Portable Time Machine may have died, how can I switch to a networked one?

[davidg4781]

I've been using a WD My Passport as a Time Machine backup for maybe 10 years now. Today I pulled it in and got this error:

"The disk “Time Machine” can’t be unlocked.

A problem was detected with the disk that prevents it from being unlocked."

A new one looks about $100. But I'd like to have one that's connected to my Linksys Velop for automatic backups. Any suggestions on what kind to buy for this or what else I might need? I tried just plugging it in a few years ago but that didn't work.

I do have an iMac G4 that's currently not turned on. I think I just need a power cord (cheap, just been lazy) and I would still need a large, external drive. And a network adaptor but I can move the Velop in that room over and use it wired. I'd imagine backup speeds would be slower.

 

[Bigwaff]

I've been using a WD My Passport as a Time Machine backup for maybe 10 years now. Today I pulled it in and got this error:

"The disk “Time Machine” can’t be unlocked.

A problem was detected with the disk that prevents it from being unlocked."

Are you being prompted to enter a password to decrypt and mount the drive?

 

[Honza1]

Network connected TM disks are SLOW and often unreliable, especially over wifi. Be warned. May take days to finish first backup and if it runs into corruption, you need to start from scratch. My experience few years ago has been poor - but others are using it, so it must be working on some systems well enough.

Now, you need for the Linksys to support use for TimeMachine. Check it lists that as option. If yes, you need to share the disk as smb from the Linksys (likely requires configuration), mount it on Mac and then you should be able to setup TimeMachine to use it. I suspect Apple may have step by step instructions which Google can find. Or ask ChatGPT or Gemini to provide step by step instructions.

 

[davidg4781]

Are you being prompted to enter a password to decrypt and mount the drive?

Nope. The message I posted is all I get. I was doing a backup and it failed in the middle of it. It's full and has to delete as it goes. Maybe that's part of why it failed?

 

[davidg4781]

Network connected TM disks are SLOW and often unreliable, especially over wifi. Be warned. May take days to finish first backup and if it runs into corruption, you need to start from scratch. My experience few years ago has been poor - but others are using it, so it must be working on some systems well enough.

Now, you need for the Linksys to support use for TimeMachine. Check it lists that as option. If yes, you need to share the disk as smb from the Linksys (likely requires configuration), mount it on Mac and then you should be able to setup TimeMachine to use it. I suspect Apple may have step by step instructions which Google can find. Or ask ChatGPT or Gemini to provide step by step instructions.

I don't mind it taking a while to do a backup. It can do its thing while sitting there or while I'm using it. Reliability is what worries me. I'm also a little worried about having it stuck to the router. So let's say there's a fire or I'm evacuating from a hurricane, I can just grab my portable HDD. It might not be as easy to get to that network drive.

I also have pretty much everything important backed up to iCloud but I'd rather have a TM backup.

 

[Boppi]

Reliability is what worries me.

If you really did get around 10 years out of your WD, that was a good run. HD's don't last for decades. Years would be more like it. A quick search says to expect around 4 to 6 years for a WD drive used for TM backups.

Get another drive, use it like you did the last one, but this time be proactive and don't wait until year 10 for the uh-oh moment. The 5 year mark might be a good time to shop for a new one.

 

[davidg4781]

I'll do that. I don't really mind it failing this way since I still have all my content on my device.

Maybe I'll look into a NAS later. It'll be good for redundancy and local storage of security camera but I'd like to have something sooner and more reliable.

 

[Honza1]

Nope. The message I posted is all I get. I was doing a backup and it failed in the middle of it. It's full and has to delete as it goes. Maybe that's part of why it failed?

You can try to run Disk utility on it, but TM disks take forever on Disk Utility and usually cannot be repaired anyway. I would reformat the disk and buy a new one.
I bought 4TB SSD (one of those SATA connected ones) instead of HD and use that for TM. It is MUCH faster and quiet. It is more expensive, though...

 

[davidg4781]

Good idea on the SSD. I can’t remember if those are best for backups or not. I don’t mind spending a little more for speed and reliability, though.