Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Running a late 2009 iMac on the latest version of Sierra
My time machine backups have become erratic
They don't automatically backup but run perfectly if I initiate the process
This is a brand new problem
I have run disk utility for my external drive and it is fine
I have rebooted
They run on the hourly schedule for a while but then it stops
ANY help appreciated
Mark
iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.1)
Other than the absence of backups that should have occurred but didn't, the TM log entries are not indicating anything wrong.
Read If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support. If you can find no solution then Contact Support. Most likely, Apple will have you repeat everything you did, ultimately followed by reinstalling macOS, so you might as well do that anyway.
Other than the absence of backups that should have occurred but didn't, the TM log entries are not indicating anything wrong.
Read If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support. If you can find no solution then Contact Support. Most likely, Apple will have you repeat everything you did, ultimately followed by reinstalling macOS, so you might as well do that anyway.
It's generally unhelpful because the vast majority of problems are the result of some other cause that would remain undiagnosed. It's best to investigate those other potential causes first.
It is simple enough to do though, and won't alter your existing data, which is the reason I suggested you try it anyway.
If that fixes the problem, as it appears it has, then the cause was a failure for the automatic backup process to be scheduled. Whatever that was will unfortunately remain a mystery.
Last login: Sun Jan 8 16:28:02 on ttys000
Marks-Mac:~ marksmac$
[Restored Jan 11, 2017, 7:00:15 PM]
cat /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto.plist
Restored session: Mon Jan 9 06:09:38 EST 2017
Marks-Mac:~ marksmac$ cat /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>MachServices</key>
<dict>
<key>com.apple.backupd-helper.status</key>
<dict>
<key>HideUntilCheckIn</key>
<true/>
</dict>
<key>com.apple.backupd-auto</key>
<true/>
</dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>com.apple.backup.launcher</string>
<key>Label</key>
<string>com.apple.backupd-auto</string>
<key>Disabled</key>
<true/>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd- helper</string>
<string>-launchd</string>
</array>
<key>LaunchEvents</key>
<dict>
<key>com.apple.xpc.activity</key>
<dict>
<key>com.apple.backupd-auto</key>
<dict>
<key>Interval</key>
<integer>3600</integer>
<key>Delay</key>
<integer>3600</integer>
<key>GracePeriod</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>Repeating</key>
<true/>
<key>AllowBattery</key>
<true/>
<key>PowerNap</key>
<true/>
<key>Priority</key>
<string>Utility</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>
<key>KeepAlive</key>
<true/>
<key>EnableTransactions</key>
<true/>
<key>POSIXSpawnType</key>
<string>Background</string>
<key>EnablePressuredExit</key>
<true/>
</dict>
</plist>
Marks-Mac:~ marksmac$
Marks-Mac:~ marksmac$
I did all that "reconnecting" for a couple of times and even booted my Mac but backups are still not working. I downloaded a few gigas of files last night just to test before I went to sleep and it still haven't back up them yet. "Lastest backup to Time Machine Yesterday 21:01"...
This is a really annoying problem. How could this problem be fairly common but nobody can say why is this happening? Any additional help would be appreciated!
My problem: Time Machine don't back up automatically
Sierra's TM no longer runs on an strict hourly schedule. It runs when files have been changed and require backup.
I suggest "reconnecting" to the Time Machine backup disk:
Open Time Machine Preferences and de-select the Back Up Automatically checkbox. Make sure no backups are in progress, otherwise you'll have to wait for it to finish or terminate.
Then, click the "Select Disk..." button, select the backup disk, then Remove Disk, then Stop Using This Disk.
If you designated more than one backup destination, the "Select Disk..." button is replaced by an "Add or Remove Backup Disk..." option. You have to scroll through the list of backup disks for that option to become visible.
That will not affect any existing backups.
Then, Select Disk... again. Re-select the same one under Available Disks, then Use Disk. If the backup is on a network (TC or AEBS), you will be prompted for the password you provided for that disk in AirPort Utility.
