JWR9

Q: Can't open encrypted disk image on Time Machine

I have a password-protected encrypted folder in my Macbook Pro.  The folder's name is "Enc.dmg," and is kept in the main Applications folder. If I unmount the the dmg folder before a Time Machine backup, it theoretically seems to back it up.  But when I later enter Time Machine and go into Applications, and click on the Enc.dmg file, it doesn't open; it doesn't mount the disk image and prompt me to enter the password.  Instead, a non-functional information box pops up.  The box contains useless information. It just tells me that it's a dmg file.

 

If my computer ever crashes or is lost/stolen, and I can't access my encrypted file on Time Machine, I'll be in big trouble.  Is there any way to actually make a dmg function properly in Time Machine mode?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), null

Posted on Aug 14, 2016 1:08 AM

Close

Q: Can't open encrypted disk image on Time Machine

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Eric Root,Solvedanswer

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 14, 2016 7:51 PM in response to JWR9
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 14, 2016 7:51 PM in response to JWR9

    Are you restoring the file before attempting to open it? It shouldn't open in Time Machine.

  • by JWR9,

    JWR9 JWR9 Aug 14, 2016 6:47 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 6:47 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks, that really helped.  For some reason, several of my T.M. backups are incomplete or corrupted (but I never interrupted the backup process; it should have worked. Also Disk Doc says my ext. hard drive for Time Machine is ok).  On several past dates in T.M. the Restore option wasn't there; didn't work.  But after reading your reply I looked at another backup from a day before, and I was able to restore and open it. So I guess it's ok...sort of.  T.M. backups seem kind of hit or miss to me.  To help prevent something really bad from happening, I now manually back up the entire encrypted folder on a USB drive daily; as well as on T.M. 

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 14, 2016 7:32 PM in response to JWR9
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 14, 2016 7:32 PM in response to JWR9

    You are welcome.

     

    Start with A4 in the 1st linked article.

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems