Time Machine seems not to be working?

playethic · 05:56 AM

When I click on Time Machine, I just get a space-image with multiple Finder windows on top of one another.
I don't get anything that actually lets me select anything.

I think it used to really clearly just give me an option of backing up.

Can anyone tell me how to fix it?

This should hopefully be a screenshot

It looks to me like it says my last backup was Oct 2011 (ah!)

I should add that I yesterday reformatted the external drive.

blueroom · Jan 14, 2013, 10:59 PM

You're looking at the restore part of TM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

Stooby Mcdoobie · Jan 14, 2013, 11:10 PM

Please put large images in [timg][/timg] tags. Makes the rest of your post easier to view/read.

playethic · Jan 14, 2013, 11:11 PM

I looked at that, but still can't figure it out...
I don't want to restore what was on my external hard drive.
I want it to start backing up what's on my laptop (so I want it to come out of restore mode)
How do I do that?

Appreciate all suggestions

blueroom · Jan 14, 2013, 11:14 PM

The drive must be formatted as HFS+

Then launch TM from System Preferences then Select Disk
Choose your external disk and wait. It'll take awhile.

playethic · Jan 14, 2013, 11:26 PM

Thank you, it seems to be working!

Assuming all goes well, from now on will I need to launch TM through System Preferences or can I do it normally?

Did I format wrong in selecting HFS+? (I'm on MacBook Pro)

blueroom · Jan 14, 2013, 11:29 PM

HFS+ is correct.
TM is completely automatic backup. You'll see the clock spinning every now and then. Unless you need to restore; do nothing.

playethic · Jan 14, 2013, 11:45 PM

I really appreciate the help.

These forums are amazing.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 01:00 AM

Me again.
All went well up to 1/3 of the way through the TM backup progress bar.
Then it said it wasn't ejected properly.
Then it crashed and wouldn't force quit, and the computer had to reboot.
System Preferences will start again, but every time I try to launch TM I get that spinning-coloured-fan-program-crashed image, and either I have to Force Quit System Preferences, or sometimes System Preferences won't let me Force Quit and I have to reboot.

Is my external hard drive corrupted still (yesterday I reformatted it), or has it died a young death, or....?

Appreciate suggestions,

Weaselboy · Jan 15, 2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playethic

Me again.
All went well up to 1/3 of the way through the TM backup progress bar.
Then it said it wasn't ejected properly.
Then it crashed and wouldn't force quit, and the computer had to reboot.
System Preferences will start again, but every time I try to launch TM I get that spinning-coloured-fan-program-crashed image, and either I have to Force Quit System Preferences, or sometimes System Preferences won't let me Force Quit and I have to reboot.

Is my external hard drive corrupted still (yesterday I reformatted it), or has it died a young death, or....?

Appreciate suggestions,

Turn off Time Machine, then attached the USB drive and start Disk Utility. Select the drive in Disk Util then click repair disk and see what you get.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 03:47 PM

It says that 'The partition map appears to be okay'.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 03:58 PM

But then when I try to run TM, I get this -

The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 04:01 PM

Reformat the external drive and try again.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 04:11 PM

And then as with earlier, this message appears

The disk was not ejected properly. If possible, always eject a disk before unplugging it or turning it off.

Although the disk has not been ejected/unplugged.

----------

I did reformat the external drive.
These attempts are since the reformat.

Do these problems mean the problem is TM, or a broken external hard drive, or...?

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 04:12 PM

I've had cheap USB drives disconnect at random. Could simply be not enough power from the USB port on your MacBook.

Is it a name brand USB drive? How old is your Mac, which OS?

A "Y" USB cable (extra power), powered USB hub or powered USB enclosure would be what I'd try.

Personally I use a Synology NAS to do TM, but lots of folks use USB drives.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 04:16 PM

Just missed your message, posted above.

Actually I did reformat the external hard drive. These attempts are all since the reformatting.

Do you think this means the problem is with TM, or that my ext. hard drive is broken, or...?

----------

It's an iOmega - portable external hard drive

----------

Mac is less than 6 mths. old, & I think 10.6.4 (curiously, 'About this Mac' currently doesn't open anything)

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playethic

Mac is less than 6 mths. old, & I think 10.6.4 (curiously, 'About this Mac' currently doesn't open anything)

6 month old Mac running a two year old OSX? Didn't think SL could be installed on a Mac made in the last 6 months.

Since About this Mac isn't working I'd suspect there's trouble with the OS. Did you buy it new from Apple? If not where did you get it?

Backup what you can to the cloud, DropBox, SkyDrive for starters.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 04:51 PM

I did buy it from an Apple store, and it is covered.

It sounds like I should take it in to be checked?

I might be wrong about the OS, as I can't currently check.. .but it was about 6 mths. ago I purchased it.

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 04:53 PM

Six months ago, should be 10.8.x Mountain Lion. And About this Mac should work. I'd take it in to Apple just to have it looked at.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 04:55 PM

Another question... I'm looking on the Apple Support pages, about TM not backing up. One of the things it says under 'resolution' is,

'Select a new partition scheme:
Use Apple Partition Map partition scheme if the disk will be used with Time Machine and a PowerPC-based Mac.
Use GUID partition scheme if the disk will be used with Time Machine and a Intel-based Mac.'

How can I tell if I'm Intel-based or not? (I'm MacBook Pro). I'm wondering because when I reformatted I think I chose the GUID partition scheme. If that's not correct, could I have caused all these problems via that action?

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 04:56 PM

Power PC is long gone. Circa 2006.

Apple stores often run free workshops, check Apple.ca and see if there's one for general OSX use. I go to a local Mac meetup here in Toronto (this Wednesday) check to see if there's a local Meetup for Mac in your area.

playethic · Jan 15, 2013, 05:05 PM

OK it's doing even stranger things now (eg. trying to attach files in Mail, and nothing shows up so can't select anything), so I guess something's up with the OS.
Sadly.

