Paulbw

Q: Time Machine Backup stalls

Am using a mid 2012 Mac Book Pro MBP running 10.11.6 with a third generation Time Capsule TM with current firmware. Have backups on the TM going back to 2012. Since installing the last El Capitan update - a security update - I've not been able to backup to my TM ie. the Time Machine backup will start and progress to for instance to 2.6g of 3.7g and it will stall with no change for 6 hours - cover up and computer set not to sleep. Am connected to the TM with an ethernet cable. This has happened twice now. Have verified the TM via Airport Utility and am verifying the backup for the second time. Have tried deleting the In Progress plist with possibly no benefit but at least now Time Machine progresses to actually trying to backup. Less than half of the TM is full. Have tried Disk Utility and Disk Warrior on my MBP. Trash is empty on both MBP and TM.

 

Any ideas would be most appreciated.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Time Capsule 3rd generaton

Posted on Sep 29, 2016 8:24 AM

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Q: Time Machine Backup stalls

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  • by Lindsay_B.,

    Lindsay_B. Lindsay_B. Sep 30, 2016 9:41 AM in response to Paulbw
    Community Specialists
    Sep 30, 2016 9:41 AM in response to Paulbw
    Hi, Paulbw!


    Thanks for reaching out via the Apple Support Communities. After reviewing your post, I understand that you are having trouble getting Time Machine to complete a backup after updating your OS X El Capitan software. I rely on Time Machine to keep my own data safe, so I definitely want to help make sure yours is working as expected!


    It sounds like you've tried a few things on your own already, and since those steps haven't helped I would recommend going through the following article, trying all steps that you have not done already.

    If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine


    Have a great day!
  • by Paulbw,

    Paulbw Paulbw Oct 1, 2016 11:13 AM in response to Lindsay_B.
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 11:13 AM in response to Lindsay_B.

    Lindsay,

     

    Appreciate your comments  but have done everything suggested. Currently, I have a backup underway to the Time Capsule (TC) since last evening 9/30/16 at 1930. Went quickly to about 300 mb with 3.09 gb to backup. It is still going with 4.64 gb of 9.69 gb to go as of 1130, 1 October - @14 hours later with an increased amount of data to backup? Very, very slow.... TM/TC seem to work episodically ie. will backup 1 gig in a few minutes or so and then stall for hours - just noticed that - went from 3.09 gb to 4.64 in 15 minutes....and stalled again...

     

    Should not have done it but used DiskWarrior on the TC - an Airport Utility restart indicated no problems. After doing that, at least the program progressed to actually  - I think - backing up. However, when entering TM, the backup dates are given but the backup window is titled Waiting:... Assume the TM needs to catalog all the past data? Does the TC do the cataloging or is the MBP doing it? Or, is the data effectively lost?

     

    In a quandary of what I should do. If the backup TM data is lost, I should probably backup my critical files to a flash drive and Erase/reformat the Time Capsule starting clean. Or, just wait out the current backup which may take a few more days? Or, is the Time Capsule essentially dead - it is 3rd generation bought in June '11 - serial #s6***acg? Or, do you have other recommendations?

     

    Much appreciate your help. Nice to know someone is out there...

     

    Paul


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  • by Paulbw,

    Paulbw Paulbw Oct 1, 2016 1:10 PM in response to Paulbw
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 1:10 PM in response to Paulbw

    Lindsay,

     

    The backup finished sometime after 1301 today, 1 Oct, with 4.77 of 9.69 but before 1538 when i got back to the machine and it is now "Cleaning Up". Almost 18 hours to back up! Will be patient till tomorrow morning. If it is still cleaning up tomorrow morning, think I'll "Skip Cleaning Up". Will let you know the result.

     

    Many thanks. Paul

  • by Paulbw,

    Paulbw Paulbw Oct 1, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Paulbw
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Paulbw

    Lindsay,

     

    Just checked, 1635, and it appears all my TM/TC backups are available. Still Cleaning Up.

     

    Many thanks. Paul

  • by Eric Root,Solvedanswer

    Eric Root Eric Root Oct 1, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Paulbw
    Level 9 (72,619 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 1, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Paulbw

    Let it finish. It may be repairing itself.

  • by Paulbw,

    Paulbw Paulbw Oct 1, 2016 6:15 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 6:15 PM in response to Eric Root

    You appear to be correct. It just takes a long, long time with no progress then finishes!

     

    Paul

  • by Paulbw,

    Paulbw Paulbw Oct 2, 2016 3:24 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 3:24 PM in response to Eric Root

    Eric,

     

    Yesterday thought I had a full backup as it finished and started Cleaning up. However, now today, it seems to have disappeared. When entering TM, there are no past backups and the TM Preference panel shows no backups... Probably should not have gotten frustrated and used Diskwarrior on it. As there is nothing really needed, think I'll just erase it with Airport and start afresh.

     

    Thank for your encouragement. Paul

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Oct 2, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Paulbw
    Level 9 (72,619 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 2, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Paulbw