LuvMyAppleBut
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: time machine could not complete backup to My Passport

Since updating to Sierra, I continue to get the following error message for what used to be automatic backups to Time Machine.  I can only backup manually by un-mounting and remounting the drive but ti won't backup automatically any longer?!  When I just leave the external drive connected by USB to my iMac (like I have always done prior to updating to Sierra) it just backups in the background and I don't have to do anything.  Now, if I leave it plugged into the iMac it repeatedly 'fails'.

First I see a pop up that tells me it failed and when I click 'details' it says this: IMG_5156.JPG

When I go to Disk Utility and run First Aid on My Passport for Mac I get this:

IMG_5161.JPG

I ran the FULL disk checkup utility for the Western Digital external drive and it all checked out with a green check all was ok with the external disk...I even ran the FULL check which took several hours.

 

Something, I suspect, about the Sierra OS update and the auto backup to My Passport got messed up!

 

Please advise if there is a known fix! 

iMac with Retina 5K display, iOS 10.0.2, 10.12

Posted on Oct 9, 2016 3:59 PM

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LuvMyAppleBut

Q: time machine could not complete backup to My Passport

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  • Helpful answers

  • by pamfrombalwyn,

    pamfrombalwyn pamfrombalwyn Oct 9, 2016 5:57 PM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 2 (365 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 9, 2016 5:57 PM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    I assume you have tried shutting down the computer, unplugging all devices (especially the backup disk)... replug power and restart 'safe boot' shut down again and restart normally and THEN attach your backup disk.

     

    After all of above I would try the time machine backup again.

  • by LuvMyAppleBut,

    LuvMyAppleBut LuvMyAppleBut Oct 10, 2016 5:54 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2016 5:54 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    FullSizeRender.jpg

  • by LuvMyAppleBut,

    LuvMyAppleBut LuvMyAppleBut Oct 10, 2016 5:55 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2016 5:55 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    I have run WD Utilities twice (FULL scans) each taking several hours.  Both times I get the indication of a green check and that everything is OK with the WD disc.

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Oct 10, 2016 6:10 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 7 (24,415 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 10, 2016 6:10 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    No answers but two questions and an observation:

    1. the latest screen shot shows your WD device to be a RAID. Is this correct?
    2. have you contacted WD to find out if your device is compatible with Sierra?

     

    Western Digital's enclosures use proprietary chipsets and seem to engender more complaints here than any other drive manufacturer. This may just be a matter of numbers, perhaps WD sells more external drives than other manufacturers but there is no denying that an external drive that is industry compliant should not break with an OS upgrade or update but this is something that happens somewhat frequently with WD drives.

  • by LuvMyAppleBut,

    LuvMyAppleBut LuvMyAppleBut Oct 10, 2016 6:30 AM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2016 6:30 AM in response to dwb

    I went to the WD support site.  From there, I was referred to the Apple Store to look into an update for the driver.  The language specifically stated to go to my Mac to request any updates to the driver.  When I run check for updates from the Apple Store,I get a message no updates available.

     

    The disc will back up, and time machine will run, each time I unmount, disconnect and reconnect OR reboot the machine but it no longer will back up routinely on its own.  I leave my iMac running a rarely reboot it as I am told this is harder on the HD than letting it run continually in sleep mode when not in use...  but with this now I will have to reboot every time I want to back up my sfuff which seems like it should not be necessary. 

  • by LuvMyAppleBut,

    LuvMyAppleBut LuvMyAppleBut Oct 10, 2016 6:36 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2016 6:36 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    What does RAID even mean?

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Oct 10, 2016 10:48 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 7 (24,415 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 10, 2016 10:48 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    RAID stands for redundant array of inexpensive drives. At one time it was used just for making a lot of small hard drives look like one big drive. As time went on more types of RAID configurations were added, for example having two drives be exact mirrors of each other or having data "striped" to drives with some data writing to on one while other data being written to others making for very fast saves. Many external drive manufacturers use RAID 0 to make two hard drives appear as if they are one because it lets them sell large capacity drives using multiple less expensive lower capacity drives. I know WD sells RAIDs but since I won't buy WD external drives I don't know what kind of RAID they use.

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Oct 10, 2016 10:54 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut
    Level 7 (24,415 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 10, 2016 10:54 AM in response to LuvMyAppleBut

    You are getting WD's typical run around - the reason I refuse to do business with the company. There is no need for an industry standard external drive to require updated drivers. If you have a WD RAID it is up to the company to provide a firmware update it their drive isn't compatible with Apple's operating system.