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Level 1

34 points

time machine two backup progress panes

I have an early 2006 17" MBP (Snow Leopard 10.6.8) and recently whilst backing up using Time Machine I am seeing 2 different Time Machine Backup panes which occasionally display different backup amounts as though the backups were out of step (but not by much). I did not see 2 panes previously. The smaller pane only appeared recently. My question is why 2 panes? In my experience this is not normal. I have owned the MBP from new.

Regards Phil

END

MacBook Pro (17-inch), Mac OS X (10.6.8), .Mac full member

Posted on Oct 15, 2014 4:30 AM

Best reply

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Posted on Oct 15, 2014 4:39 AM

They are the same backup progress.

Quit TimeMachine, Start TM again: check the "exclude" list in TM Preferences.

What else did you do but the "disable local snapshots" ?

Did or do you have a TimeMachine Scheduler tool installed: uninstall it, causes trouble.

Lex

View in context

58 replies

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 26, 2015 3:16 PM in response to Lexiepex

Hi Lex

There was one important fact I forgot to share with you ... the issues don't appear in Safe Boot Mode!

I would have thought a hardware issue would manifest whichever mode the MacBook Pro was operating in. I swapped the 500GB HDD for a Crucial 512GB SSD and I swapped RAM for another branded maker. No difference. Maybe its an intermittent connection problem!

Hmm, my experience of Apple Genius is somewhat limited and my nearest Apple Store is populated by staff not born when I was first introduced to the Apple Mac (1985). Since which I have come across some very talented and knowledgable 'amateurs' who have suggested options that have lead to positive results.

I don't want to 'retire' my 17" MacBook Pro but if it is suffering from a hardware issue, as you suggest, then I would switch machines and either of my 15" or latest 13" would become my main laptop. But for now, retirement is the last option on my mind.

Regards Phil

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 28, 2015 5:41 AM in response to philharve

I still think it is worthwhile to have the hardware thoroughly tested....

The new Ram you put in: absolutely the correct specs? which brand, and model?

And the SSD: you did not have any software that came with it, installed, I hope?

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 28, 2015 4:17 PM in response to Lexiepex

Hi Lex

The nearest Genius Bar to me is in Plymouth, Devon, a 120-mile round trip.

The bits I've added/swapped in my Mac' are:-

SSD

Item Number: TOSHNSNC512GBSJ

Description: 512GB Toshiba THNSNC512GBSJ 2.5-inch SATA 3Gb/s 9.5mm SSD (MLC). 1 year OWC fulfilled warranty - brand new units.

This is OWC, the Mac' specialists, in the 'States. There was no software supplied with the SSD, that I can recall.

RAM

Part Number: CT2KIT12864AC667

Description: 2GB kit (1GBx2), 200-pin SODIMM Upgrade for a Apple MacBook Pro 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo (17-inch) System

OWC advised me on the RAM but I purchased the kit in the UK and saved import duty/VAT.

Regards Phil

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 29, 2015 12:14 AM in response to philharve

That should be good: the Toshiba SSD and the Crucial Ram. In your earlier post you said Crucial SSD and "another brand" Ram. Mistake probably.

Afaik all SSDs can slow down one sata step (here 3GB/s to 1.5GB/s), good thinking to not buy the -now standard- 6GB/s SSD.

So although I still think an Apple Hardware test is a good thing to do; chances are good that the Ram and SSD are not to be suspected.

How full is the SSD: the free space should be around 50GB or more (SSD free space should be more than HDD free space).

Did you mess with kexts (for Trim or whatever)?

Lex

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 29, 2015 4:12 PM in response to Lexiepex

Hi Lex

It is possible I made a mistake earlier. I failed to mention that I replaced the RAM in its entirety twice and the information I gave you above relates to the current RAM which is cheap to swap. Swapping SSD is neither cheap nor simple to replace. The previous 'drive' was, I think, a 100GB HDD. With an SSD the boot time came down to around 15 - 20 seconds as opposed to 1 - 2 minutes with the HDD.

How clever of you to spot I am using an SSD which would not look out of place in a far faster Macintosh. If I do scrap my 'old' 17" MacBook Pro I would remove the SSD and RAM which as you have confirmed are quality components. I can always reuse the SSD but 2GB RAM boards are probably 'road fill'.

How 'full' is my SSD? 350GB(used) of 512GB. I know about the 10% factor and offload data onto other storage media long before 10% is reached. I use 20%(available) as my guide

If I take my 'big' Mac' to a Genius Bar and have a full hardware test performed, assuming a hardware is detected, I would probably be facing a board swap scenario which for a Mac' dating from 2006 is probably financially unviable always assuming a replacement main board could be found. Would you agree?

