Seagate hard drive backup verification issue on another computer

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Level 1

61 points

Seagate hard drive backup verification issue on another computer

On another computer its backuip drive just will not verify properly.

What precipitated this is an error message 'unable to backup'

I brought up Disk Utilities and started verify which gets to "Checking Catalog File" and seems to be caught either in a loop or something similar. It has, now, be checking that file for over ten minutes.

Anyone know what is going on? workaround?

This is an old 1T Seagate harddrive. AND YES I turned off backup first.

WGB

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: backup harddrive problem

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Sep 27, 2025 1:15 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

90,376 points

Sep 27, 2025 3:31 PM in response to Sparkgapper

It could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour for Disk Utility to check an external hard drive full of TM backups.

If it fails or crashes Disk Utility in the process, then the Seagate HDD is toast and needs to be replaced.

In a few cases, I've been able to restart Disk Utility, reconnect the external drive and erase it.

At that point, I use a felt marker and mark a giant ? mark on the external hard drive.

Then if it erased and reformatted OK, I use it for a secondary weekly backup.

If it did not erase and format, I toss in a box with the other failed drives.

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Answer 2

Sparkgapper Author

Level 1

61 points

Oct 3, 2025 8:43 AM in response to den.thed

You are right, just lost patience after five minutes and it took almost two hours but came out 'completed repairs'.

Tks

WGB

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,082 points

Oct 3, 2025 11:07 AM in response to Sparkgapper

Repairing a Time Machine drive takes much longer to accomplish because it has to deal with many hard links which complicates the process.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

90,376 points

Oct 3, 2025 8:51 AM in response to Sparkgapper

👍 You're welcome.

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