Time Machine won't back up

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Hi,

I am trying to back up my old (OS X 5.8) laptop with Time Machine on a new external drive, with the intention of migrating the data to my new Macbook Pro from there. The Time Machine won't back up, just gives me an error message that 'an error has occurred'. Is it possible to simply copy the entire HD (programs and all) to the clean external HD and install onto the new laptop from there?

Thanks,
Banliz
 

chscag

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Is it possible to simply copy the entire HD (programs and all) to the clean external HD and install onto the new laptop from there?

No, you can't do it that way, it won't work. Boot from your install DVD if you still have it and run Disk Utility from it. Verify and repair your hard drive and then try again to run Time Machine and back up.
 
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Thanks CHScag, but I can't find a disk utility in either disk. Can I download it from somewhere? Or is it just easier to take it to the shop where I bought it?
 

bobtomay

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Keep looking. After booting to your install DVD, on the Menu bar select Utilities - Disk Utility.

Have you formatted/partitioned the new external drive?
Time Machine is not going to work with an NTFS formatted drive that most new drives ship with.
 
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Yes, Bobtomay, I formatted the new drive. I found the utility application and there's something very wrong, it says it can't repair it. I'll just take it into the shop and ask them what's wrong. Thanks for answering.
 

bobtomay

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Just to make sure...

Did you boot from the DVD or just open Disk Utilities while booted up into OS X and try to repair the drive?

You can't repair the internal drive while booted up into the OS - must boot from the DVD.
 

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