"Waiting to complete first backup" will appear, which means it won't do anything until the next scheduled backup. That does not mean it needs to create a completely new backup, as if it's creating a brand new one. Your existing backups will still be available.
If you don't want to wait that long, select Back Up Now.
A Notification may appear if your source volume is encrypted and the backup volume is not. That's normal.
Re-select Back Up Automatically. The "Preparing Backup..." status message will remain for a long time. Eventually, "Backing up xxx of yyy" will appear, but those values will not be accurate, nor will the "Estimated time remaining" in Time Machine's Preferences. Just ignore it. It may take a few hours even if your Mac is not allowed to sleep. Time Machine will also pause or become slow if you use your Mac for tasks it considers a higher priority, which is new in Sierra.
thank you - I suspected but didnt know that Sierra changed time machine - the app still says hourly backups
However, I created a simple text edit file and saved it to my desktop
Let me see if that "wakes up" time machine before I do anything else
Will report back and thanks
If you examine its logs you will find entries such as "Re-scheduled next backup in 60 to 90 minutes" implying it is no longer following a strict hourly schedule.
TM has also been relegated to a lower priority, and automatic backups will not occur if your Mac is preoccupied with higher priority tasks.
this is very interesting
here is what has happened today:
I updated some software - Time Machine did a backup
I went out - time machine has not done a backup in 10 hours
Is this normal and to be expected?
If i start a backup it completes without issue
OH - BTW - I did all the steps that you suggested (thanks)
To extract relevant Time Machine activity consider using the following shell script:
clear; printf '\e[3J' && log show --predicate 'subsystem == "com.apple.TimeMachine"' --info --last 48h | grep -F 'eMac' | grep -Fv 'etat' | awk -F']' '{print substr($0,1,19), $NF}'Copy (triple-click to select the entire line) and Paste that line in a Terminal window. The Terminal app is in your Mac's Utilities folder.
It extracts Time Machine activity logged during the previous 48 hours. To change that time period change that value. If Time Machine is running there is no need to interrupt TM to use it. Be advised that is fairly resource-intensive, and if you are using a portable Mac it will consume a lot of battery power as it runs.
log will need a few moments to extract the Time Machine log data. Wait for it to finish. It is normal for its results to include various "errors" and "failures" and none of them are necessarily an indication of anything wrong.
Copy (Edit > Select All and then Copy) and Paste that Terminal window's contents in a reply to this Discussion. Please omit or obscure any information that you may consider personal.
2017-01-06 16:53:10 Starting automatic backup
2017-01-06 16:53:11 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-06 16:53:13 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-06 16:53:18 Will copy (220.9 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-06 16:53:18 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-06 16:53:18 Found 401 files (220.9 MB) needing backup
2017-01-06 16:53:18 2.02 GB required (including padding), 933.14 GB available
2017-01-06 16:54:00 Copied 541 items (220.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 5312.
2017-01-06 16:54:02 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-06 16:54:03 Created new backup: 2017-01-06-165402
2017-01-06 16:54:03 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-06 16:54:05 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-06 16:54:05 No post-backup thinning needed: no expired backups exist
2017-01-06 16:54:05 Backup completed successfully.
2017-01-06 17:46:18 Starting automatic backup
2017-01-06 17:46:19 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-06 17:46:21 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-06 17:46:26 Will copy (10.3 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-06 17:46:26 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-06 17:46:26 Found 351 files (10.3 MB) needing backup
2017-01-06 17:46:26 1.77 GB required (including padding), 932.91 GB available
2017-01-06 17:47:17 Copied 486 items (10.2 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 7420.
2017-01-06 17:47:19 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-06 17:47:19 Created new backup: 2017-01-06-174719
2017-01-06 17:47:19 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-06 17:47:22 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-06 17:47:22 No post-backup thinning needed: no expired backups exist
2017-01-06 17:47:22 Backup completed successfully.
