ThornX
Level 1 (9 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Time Machine Hangs on File Application I Deleted

Hi there:

 

I'm trying to do a fresh install on my parent's computer because Flash Player has been throughly broken somehow. I cannot uninstall or update it.

 

That's not my problem right now though. Their backup drive was on its last legs so I had to get a new one and Time Machine is hanging on various applications first it was office, which I excluded, now it's iDVD. I tried excluding it first but Time Machine kept trying to back it up. So, since my parents don't use it and it's no longer supported I thought to uninstall it. I deleted the program and it's corresponding application support folder, and did a search in Finder for any remaining files. None, zip.

 

However, Time machine is still trying to backup files I can't find for the life of me. It would do iDVD -Themes 1, 2, 3, etc. I can't exclude them in Time Machine because it's not there. I have deleted the partial backups each time and it keeps on hanging at 19.25gb on iDVD.

 

Please, please help. I have spent a ridiculous amount of time on is already and need to just get this done.

 

I look forward to anyone's insights.

 

Thank you,

 

Justin

 

Edit: Typo.

Time Machine, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Oct 1, 2016 8:36 PM

by Drew Reece,Solvedanswer
Drew Reece Drew Reece
Level 5 (7,813 points)
Notebooks
A:

Your final aim is to reinstall the OS & then restore the user data?

I'd forget about making a Time Machine backup & make a full bootable clone instead.

 

Time Machine is OK for 'oops I deleted some important file 3 days ago & now I need it back' moments but I don't recommend it as the only backup or for anything you hope to restore to another installation - it is just too slow & can fail as it fills up with years of data. When you start excluding data from TM you are not going to get a full restore anyway so it simply adds to the amount of reinstalling you will have to do anyway and you are not really helping matters by only excluding parts you know about - the receipts, tools and other metadata will still be elsewhere in the backups.

 

I would erase the new backup disk & use Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to make a bootable backup on that disk.

http://bombich.com/

http://shirtpocket.com/

Keep your old Time Machine disk as a second copy.

 

Both will make a clone for free, pay if you want to make scheduled clones (you can't have too many backups). Once completed reboot from the clone to check it is intact (just to be sure, hold alt to switch boot disks at startup). Then you can erase the internal disk & reinstall OS X. I would also make a USB bootable installer for the OS you intend to install, it makes erasing the old system easy & installing the new on easy too. Either of these will make a USB flash drive into a bootable installer…

Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

http://diskmakerx.com/

 

Once reinstalled use Migration Assistant (or Setup Assistant that runs on first boot) to move the old users onto the Mac from the backup. I would avoid moving 'Applications' & 'other data' as these may contain your broken Flash installation files. You will need to reinstall the applications manually if you choose that option.

 

P.S. Why install Flash at all? Google Chrome has Flash bundled with the browser. Just use that for sites that still use Flash player.

Posted on Oct 12, 2016 12:32 PM

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ThornX

Q: Time Machine Hangs on File Application I Deleted

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Oct 2, 2016 10:00 AM in response to ThornX
    Level 9 (74,535 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 2, 2016 10:00 AM in response to ThornX

    Try re-indexing Spotlight.

     

    Spotlight – Re-index

     

    Start with A4 in the 1st linked article.

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting

     

    Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems


     

    Troubleshooting backup issues

  • by Drew Reece,Solvedanswer

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Oct 12, 2016 12:32 PM in response to ThornX
    Level 5 (7,813 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 12, 2016 12:32 PM in response to ThornX

    Your final aim is to reinstall the OS & then restore the user data?

    I'd forget about making a Time Machine backup & make a full bootable clone instead.

     

    Time Machine is OK for 'oops I deleted some important file 3 days ago & now I need it back' moments but I don't recommend it as the only backup or for anything you hope to restore to another installation - it is just too slow & can fail as it fills up with years of data. When you start excluding data from TM you are not going to get a full restore anyway so it simply adds to the amount of reinstalling you will have to do anyway and you are not really helping matters by only excluding parts you know about - the receipts, tools and other metadata will still be elsewhere in the backups.

     

    I would erase the new backup disk & use Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to make a bootable backup on that disk.

    http://bombich.com/

    http://shirtpocket.com/

    Keep your old Time Machine disk as a second copy.

     

    Both will make a clone for free, pay if you want to make scheduled clones (you can't have too many backups). Once completed reboot from the clone to check it is intact (just to be sure, hold alt to switch boot disks at startup). Then you can erase the internal disk & reinstall OS X. I would also make a USB bootable installer for the OS you intend to install, it makes erasing the old system easy & installing the new on easy too. Either of these will make a USB flash drive into a bootable installer…

    Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

    http://diskmakerx.com/

     

    Once reinstalled use Migration Assistant (or Setup Assistant that runs on first boot) to move the old users onto the Mac from the backup. I would avoid moving 'Applications' & 'other data' as these may contain your broken Flash installation files. You will need to reinstall the applications manually if you choose that option.

     

    P.S. Why install Flash at all? Google Chrome has Flash bundled with the browser. Just use that for sites that still use Flash player.

  • by ThornX,

    ThornX ThornX Oct 3, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 3, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thank you for your reply. I'll try this!

  • by ThornX,

    ThornX ThornX Oct 3, 2016 2:07 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 3, 2016 2:07 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thank you for your response! I have always been leary of third party software, but I think it's more of an irrational fear then one based in fact.

     

    I'm going to try this. I should really try more outside the box items here. I think switching to Mac use has made me a little lazy in looking at new software out there. I think my parents just liked Safari so they were using that. I'll see if they will switch over.

     

    Edit: Oh one note I would make is that I bought an SSD for them so it will be completely empty of any Apple Data at boot. Do you think I should change anything from what you mentioned above?

     

    Thanks again!

     

    Justin

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Oct 3, 2016 6:04 PM in response to ThornX
    Level 5 (7,813 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 3, 2016 6:04 PM in response to ThornX

    Safari is an OK browser & can get the job done. Install Flash if you must have it supported there.

     

    Unfortunately I think there are too many terrible adverts and malware that claim to be 'Flash updates'. It is simplest to tell novice users to avoid Flash at all costs unless they understand how to only apply updates directly from Adobe.com.

     

    Chrome autoupdates & manages to keep Flash up to date too. If they can handle that for Flash it seems safer since Flash is becoming rarer on the web.

     

    I don't fully understand the question about Apple data at boot? You will need to install an OS onto it to get it to work but that can be done via recovery mode or via an USB installer etc. Basically you need a bootable source somewhere to be able to prepare the new disk & install OS X, many tend to put the old disk into a case or drive caddy so they can still access the data - that seems like a reasonable option to me.

     

    It is up to you if you want to migrate the user data & other apps from the old installation, personally I find avoiding it is best if the last OS was in a damaged/ misconfigured state.