Over the past week I have received a number of software updates, all of which were bug fixes, for applications I happen to have. Is this coincidence and could a software bug be the reason for the 'apparently' random crashes/freezes! My Mac' has sent around a half dozen reports to Apple following some freezes. Could Apple have acted on my feedback so soon?

I have been thinking about the screen problems and crash/freeze problems. Are they related and caused by the same problem or could they be independent?

This evening I spotted 'something' whilst reading through the backup logs of the 2 applications I mainly use. I use Time Machine (TM) with a NAS, which suddenly became inaccessible to TM several months ago. This problem is now fixed: see above. But I also use Tr-BACKUP Pro (TBP) with the same NAS but using 5 shares not used by TM which has its own dedicated TM share. In my system it is entirely possible for TM and TBP to be active at the same time, each mounting its respective share(s) onto my desktop before backing up. TBP unmounts its shares after backing up, TM does not. Reading the backup logs of each application I have spotted each backup (TM and TBP) are INCLUDING the contents of each others shares. THIS SOUNDS HORRENDOUS!!! There is a kind of 'crossover' taking place which might well explain why my bigger TM backups (>300GB) are failing but the shorter ones (<30GB) are not. The smaller backups take much less time. A 350GB backup could take all day during which the 2nd backup application WILL become active. I have written to the developer of TBP tonight enquiring about a possible 'destructive' interaction between TM and TBP.

'Kexts' Well, I have looked into 'kexts' but never knowingly messed about with them. I know about 'Trim' too. If in doubt, leave well alone. That's my policy. I have been working with computers since '65 when I designed and built one. That was 50 years ago.

I mentioned above about receiving several software updates. Since installing them the number of screen artefacts and crashes/freezes have markedly diminished BUT I have been here before. My Macbook Pro can easily be totally stable for in excess of 24 hours but within 2 days the problems eventually resurface. I wrote this reply WITHOUT a crash! That's progress.

Regards Phil

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 30, 2015 1:42 AM in response to philharve

"could a software bug be the reason for the 'apparently' random crashes/freezes"

Yes it can. For example if you have an antivirus app installed (Norton, McAFEE, Avast, and others), or when you installed CleanMyMac (or alikes) and did remove "unnecessary" system components like languages or binaries. Or a "memory optimizer", or other softwares like those....

You could give me a list of everything in the Applications and Utilities folders, and I look into it.

Even TimeMachine on Nas is "exotic" and even while working seemingly OK, is a in effect a hard strain on the mac, I suppose. Personally I prefer a single dedicated external disk for TM. I have no experience with TBP, although I think interference while addressing the Nas is unlikely.

SSD: yes good thinking 20% free. Trim: indeed the modern SSDs do not need that, because the GarbageCollection on modern SSDs works very good, when enough free space is available.

Lex

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 30, 2015 2:09 AM in response to Lexiepex

Good morning Lex

Yes, I did have CleanMyMac installed and I did use it in the manner you describe. I have since removed it and reinstalled the o/s.

Memory optimiser? Like what, for example?

A list of my Apps, OK!

I have received a reply from the developer of Tri-BACKUP Pro who admitted to using Time Machine too. They can happily coexist and operate simultaneously if their lists of 'inclusions' and 'exclusions' mesh correctly. I am going to look into this over the weekend. I suspect the 'mesh' maybe imperfect.

Yes, I often use Time Machine to backup to a local HDD, in fact this is my only reliable method of backing up at present but I hope one day to add my NAS to this list.

Regards Phil

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 30, 2015 2:33 AM in response to philharve