2017-01-07 08:03:01 Starting manual backup
2017-01-07 08:03:12 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-07 08:03:38 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 08:05:03 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-07 08:05:10 Will copy (265.2 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-07 08:05:10 Found 960 files (265.2 MB) needing backup
2017-01-07 08:05:10 2.08 GB required (including padding), 932.89 GB available
2017-01-07 08:05:13 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-07 08:15:42 Copied 1226 items (266.4 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 12880.
2017-01-07 08:16:00 Created new backup: 2017-01-07-081558
2017-01-07 08:16:00 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 08:16:04 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-07 08:17:48 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2016-12-08-010247 (681.5 MB)
2017-01-07 08:18:09 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-05-235057 (6.4 MB)
2017-01-07 08:18:18 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-05-225135 (4.9 MB)
2017-01-07 08:18:27 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-05-215015 (74.3 MB)
2017-01-07 08:18:48 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-05-205243 (203.3 MB)
2017-01-07 08:18:48 Post-backup thinning complete: 5 expired backups removed
2017-01-07 08:18:49 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 08:18:50 Backup completed successfully.
2017-01-07 10:10:01 com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job disabled
2017-01-07 10:10:01 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 10:10:02 com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job enabled
2017-01-07 10:10:15 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 10:10:32 Starting manual backup
2017-01-07 10:10:34 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-07 10:10:50 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 10:11:46 Will copy (285.1 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-07 10:11:46 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-07 10:11:46 Found 848 files (285.1 MB) needing backup
2017-01-07 10:11:46 2.09 GB required (including padding), 933.62 GB available
2017-01-07 10:16:44 Copied 1032 items (286.6 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 11763.
2017-01-07 10:16:45 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-07 10:16:47 Created new backup: 2017-01-07-101645
2017-01-07 10:16:47 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 10:16:51 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-07 10:17:55 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-05-193953 (294.5 MB)
2017-01-07 10:18:04 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-094707 (14.9 MB)
2017-01-07 10:18:12 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-084724 (5.7 MB)
2017-01-07 10:18:18 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-075842 (76.3 MB)
2017-01-07 10:18:29 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-065103 (221.3 MB)
2017-01-07 10:18:29 Post-backup thinning complete: 5 expired backups removed
2017-01-07 10:18:30 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 10:18:29 Backup completed successfully.
2017-01-07 12:04:58 com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job disabled
2017-01-07 12:04:58 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:05:06 com.apple.TMHelperAgent.SetupOffer enabled
2017-01-07 12:05:06 com.apple.TMHelperAgent.SetupOffer enabled
2017-01-07 12:05:07 com.apple.TMHelperAgent.SetupOffer enabled
2017-01-07 12:05:10 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:05:11 com.apple.TMHelperAgent.SetupOffer enabled
2017-01-07 12:05:22 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:05:22 com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job enabled
2017-01-07 12:05:36 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:05:55 Starting manual backup
2017-01-07 12:05:55 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:05:56 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-07 12:06:06 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:06:12 Will copy (268.5 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-07 12:06:12 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-07 12:06:12 Found 731 files (268.5 MB) needing backup
2017-01-07 12:06:12 2.07 GB required (including padding), 933.97 GB available
2017-01-07 12:07:30 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:12:46 Copied 1159 items (269.3 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 7139.
2017-01-07 12:12:47 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-07 12:12:48 Created new backup: 2017-01-07-121247
2017-01-07 12:12:49 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:12:51 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-07 12:13:19 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-115022 (45.8 MB)
2017-01-07 12:13:31 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-104950 (88.5 MB)
2017-01-07 12:13:38 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-055037 (7.6 MB)
2017-01-07 12:13:44 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-045034 (2.9 MB)
2017-01-07 12:13:49 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-034608 (3.4 MB)
2017-01-07 12:13:49 Post-backup thinning complete: 5 expired backups removed
2017-01-07 12:13:49 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 12:13:49 Backup completed successfully.
