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Question

Time Machine stuck?

Jun 1, 2012 4:19AM PDT

Ever since I copied the contents of my old Macbook running 10.6.8 to my new Macbook Pro (early 2011, 10.6.Cool Time Machine has not completed a backup, although working beautifully prior to that exchange. TM will start and run for a few minutes then stop with no error message. Last backup always says May 12, 2012, the day I swapped files to the new computer. I ran Console to see what was happening, and apparently TM is stuck on a file called Safeconnect, saying no such file or directory. (Other lines, too many to repeat here.) Spotlight search shows no such file. SafeConnect is used by my employer (UA Fort Smith), but I have never installed it on my own personal macbook or macbook pro. Any way to get TM to work properly again? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
How did you "Copy" the contents of your old Macbook
Jun 1, 2012 10:27AM PDT

to the new one?

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SuperDuper
Jun 4, 2012 12:00AM PDT

Used SuperDuper to create a bootable clone of the Macbook to an external disk, then replaced contents of MBP with that clone. (The refurbished MBP came with Lion, but I have too much investment in software that requires SL.) This procedure worked perfectly for me last year when I replaced the hard drive in the Macbook. The same external disk is also the one that Time Machine uses. Since transferring files to the MBP, all software works normally on the MBP, as far as I can tell, except for TM.

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Given that you have a good backup already,
Jun 4, 2012 8:59AM PDT

I would suggest that you reformat that Time Machine drive and start again with it.

Had it been working correctly, it would have done a full backup the first time anyway.

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so problem is external, not internal?
Jun 5, 2012 12:59AM PDT

Sounds like you are recommending that I completely reformat the drive that time machine backs up to. Seems to indicate that the problem is with that drive, and not with the MBP? Does that mean that TM is hitting that file on the backup drive and can't get beyond it, rather than trying to copy that file from the MPB? Just want to make sure that the problem is in the external drive, and not on the MBP. Thanks.

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As soon as you used the Clone on the MBP drive,
Jun 5, 2012 6:40AM PDT

the Time Machine backup became useless.
All the dates were wrong, the files were changed, and the index was totally out of whack.

You have what amounts to a decent backup right now, but making another clone before wiping out the external would not go amiss and is encouraged.

Right now I think the problem is with the existing TM configuration on the external.

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Clone to new drive?
Jun 12, 2012 11:47PM PDT

The LaCie drive that contains the TM backups is also the one with the clone of the MB. SuperDuper makes a clone without disturbing the backups already on that drive, or so it says. If I wipe out that drive completely, I will need to purchase another drive to clone the computer. Am I understanding this correctly?

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Time Machine drive.
Jun 13, 2012 10:33AM PDT

You can use the TM drive for things other than the backups as long as you have space on the drive.
TM puts the backups into a folder so any space outside of the folder is fair game.

Yes, if you wipe out the external drive everything on it will be destroyed.

For the brief period of time between the re-format and the start of the TM backup, you will be without a backup of any kind.
If this poses a problem for you, then your only recourse is another external drive to create a new clone to.
SuperDuper does not allow backups to be created to a CD/DVD or tape.

Perhaps a re-format and then a new clone followed by a TM backup would be the order to go with.

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Wipe Out method?
Jun 13, 2012 11:00PM PDT

What is the best way to completely reformat the external LaCie drive? I think with a new MBP I ought to be able to go without a backup for the short time of the reformat. Then I can make a clone, and then fire up TM again with BACK UP NOW, as you suggest above.

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Use Disk Utility to reformat the drive
Jun 13, 2012 11:46PM PDT

you may have to use the Erase option first, you'll see as you proceed.

OS X Extended (Journaled) is the format you want.

Make sure, under Options (at the bottom of the window) that you have GUID selected.

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Don't See GUID
Jun 19, 2012 3:28AM PDT

Disk Utility only shows Erase Free Space, Security Options, Erase

Nothing about GUID.?

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Erase the disk first and then
Jun 19, 2012 9:50PM PDT

close Disk Utility.
Reopen DU and choose Partition.
Then you will see the Options button at the bottom left of the window


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It worked!
Jun 21, 2012 4:06AM PDT

I was able to erase the disk and then make a new clone and then TM started working just fine. Thanks for the help.

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(NT) Pleased it worked for you
Jun 21, 2012 6:17AM PDT