MY CURRENT APPS

-------------------------------

Address Book.app

Adobe

Adobe Acrobat XI Pro

Adobe Application Manager

Adobe Bridge

Adobe Bridge CS3

Adobe Device Central CS3

Adobe Download Assistant.app

Adobe Elements 11 Organizer.app

Adobe Photoshop CS2

Adobe Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop Elements 11

Adobe Reader.app

Adobe Stock Photos CS3

Adobe Stock Photos.app

AIM.app

Alarm Clock Pro.app

Aperture.app

App Store.app

AppCleaner.app

AppleScript

AppZapper.app

Audacity

Automator.app

Back-In-Time 3.app

BackupLoupe.app

Bamboo Dock

BatChmod.app

BBC iPlayer Desktop.app

BIAS Authorization Manager.app

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.app

CADintosh.app

Caffeine.app

Calculator.app

Canon Digital Camera Help Folder

Canon Utilities

Capture Me.app

Carbon Copy Cloner.app

CD-LabelPrint

CheckBook Pro.app

Chess.app

ClamXav.app

Clone X 4.app

coconutBattery.app

Coriolis CDMaker.app

Dashboard.app

Delete VLC Preferences.app

DesignPro.app

Dictionary.app

DiskTools Pro.app

DiskWarrior.app

DjVu Browser Plugin

Dragon Dictate.app

Drive Genius 3.app

Dropbox.app

DVD Player.app

DVD-Creator.app

EasyDuplicateFinder.app

EasyFind.app

EazyDraw.app

eMedia Guitar Method.app

EtreCheck.app

EyeTV 3.5.4.app

File Buddy

FileSalvage.app

Find Any File.app

Firefox.app

Folx.app

Font Book.app

FontExplorer X Pro.app

FR1Utility.app

Free Solitaire 3D.app

Front Row.app

GarageBand.app

Google Earth.app

GraphicConverter.app

Hands Off!.app

HighLoad.app

iBatt.app

iCal.app

iChat.app

icWord 4.1.app

iDVD.app

Image Capture.app

ImageResizer.app

iMovie.app

InfoPlistChecker.app

Integrity.app

Interarchy.app

iPhoto Buddy.app

iPhoto Library Manager.app

iPhoto.app

iPlayer Downloader.app

IPScanner 3.0

iSkysoft PhotoMagic.app

iSkysoft SyncPod

iSkysoft Video Converter.app

iStumbler.app

iSync.app

iTunes.app

iWeb.app

iWork '09

Mac Support Tool.app

MachineProfile.app

MacPilot.app

Macs Fan Control.app

MacScan 2

MacSpeech Dictate.app

Mactracker.app

Mail.app

MailSteward (1260).app

MediaCentral.app

MediaHuman Audio Converter.app

Microsoft AutoUpdate.app

Microsoft Messenger.app

Microsoft Office 2004

Microsoft Silverlight

Miro.app

Monopoly.app

Movavi Video Converter.app

MP3 Rocket.app

muCommander.app

My Book Live Duo Setup.app

MyDriveConnect.app

NeoOffice.app

NetUpdate.app

Open XML Converter.app

OpenOffice.app

Pacifist.app

PageSender Fax Center.app

Paragon Manual.app

PasswordWallet.app

Path Finder.app

Peak LE 6.app

Photo Booth.app

PhotoRescue.app

PhotoStudio

Picasa.app

Pixelmator.app

PlistEdit.app

PopChar.app

Preferential Treatment

Preview.app

QuickTime Player.app

Readiris_14_MAC

Readiris.app

Redshift.app

Rember.app

Safari.app

ScanGear Starter 1.1E

Screenflick.app

Skype.app

Snapz Pro X

SpamSieve.app

Speed Download 5

SpeedTools Utilities Pro.app

Split & Concat.app

Stickies.app

StuffIt Archive Manager.app

StuffIt Destinations.app

SuperDuper!.app

SuperMP3Download.app

System Preferences.app

TechTool Pro 7.app

TextEdit.app

TextExpander.app

TextWrangler.app

Time Machine.app

TinkerTool.app

Toast 10 Titanium

Toast 11 Titanium

Toast 12 Titanium

TranslateIt!.app

Tri-BACKUP 7.app

TuneUp.app

TuneupMyMac.app

Utilities

Video Editor For Mac.app

Viewer.app

ViewIt.app

VirtualBox.app

VirusBarrier Traffic Monitor.app

VirusBarrier X6.app

VLC.app

VueScan.app

Vuze.app

Wacom Utility

WD My Cloud

WD Quick View Uninstaller.app

Wondershare AllMyMusic.app

Wondershare AllMyTube.app

Wondershare DVD Creator.app

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate.app

Wondershare Vivideo.app

Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro.app

YouTube to MP3.app

-------------------------------

Regards Phil

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 30, 2015 5:56 AM in response to philharve

Hoho, a lot of "doubles". A long list. So my comments are a long list also..👿

Also there are "older" softwares, for some I have the the impression that they are hacked, and you have not uninstalled them after your testing period.

- Adobe: sort out what you can eliminate, and uninstall those (either with the oriinal uninstaller or with Apcleaner). Also I suspect that there are some "irregular" from the past.

- Uninstall Appzapper: Appcleaner, although not perfect, is better and one is enough.

- Audacity, check whether is is really Yosemite proof.

- Backup in Time and Backup loupe, choose one at max.

