Michael Levin

Q: Time Machine savesets missing?

10.8.5 Mac Pro. In Preferences, Time Machine entry for the TM drive says "Backups: January 5, 2015 - Today, 6:35am". But when I enter Time Machine, all the ones above today are blank - can't click on the lines in the right hand margin for anything prior to today!  What's going on with this thing?

Posted on Nov 12, 2015 3:53 AM

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Q: Time Machine savesets missing?

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Nov 12, 2015 8:42 AM in response to Michael Levin
    Level 9 (71,578 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 12, 2015 8:42 AM in response to Michael Levin

    While in Time Machine, to see all mounted volumes shift - command - c.    Information learned from Linc Davis.

  • by Michael Levin,

    Michael Levin Michael Levin Nov 12, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 2 (186 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 12, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Eric Root

    I'm not sure how this works. When I enter Time Machine, the little red bars going up the right side of the screen progressively get grayed out (from bottom up, takes a few seconds, leaving only today's bars clickable). If I hit shift-command-c, they all become normal again, but nevertheless I can't seem to find anything in any of the bars above today's. What's going on?

  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root Nov 13, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Michael Levin
    Level 9 (71,578 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 13, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Michael Levin

    Start  with A4 in the 1st linked article.

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

  • by Michael Levin,

    Michael Levin Michael Levin Nov 20, 2015 5:44 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 2 (186 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2015 5:44 AM in response to Eric Root
    > Start  with A4 in the 1st linked article. > Time Machine Troubleshooting     weird, that web page has bee showing "This site has stepped out for a bit" and no content, for a week now.
  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root Nov 22, 2015 2:53 AM in response to Michael Levin
    Level 9 (71,578 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 22, 2015 2:53 AM in response to Michael Levin

    From the Pondini.org website. The links will not work.

     

     

     

     

    Time Machine - Troubleshooting

    A4.  Full  Reset  of  Time  Machine

     

     

    Previous        Frequently Asked Questions        Home     Troubleshooting      Contact      Next 

     

     

     

     

    This will reset the connection to your backup destination, and replace the preferences file containing your settings for Time Machine:   the destination, options, and any exclusions.  If it's corrupted, Time Machine may not work properly, if at all.

    It will not delete anything in your backups, or cause Time Machine to start a new set of backups.

    1. 1.On the Time Machine Preferences window, turn Time Machine OFF and be sure a backup is not running (turning Time Machine off won't cancel a backup that's already running).  If in doubt, see item #D6.  
    2. 2.If you're backing-up some things, but not everything, on any external HDs, connect them temporarily (otherwise those exclusions won't appear in the next step, so you might forget them, and won't be able to re-enter them in step 6). 
    3. 3.Click the Options button on the preferences window.  Note everything in the exclusions box, and the settings of the other options (perhaps via a screen print), then click Cancel to return to the main window.  Then quit System Preferences.

     

     

    Previous         Frequently Asked Questions        Home        Troubleshooting       Contact        Next

     

     

    1. 4.If you're backing-up to an external HD, eject, disconnect, and power it off for a few moments, then reconnect it. 
    2. 5.Delete the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist  (in your top-level Library folder, not the Library folder inside your home folder, where most user preferences are).
    3. (A Spotlight search won't find it, and neither will a Finder search, unless you include System Files).
    4. If you have trouble finding it, from a Finder menubar, select Go > Go to Folder, copy /Library/Preferences to the prompt and click Go.  Scroll down until you find com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
    5. Or you can navigate to it, by opening your Startup Drive, usually named "Macintosh HD," via the Finder.    If you have a problem finding the file, see item #A7.)
    6. 6.Go back into Time Machine Preferences.  If your backup drive is still selected, the contents of the old file are still there.  Restart your Mac, and delete the file again.
    7. Re-select your backup drive, and re-enter any exclusions and other options you noted in step 3.   If you're backing-up any external HDs, they'll be excluded automatically, so remove those exclusions.  If you're not sure how to do that, see Time Machine FAQ #10.
    8. Note:  If you're backing-up to an external HD, it's shown automatically, in gray, and you can't remove it.  Any drives or partitions that aren't formatted for a Mac can't be backed-up by Time Machine, so they'll also be shown in gray, and can't be removed. 
    9. The oldest and latest backup dates won't appear on this window until the next backup is done.  "None" does not mean the backups are lost, just that the dates haven't been re-loaded.
    10. 7.A 120-second countdown to a backup should appear.  If you close the preferences window, it should begin immediately.

     

     

     

     

     

    6/9/13

     

     

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