Help with Time Machine...please

mafpolo · mafpolo #1 (**permalink**)

08-04-2011, 09:04 PM

I have a 500 GB external drive that I use to back up to. I have recently received the following error message:

"Time Machine Error
This backup is too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 284.4 GB but only 245.1 GB are available."

I thought that Time Machine was only supposed to back up incremental changes and mirror the hard drive. If I have 284.4 of 500 GB on mt hard drive, why won't time machine work?

Help please

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

08-04-2011, 09:13 PM

Time Machine should have stated that it was deleting older backups to make room for the current one if there was not enough room on the drive. It's possible that something might be corrupted either on the drive or the backups themselves.

What I suggest is wipe out everything on that external hard drive and start over. You can use Disk Utility to erase the drive. Just make sure that it's formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). After that run a verify on the external drive before using it again for TM.

mafpolo · mafpolo #3 (**permalink**)

08-04-2011, 09:21 PM

Thanks

mafpolo · mafpolo #4 (**permalink**)

08-04-2011, 09:25 PM

It said that the disk is fine

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,032 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	08-04-2011, 09:13 PM Time Machine should have stated that it was deleting older backups to make room for the current one if there was not enough room on the drive. It's possible that something might be corrupted either on the drive or the backups themselves. What I suggest is wipe out everything on that external hard drive and start over. You can use Disk Utility to erase the drive. Just make sure that it's formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). After that run a verify on the external drive before using it again for TM. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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Help with Time Machine...please

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mafpolo #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2009 Posts: 18	08-04-2011, 09:04 PM I have a 500 GB external drive that I use to back up to. I have recently received the following error message: "Time Machine Error This backup is too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 284.4 GB but only 245.1 GB are available." I thought that Time Machine was only supposed to back up incremental changes and mirror the hard drive. If I have 284.4 of 500 GB on mt hard drive, why won't time machine work? Help please
	QUOTE Thanks

mafpolo #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2009 Posts: 18	08-04-2011, 09:25 PM It said that the disk is fine
	QUOTE Thanks

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