First Time Machine Backup Taking Very Long

[blaklaybul]

It has been about an hour and it has only backed up 20GB of the 110 GB total. It has stopped a coupe of times throughout the process, only to start up again in a couple of minutes....

about how long does the first backup take? - considering it is doing 110 GB (839,361 files) over firewire 400

 

[valdore]

My initial backup took over 5 hours on USB 2.0. Of course subsequent backups only take a few seconds because Time Machine just logs the changes to the system since the last backup.

 

[itsallinurhead]

It will take quite a while. No need to worry about it.

 

[flappo100]

Same problem

I have the same problem - My Macbook Pro took just a few hours to backup 77gb up to Mac Server drive. My Macbook is taking forever to backup 43gb - been running for 3 hours this morning and is only done 800mb over 1gbit network.

Seems a bit strange.

 

[Mr.Noisy]

It will take quite a while. No need to worry about it.

As quoted nothing to worry about, the first back up will take age's, after that it's a lot quicker, chill out, have a few beers while it's getting on with it, if your under drinking age, don't worry don't tell anyone

 

[LtRammstein]

Since no one is really explaining why it's taking a long time, allow me.

1) It's making an exact copy of everything on your computer. (That includes system settings and what not).

2) It's creating a Time Machine readable/executable file for it's uses.

3) Moves the copied data into the Time Machine file.

Also, the better the hard drive you have, the faster it goes. My 200 GB backup took about 2 hours because I wasn't running anything along side it, and I have a LaCie d2 500 GB.

 

[trishb]

Time Capsule first back up

I have just installed Time Capsule and during its initial back up it has frozen the computer twice and I have had to reset it to factory settings once. It doesnt want to work with ethernet cable PC ( iMac 2GHZ ) to TC for faster back up. It has 82GB to back up and it has taken all day to back up just 2GB. I am not using the TC as a wireless router so far. Is there something I can do to get a faster speed?

Thanks in advance.

 

[petey2254]

856,840 days to back up time machine????

I set my MBP to back up to a wireless external hard drive. The first back up took a day. Now when it goes to "back up" as scheduled it shows a rash of errors. First, "can't find the back up drive". I stopped it from looking. Today it started again said 12 hours to complete. I left it alone and tonight I return home, it started again...856,840 DAYS is how long it shows to back up. What the hell is going on?

Help!!!???!!

Fairly new Mac user...
Mt Lion, MBP 2011