- BBC iPlayer Desktop.app, I don't know this one.

- BIAS Authorization Manager.app, I don't know this one.

- Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.app: use this one very sparingly, because it makes a **** of a lot of writes which is stressing the SSD seriously. Or stop using it at all.

- CADintosh.app, I don't know this one.

- Caffeine.app: you don't need that, counterproductive, uninstall.

- Capture Me.app: you don't need that, counterproductive, uninstall.

- Carbon Copy Cloner.app, a very good cloner app, update to V4 and uninstall all other clone apps.

- Clone X 4.app, uninstall.

- Coriolis CDMaker.app, check compatibility

- Delete VLC Preferences.app, what is this doing for you? uninstall.

- DesignPro.app, I don't know this one.

- DiskTools Pro.app, you don't need that, uninstall.

- DiskWarrior.app, you don't need that, uninstall.

- DjVu Browser Plugin, ??

- Drive Genius 3.app, you don't need that, uninstall.

- EasyDuplicateFinder.app, risky app, uninstall.

- File Buddy, risky app, uninstall.

- FileSalvage.app, there are better ones, I don't trust this one, uninstall.

- Folx.app, uninstall.

- FontExplorer X Pro.app, you don't need that, uninstall.

- FR1Utility.app, UNINSTALL

- GraphicConverter.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- Hands Off!.app, ??

- HighLoad.app, risky app, uninstall.

- iBatt.app, you do not need that you already have Coconutbattery, thus uninstall.

- icWord 4.1.app, ??

- InfoPlistChecker.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- Integrity.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- Interarchy.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- iPlayer Downloader.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- IPScanner 3.0, ??

- iStumbler.app, a much better one from Appstore, free, WiFiScanner.

- iSync.app, old, not compatible.

- iWork '09 does not work anymore, now there are separate apps, Pages, Numbers, Keynote. You can download these from the Appstore when you have iWork on your computer. After that you can drag the iWork folder to the trash.

- Mac Support Tool.app, I don't trust this one, uninstall

- MachineProfile.app, uninstall.

- MacPilot.app, uninstall.

- Macs Fan Control.app, unnecessary, uninstall.

- MacScan 2, UNINSTALL, READ http://www.thesafemac.com/macscan-disappoints/

- MacSpeech Dictate.app, ??

- Mactracker.app, update

- MailSteward (1260).app, compatible?

- MediaCentral.app, ??

- MediaHuman Audio Converter.app, ??

- Microsoft AutoUpdate.app, UNinstall

- Microsoft Messenger.app, ??

- Microsoft Office 2004, incompatible.

- Miro.app, compatible ??

- Movavi Video Converter.app, uninstall: of all the converters find one that is compatible and available from the Appstore.

- MP3 Rocket.app, ??

- muCommander.app, uninstall

- My Book Live Duo Setup.app, ??

- MyDriveConnect.app, if you don't need this one uninstall, otherwise check if it is compatible, and check if it is correctly installed !!

- NeoOffice.app, and OpenOffice, good apps, but very slow in updating, I have found (and use) a better one: LibreOffice 4.4.

uninstall NeoOffice and OpenOffice and others, then install LibreOffice

- NetUpdate.app, this one is installed by an install of an Intego software: I propose to uninstall all Intego apps, including this one.

- Open XML Converter.app, uninstall: of all the converters find one that is compatible and available from the Appstore.

- Pacifist.app, nothing for you, uninstall.

- PageSender Fax Center.app, ??

- Paragon Manual.app, do not use any Paragon app, not NTFS nor Backup. Uninstall those.

- PasswordWallet.app

- Path Finder.app, Uninstall !

the rest in half an hour.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 30, 2015 6:32 AM in response to philharve

Continue...

- Peak LE 6.app, ??

- PhotoRescue.app, check compatibility.

- Pixelmator.app, same

- PlistEdit.app, Uninstall.

- PopChar.app, ??

- Preferential Treatment, ??

- Readiris_14_MAC, compatible ??

- Readiris.app, double??

- Redshift.app, OLD

- Rember.app, does not really find all issues, too slow, uninstall.

- ScanGear Starter 1.1E, ??

- Screenflick.app uninstall.Skype.app

- Snapz Pro X, I would unnstall and use Monosnap or such instead (Appstore).

- SpamSieve.app, no experience with that.

- Speed Download 5, uninstall.

- SpeedTools Utilities Pro.app, Uninstall.

- Split & Concat.app, ??

- StuffIt Archive Manager.app and StuffIt Destinations.app, uninstall, use Theunarchiver (Appstore)

- SuperDuper!.app, uninstall you have already CCC

- SuperMP3Download.app, uninstall.