2017-01-07 13:53:30 Starting automatic backup
2017-01-07 13:53:30 Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb
2017-01-07 13:54:25 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 13:55:00 Will copy (Zero KB) from Files Drive
2017-01-07 13:55:03 Will copy (362.9 MB) from Macintosh HD
2017-01-07 13:55:03 Found 2297 files (362.9 MB) needing backup
2017-01-07 13:55:04 2.18 GB required (including padding), 933.87 GB available
2017-01-07 13:55:05 Copied 1 items (Zero KB) from volume Files Drive. Linked 2.
2017-01-07 13:59:57 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 14:01:21 Error: (-8084) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/marksmac/Library/Safari/LastSession.plist to (null)
2017-01-07 14:06:18 Error: (-8084) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/marksmac/Library/Safari/RecentlyClosedTabs.plist to (null)
2017-01-07 14:06:27 Copied 2456 items (353.8 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 6825.
2017-01-07 14:06:38 Created new backup: 2017-01-07-140638
2017-01-07 14:06:39 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 14:06:41 Starting post-backup thinning
2017-01-07 14:07:07 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-134838 (4.4 MB)
2017-01-07 14:07:31 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-125642 (130.8 MB)
2017-01-07 14:07:43 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-025036 (8.2 MB)
2017-01-07 14:07:50 Deleted /Volumes/Seagate Backup Plus Drive/Backups.backupdb/Mark's Mac/2017-01-06-015100 (7.6 MB)
2017-01-07 14:07:50 Post-backup thinning complete: 4 expired backups removed
2017-01-07 14:07:50 Failed to send message because the port couldn't be created.
2017-01-07 14:07:50 Backup completed successfully.
Marks-Mac:~ marksmac$
well - the biggest problem I see is that it didnt initiate a backup at all on 1/8/17
I dont know why since I added two large excel files to my Documents folder during the day
What do you see?
One weird thing I noticed this morning - when I go into Time Machine (the finder windows)
and I click on All My Files (the default view is desktop) - it shows me files that were not on my mac the day in question
For example I went back to October 2016 - the All My Files View shows me files added in January 2017
I must say I am very very concerned about what is going on
Any help is appreciated
Mark
Those files should be backed up upon the next scheduled or manual backup. Scheduled backups won't occur if the Mac is preoccupied with higher priority tasks, or if it is in sleep mode or off (obviously).
If something is wrong I'm not seeing it from that log excerpt. The ultimate test is to change the file or files, initiate a backup, let it finish, and then "Enter Time Machine" and determine if you can restore an easier version.
thanks again John
The issue is this - it initiates backups and then it stops - it will backup successfully I initiate a backup but once it stops running automatically it stops.
My mac never goes to sleep - it does kick off a screen saver after 30 minutes.
Also - what about this:
One weird thing I noticed this morning - when I go into Time Machine (the finder windows)
and I click on All My Files (the default view is desktop) - it shows me files that were not on my mac the day in question
For example I went back to October 2016 - the All My Files View shows me files added in January 2017
I did try to restore a December file that was showing in the October finder - Time Machine said that the file didn't exist.
If I just look at desktop files in the finder and go back in time - files that didn't exist at that date will not be in the finder.
I just never had issues with TM before - it always kicked itself off and that was that
Mark
Maybe I don't understand what the problem is. Automatic backups occurred at the following dates and times:
2017-01-06 16:53:10 Starting automatic backup
2017-01-06 17:46:18 Starting automatic backup
2017-01-07 13:53:30 Starting automatic backup
In addition to them, you performed a couple of manual backups which delayed any previously scheduled backup. Everything completed normally.
If you just use the Mac normally, are you observing that automatic backups no longer occur, ever? That would be a problem.
You can run that script at any time, but if a backup should occur and nothing happens at all (in other words, a failure to find the backup device or similar error is not logged), the script won't reveal anything. That might imply something wrong elsewhere.
<string>/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd- helper</string>I would like to believe the extra whitespace between backupd- and helper is a result of the way this site rendered that copy / paste, but if that is in fact a space character as it appears to be, it will definitely prevent TM from working correctly.
Although that file can be edited using an appropriate text editor, I suggest not attempting to correct that discrepancy. I'd reinstall Sierra instead.
time machine stopped working