I will check re: a Meetup for Vancouver.
Thanks for your time.

blueroom · Jan 15, 2013, 05:07 PM

Backup your personal data before you go.

DropBox 5GB free is excellent.

Jan 14, 2013, 10:55 PM	#1
playethic macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Time Machine seems not to be working? When I click on Time Machine, I just get a space-image with multiple Finder windows on top of one another. I don't get anything that actually lets me select anything. I think it used to really clearly just give me an option of backing up. Can anyone tell me how to fix it? This should hopefully be a screenshot It looks to me like it says my last backup was Oct 2011 (ah!) I should add that I yesterday reformatted the external drive. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult. Last edited by maflynn; Jan 15, 2013 at 05:56 AM. Reason: Timg tags for oversized images
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 10:59 PM	#2
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	You're looking at the restore part of TM. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427 __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 11:10 PM	#3
Stooby Mcdoobie macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX	Please put large images in [timg][/timg] tags. Makes the rest of your post easier to view/read. __________________
	1

Jan 14, 2013, 11:11 PM	#4
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	In restore mode. How to get out of mode? I looked at that, but still can't figure it out... I don't want to restore what was on my external hard drive. I want it to start backing up what's on my laptop (so I want it to come out of restore mode) How do I do that? Appreciate all suggestions __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 11:14 PM	#5
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	The drive must be formatted as HFS+ Then launch TM from System Preferences then Select Disk Choose your external disk and wait. It'll take awhile. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 11:26 PM	#6
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	From now on Thank you, it seems to be working! Assuming all goes well, from now on will I need to launch TM through System Preferences or can I do it normally? Did I format wrong in selecting HFS+? (I'm on MacBook Pro) __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 11:29 PM	#7
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	HFS+ is correct. TM is completely automatic backup. You'll see the clock spinning every now and then. Unless you need to restore; do nothing. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 14, 2013, 11:45 PM	#8
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Thx I really appreciate the help. These forums are amazing. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 01:00 AM	#9
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Crashing part-way through (TM) Me again. All went well up to 1/3 of the way through the TM backup progress bar. Then it said it wasn't ejected properly. Then it crashed and wouldn't force quit, and the computer had to reboot. System Preferences will start again, but every time I try to launch TM I get that spinning-coloured-fan-program-crashed image, and either I have to Force Quit System Preferences, or sometimes System Preferences won't let me Force Quit and I have to reboot. Is my external hard drive corrupted still (yesterday I reformatted it), or has it died a young death, or....? Appreciate suggestions, __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 03:47 PM	#11
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Probs. with TM or external hard drive It says that 'The partition map appears to be okay'. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 03:58 PM	#12
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	TM or ext. hard drive probs But then when I try to run TM, I get this - The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:01 PM	#13
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	Reformat the external drive and try again. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:11 PM	#14
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Help? (TM or ext. HD) And then as with earlier, this message appears The disk was not ejected properly. If possible, always eject a disk before unplugging it or turning it off. Although the disk has not been ejected/unplugged. ---------- I did reformat the external drive. These attempts are since the reformat. Do these problems mean the problem is TM, or a broken external hard drive, or...? __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:12 PM	#15
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	I've had cheap USB drives disconnect at random. Could simply be not enough power from the USB port on your MacBook. Is it a name brand USB drive? How old is your Mac, which OS? A "Y" USB cable (extra power), powered USB hub or powered USB enclosure would be what I'd try. Personally I use a Synology NAS to do TM, but lots of folks use USB drives. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:16 PM	#16
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	post-reformat & TM probs Just missed your message, posted above. Actually I did reformat the external hard drive. These attempts are all since the reformatting. Do you think this means the problem is with TM, or that my ext. hard drive is broken, or...? ---------- It's an iOmega - portable external hard drive ---------- Mac is less than 6 mths. old, & I think 10.6.4 (curiously, 'About this Mac' currently doesn't open anything) __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:51 PM	#18
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Woes could be from TM, ext hard drive or OS... I did buy it from an Apple store, and it is covered. It sounds like I should take it in to be checked? I might be wrong about the OS, as I can't currently check.. .but it was about 6 mths. ago I purchased it. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:53 PM	#19
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	Six months ago, should be 10.8.x Mountain Lion. And About this Mac should work. I'd take it in to Apple just to have it looked at. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:55 PM	#20
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	TM not backing up / partition schemes Another question... I'm looking on the Apple Support pages, about TM not backing up. One of the things it says under 'resolution' is, 'Select a new partition scheme: Use Apple Partition Map partition scheme if the disk will be used with Time Machine and a PowerPC-based Mac. Use GUID partition scheme if the disk will be used with Time Machine and a Intel-based Mac.' How can I tell if I'm Intel-based or not? (I'm MacBook Pro). I'm wondering because when I reformatted I think I chose the GUID partition scheme. If that's not correct, could I have caused all these problems via that action? __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 04:56 PM	#21
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	Power PC is long gone. Circa 2006. Apple stores often run free workshops, check Apple.ca and see if there's one for general OSX use. I go to a local Mac meetup here in Toronto (this Wednesday) check to see if there's a local Meetup for Mac in your area. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 05:05 PM	#22
playethic Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Oddness increases OK it's doing even stranger things now (eg. trying to attach files in Mail, and nothing shows up so can't select anything), so I guess something's up with the OS. Sadly. I will check re: a Meetup for Vancouver. Thanks for your time. __________________ I get up every morning determined both to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult.
	0

Jan 15, 2013, 05:07 PM	#23
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	Backup your personal data before you go. DropBox 5GB free is excellent. __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	0


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