- TechTool Pro 7.app, Uninstall !!

- TextExpander.app, ??

- TextWrangler.app, what do you need that for?

- TinkerTool.app, you really do not need that normally, but unlike all other Bresink tools (although good) this one is harmless.

- Toast 10 Titanium, uninstall

Toast 11 Titanium, same

Toast 12 Titanium, same

- TranslateIt!.app, ??

- Tri-BACKUP 7.app, not sure, I would uninstall.

- TuneUp.app, UNINSTALL, crap !!

- TuneupMyMac.app, same !!

- Video Editor For Mac.app, ??

- ViewIt.app, uninstall.

- VirtualBox.app, you do not need that anymore I think, uninstall.

- VirusBarrier Traffic Monitor.app, UNINSTALL, and

- VirusBarrier X6.app, UNINSTALL, you already have ClamXav

- VueScan.app, compatible ??

- Vuze.app, RISK, uninstall.

GENERAL REMARK:

you probably are used to download apps from sites as Softonic, Macupdate, CNET, Download.com and such: all are manipulating most of the apps installers to install adware or crippling crap on your mac!!!! Get used to download apps only from Appstore or from trusted developer sites. Never use Torrent downloaders: they broadcast data about you, and the downloaded files are infected almost always, by the seeders.

In general, read threads here, read thesafemac.com , read Pondini.org

Lex

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 30, 2015 6:35 AM in response to philharve

Continue:

WD My Cloud, WD software is not really compatible

WD Quick View Uninstaller.app, WD software is not really compatible

Wondershare AllMyMusic.app )

Wondershare AllMyTube.app )

Wondershare DVD Creator.app ) I am not really convinced about Wondershare software, most of this is doubles with other softwares here.

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate.app )

Wondershare Vivideo.app )

Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro.app, ??

YouTube to MP3.app, ??

that is the list. curious about your reactions.

Lex

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Feb 2, 2015 1:50 PM in response to Lexiepex

Hi Lex

There will now be a brief intermission with this thread because I need to spend some time resolving another issue. I am a founder member of the World Heritage Trust in so far as it relates to satellite communications at the Goonhilly Satellite Communication Centre in Cornwall, UK. I am currently working jointly with a team to resolve outstanding issues concerning our organisation's constitution

I will bear in mind your recent comments concerning my list a applications and will respond accordingly when I have more time.

Regards Phil

philharve Author

Level 1

34 points

Mar 23, 2015 7:47 PM in response to philharve

Hi All

I am back again but only briefly.

Since my last reply 2 months ago I have made the very important decision to transfer ALL my records, data and daily activities from my troublesome 17" MacBook Pro (2006) to one of my two 15" MacBook Pro laptops (2011). I have also upgraded the newer machine from Snow Leopard to Yosemite: a big step, skipping several operating systems. My older 32-bit laptop cannot be upgraded beyond Snow Leopard and I plan to strip out all the applications I've added to it over the years until I find the cause of the frequent crashes and hangs. I still believe the cause to be software and not hardware related. But I now have the luxury of being able to perform a clean install if I wish because I have backed up the contents with Time Machine. Better still, I can take my time over the disassemble and reassembly process because I have transferred all my daily undertakings to the newer laptop.

I have not found the upgrade from Snow Leopard to Yosemite too onerous but neither has it been without problem. For example, Yosemite Mail basically works but I am unable to gain access to any of its Preferences without incurring a hang. Fortunately this does not crash the laptop, only the Mail application. I have reported this condition to Apple and I am now convinced that Yosemite and its standard applications are not entirely bug free. I have even performed a clean install of Yosemite without any noticeable improvement. All the familiar issues remain. Furthermore, I cannot use my favourite Canon flatbed scanner with Yosemite but I can with Snow Leopard. So, my older MacBook Pro is not entirely redundant.

It seems I may have swapped one set of problems for another set of problems but at least the frequent crashes are a thing of the past.

I reported last time that I was being distracted by another project, that of setting up a Trust. The constitutional issues of that Trust have now been resolved and we are now onto the next phase by making the Trust a charitable organisation. I am still being distracted but at least now I have a small team working for me.

I will report back again if I make any significant discoveries concerning my 17" MacBook Pro. It maybe approaching 10 years old but it has until recently proven to be a reliable machine and it is worth it to me to spend a little time getting it working again, especially since it can perform certain tasks that my newer laptop and Yosemite cannot yet do.

Regards Phil

time machine two backup progress panes