Time Machine Backup Error

Question

Time Machine Backup Error

I backup my iMac using Time Machine to a time capsule. For the last couple of days I have been receiving the error:

Time Machine An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk.

I can see the Time Capsule in the Finder and have disconnected and reconnected which didn't resolve the problem. Using Airport Utility, I can see the Time Capsule in both Ethernet and Wi-Fi have green lights. I have also turned the Time Capsule off and then on again in Time Machine preferences. Still no go.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

-Chris

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), iMac16,2

Posted on Apr 21, 2016 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

theratter

Level 4

3,955 points

Apr 21, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Chris Canaday

You must use Airport Utility to repair or reformat a Time Capsule disk. Use the Help menu in Airport Utility to search for "erase" to get instructions if you don't know how.

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Apr 21, 2016 10:11 PM in response to Chris Canaday

See pages 28 and 29. Using Airport Utility (page 29), I don’t see the options the manual says are there. I have done a reset and a full reset (page 28) many times and it has always straightened out the Time Capsule.

Time Capsule Manual

Airport Base Station or Time Capsule Reset

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Answer 3

Apr 21, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Eric Root

Did a hard reset. Seems to have done the trick. Thanks you guys for your help!

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Apr 22, 2016 5:54 AM in response to Chris Canaday

You are welcome.

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Answer 5

notcloudy

Level 4

1,252 points

Apr 22, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Chris Canaday

Chris Canaday wrote:

Did a hard reset. Seems to have done the trick. Thanks you guys for your help!

Disconnecting the drive - and reconnecting without ejecting the drive - confuses OS - you have to eject it - don't have to unplug it - just do a quick restart and its there again (no need to shutdown unless other problems)

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Answer 6

Apr 25, 2016 4:21 PM in response to Chris Canaday

Well, it turned out that the reset did not solve the problem. I replied before the backup was finished but it failed again. I decided to reformat the Time Capsule and try again. However, since I didn't want to go backup-less, I plugged in a brand new USB hard drive and pointed Time Machine to it. Time Machine failed to back up to that drive as well. Seems like the problem is with Time Machine, not the storage media. BTW, This is a brand new iMac that I restored from the Time Capsule but it's looking like the backup was from last January.

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