I keep getting popup notifications that Time Machine hasn't backed up for (recently, 69 days) x number of days, but has been backing up--if I go into Time Machine I can see many recent backups.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 16GB ram
I get the same message periodically. I unplug the time machine power plug, wait a few seconds, then plug it back in. This seems to restart the drive. go to time machine preferences and click on backup now.
sort of a pain in the butt, but it does work.
Ive had this problem with a time capsule for months on and off. Backups seem to be there but this message kept appearing. In the end I took BobTimmons advice on this forum and erased the disk then restarted backups. This seems to have fixed it.
Jimtron, I have this problem too - so there is no way of knowing if Time Machine is really backing up or not. I'm surprised no-one has replied to your post. Did you every find an answer to the question?
No, never found the answer, but I can tell that it's backing up; I have the Time Machine icon on my menu bar, and when I click on it it tells me when the last backup was completed. Still annoying though, that every time I connect my backup drive I get the warning saying it hasn't been backed up in X number of days.
I'd recommend consulting Pondini's excellent site. The link for Time Machine troubleshooting is:
Yes I too have the icon which shows it's backing up but the pop-up notification still worries me. So have done as DonnaR suggests and looked at Pondini's troubleshooting site. Can't see any immediate answers there but loads of useful information on there. As he says, the "star wars" shows how the system looked at the time of backup, but not exactly what was backed up. Confusing, but will try his tip of using Time Tracker or BackupLoupe to check exactly what is being backed up. If I manage to get an answer I will let you know - unless I run out of braincells in the process!
DonnaR, mnay thanks for the suggestion. Have looked at Pondini's site, which is rather amazing and has lots of suggestions - really worth a look for other information in there, not just for Time Machine.
You're welcome. 🙂
I'm not a Time Machine expert, but if it were me, I might consider doing a full reset of Time Machine (use the link to Pondini's site, above, and choose A4). I don't know if it would work, but it would be worth a try and doesn't take long to do, and it doesn't delete any backups in the process.
Donna thanks again - I may try your suggestion. I have run Time Tracker and it shows files ostensibly backed up, though I am not sure what I am doing with this application, you seem to have to pick a file and go right down the pathway to find if the content is there. (sorry if i sound like a dummy, but that is because I am new to Mac after 20 years with Windows!) and am going to run Backup Loupe as well. And then if I am still not happy I will do the reset. Many thanks again for your help.
Well, if you do try doing a full reset, please let us know whether that fixes it!
I did a full reset yesterday. I followed all the instructions correctly, and everything went to plan. TM started to backup, the menu icon revolved and my external hard disc flickered and hummed - all good signs! - for about 10 seconds, then everything stopped. I checked in TM Star Wars and found the first full backup date had moved from March 16 to March 29??? Then I saw the TM menu icon had an exclamation mark in the centre of the arrow, I clicked on this and had the message "Backup delayed", then backup started again and then stopped again after a few seconds. Finally a few minutes later I had the message "successful backup" This morning I have no popup telling me that TM hasn't backed up so I am crossing my fingers that this has solved the problem, though I imagine it is too soon to tell. If it comes back I will let you know. Oddly, the first backup date (according to the Star Wars) has remained at 29 March.
The popup has indeed come back and tells me no backups for 27 days, can't find the disk etc. So frustrating. I'll just have to hope that it is backing up (as witnessed in the Star Wars) - I just can't spend any more time on this, all the contradictory messages are driving me crazy! What is so infuriating is that these messages pop-up saying there is a problem and yet don't give you any hint what to do about it. Grrrr.
If you're willing to keep trying, I'm willing to keep trying to help you fix this. I'm wondering if the change of date is connected to Time Machine not being able to find the disk.
My suggestion: Using the link above to Pondini's website, try verifying both your internal hard drive and the backup disk (per troubleshooting item A5). But make sure to turn Time Machine off before verifying your backup disk (or repairing if need be), then turn TM back on when done.
Please let us know....
Thanks Donna! Have verified both disks and all "appears to be ok"......
Thanks Donna! Have verified both disks and all "appears to be ok"......
OK, good. Next idea: using the link to Pondini's website, see troubleshooting item C19 ("Backup delayed or The backup disk is not available"). It seems to apply to your situation.
Is it at all possible the TM messages are referring to another backup disk? If you look under Time Machine Preferences, is more than one backup disk listed?
time machine: "no backups for x days"
