

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