phkc070408
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Time Capsule Slow to Access

I have a Time Capsule and it is getting extremely full. I want to go into the various backups and remove files that I know I don't need. Also some files are duplicated (I had them on the desktop for a while and then relocated them to the proper folder).

 

Whenever I go into my Time Machine, it takes forever for the contents of a particular backup to load, if it ever loads. Usually it freezes and I have to restart the computer to get out of the time machine.

 

I performed ran first aid on the disk and it found a few things, but it is still failing to load my backups. It gets stuck on "Waiting."

 

Note that this happens on both a MacBoo Pro connected over Wifi as well as a Mac Mini connected through Ethernet.

 

If anyone has any ideas as to what is going on, I would appreciate it. Note that I do have another backup of everything that I keep at a remote location (in case of fire or theft) but I would like to get to the bottom of this.

 

Thank's in advance.


Time Capsule.jpg

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11), September 2015 Model

Posted on Aug 15, 2016 12:50 AM

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phkc070408

Q: Time Capsule Slow to Access

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 15, 2016 5:37 AM in response to phkc070408
    Level 10 (105,448 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 15, 2016 5:37 AM in response to phkc070408
    I have a Time Capsule and it is getting extremely full

    And, that is the real problem.

     

    I want to go into the various backups and remove files that I know I don't need.

    Using the Time Machine interface, it is usually possible to do this.....but, and this is a big BUT.....you will not regain any space on the drive unless you use Terminal to compact the backup file on the Time Capsule.  Terminal is a scary place for most users, and you should not attempt this unless you are familiar with Terminal. To give you idea of what might be involved here, see the pink box in this support document:

     

    http://pondini.org/TM/12.html

     

    For most users, the only real permanent solution here would be to back up all the current data on the Time Capsule to another drive using the Archive function in AirPort Utility.  Since you do already have another backup, you may not need to do this, unless you want to have a second backup of the Time Capsule data.

     

    Then, erase the Time Capsule drive using the Erase command in AirPort Utility.  Choose the Zero Out Data option when you do this, and allow 5-7 hours on average for the process.

     

    Once the Time Capsule drive has been erased, you can start new backups again for each Mac and move forward again.

  • by phkc070408,

    phkc070408 phkc070408 Aug 16, 2016 6:23 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 16, 2016 6:23 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I like the idea of using the terminal to compact the sparsebundles.  While I don't really understand how the Termia works, I'm good at following directions and I did exactly what you told me to do.  Unfortunately I received an error that I can't seem to figure out:

     

     

     

     

    Here are a few lines from my Terminal Window:

     

    compact failed - internal error

     

    Here are a few lines of my Terminal Window:

     

    Mac-mini:~ patrickheld$ sudo hdiutil compact /Volumes/Data/Mac\ mini.sparsebundle

     

    WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss

    or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your

    typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

     

    To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

     

    Password:

    Starting to compact…

    Reclaiming free space…

    hdiutil: compact failed - internal error

    Mac-mini:~ patrickheld$

     

    Can anyone shed some light as to what I'm doing wrong?  Note that I attempted it both with and without "Sudo" as a prefix.

     

    Screen Shot Terminal.png

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 16, 2016 6:45 AM in response to phkc070408
    Level 10 (105,448 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 16, 2016 6:45 AM in response to phkc070408

    I'm sorry, but I did not tell you to use the Terminal. I provided a link to a support document from Pondini....a Time Machine expert.

     

    What I did tell you was that you should not use Terminal unless you are familiar and experienced with the application.

     

    Please hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Time Machine "clock" icon at the top of the screen

    Click on Verify Backups

     

    We ask you to do this to eliminate the possibility that your backups might be corrupted. If they are, then you will not be able to "compact" the sparsebundle file.

     

    The process will take anywhere from about 30-90 minutes or longer.

     

    Post back on your results after you run Verify Disk.

  • by phkc070408,

    phkc070408 phkc070408 Aug 17, 2016 11:24 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 17, 2016 11:24 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    OK, I did this.  While I could see the percentage going up, nothing happened when it was finished.  It just stopped without any prompts or alarms or notifications.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 18, 2016 1:59 AM in response to phkc070408
    Level 10 (105,448 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 18, 2016 1:59 AM in response to phkc070408

    The good news is that your backups are not corrupted.

     

    I cannot provide you with any more information as far as compacting the sparsebundle file using Terminal.  You have two options at this point:

     

    1) Copy the existing backups to another drive, and then erase the Time Capsule drive and start over again with a new backup and move forward.  This would be my recommendation for most users.

     

    2) If you do not want to go with option 1, since Time Machine is part of the Mac operating system, start a new post in the support forum for El Capitan and ask for assistance in using Terminal to compact the sparsebundle file.

     

    OS X El Capitan

     

    Be sure to mention "compact sparsebundle" in the title or heading of the post to attract views from users who are experienced with troubleshooting this process.

     

    For what it is worth, I have had no trouble using the Terminal command in the link that I provided above, but I do not know enough about Terminal to troubleshoot specific issues with the application. So, you would want advice from a Terminal guru on that topic if you want to try to compact the sparsebundle file.

     

    Good luck!