Time Machine cannot create folder

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Level 1

26 points

Time Machine cannot create folder

Prior to the 10.8.5 update Time Machine was working fine. After the 10.8.5 update Time Machine is failing several times a day saying it cannot create a folder. Once it fails it will consistently fail until I unmount/remount the drive and then it works fine a few more times before failing. Disk Utility does not report any errors. I've zeroed the drive and started a new backup that failed after 6 snapshots. I've deleted the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist and tried again. In 25 hours I've only been able to get 13 successful backups.

Posted on Sep 17, 2013 9:40 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

207,439 points

Sep 17, 2013 9:58 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

Maybe this topic, Error: (-50) Creating directory" or "error ... while creating the backup folder, from the Time Machine - Troubleshooting website will be of help.

OT

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Sep 17, 2013 10:00 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4868956

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Answer 3

Tom Sheppard Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 17, 2013 10:01 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks. I had seen that earlier but none of the steps helped.

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Answer 4

Tom Sheppard Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 17, 2013 10:13 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks. That could be helpful. I've had the preference set to not spin down for years but perhaps the drive spins down anyway and 10.8.5 is more sensitive. It's also possible the drive is failing, but that would sure be a coincidence for it to start failing immediately after the update.

Looking back at the logs where it started to fail this morning I see:

2013-09-17 6:16:21.630 AM com.apple.backupd[60837]: Starting automatic backup

2013-09-17 6:16:21.650 AM com.apple.backupd[60837]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb

2013-09-17 6:16:21.938 AM com.apple.backupd[60837]: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Server size:37

2013-09-17 6:16:21.940 AM com.apple.backupd[60837]: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Server size:37

2013-09-17 6:16:31.954 AM com.apple.backupd[60837]: Backup failed with error: 2

Lately I'm seeing lots of these:

2013-09-17 12:24:34.101 PM fseventsd[62]: disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/Time Machine/.fseventsd/00000000022b2add (Invalid argument). mount point /Volumes/Time Machine/.fseventsd

I will try the keepdrivespinning app to see if that resolves the issue.

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Answer 5

Tom Sheppard Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 17, 2013 1:29 PM in response to Tom Sheppard

And … it died again, even with keepdrivespinning app running.

2013-09-17 3:16:33.512 PM com.apple.backupd[75518]: Starting automatic backup

2013-09-17 3:16:41.000 PM kernel[0]: disk5s2: I/O error.

2013-09-17 3:16:41.928 PM com.apple.backupd[75518]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb

2013-09-17 3:17:06.845 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[658]: (net.jonstovell.keepTimeMachineSpinning[75535]) Exited with code: 1

2013-09-17 3:17:30.010 PM com.apple.backupd[75518]: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Server size:37

2013-09-17 3:17:30.012 PM com.apple.backupd[75518]: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Server size:37

2013-09-17 3:17:40.088 PM com.apple.backupd[75518]: Backup failed with error: 2

Since disk5s2 is Time Machine then maybe it is a coincidence that the drive is failing right after the update. When I try to remove the keepdrivespinning hidden file on that drive the rm command fails with "invalid argument".

What I don't understand is why unmounting/mounting would fix I/O errors temporarily as at least the first backup after the remount works fine and it might fit in one or two more too.

I've moved the drive to another USB hub (I don't have the luxury of direct connection to the computer) and if that fails, I'll try another drive.

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Answer 6

Feb 16, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Tom Sheppard

I have searched for a more current string but cannot find on so I wonder if I am the only one left with this problem???

Yosemite OS 10.10.2

GUID Partitioned 4 TB Seagate BACK UP + USB External Disk

The drive is relatively new and replaced an older 3TB Seagate BACK UP + drive that I never had issue with.

Will work for about 12 hours then fails with the same errors shown in this string, basically cannot create back up folder. A simple restart will let it work for another 12 hours.

Energy Saver set to 1 Hr for both and to put HD asleep when possible and to wake for network access.

Any insight is appreciated.

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Answer 7

Feb 16, 2015 1:41 PM in response to actualccb

I am trying unchecking put hard disk to sleep when possible.

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