Unable to make backup using Time Machine

iMac Retina 5k, 27-inch, late 2015

Catalina 10.15.1

Lately I checked Time Machine and realized that my last backup was 2 months old. I had used Time Machine Editor to make the incremental backups once a day.

I erased the external HDD and started a full backup. After a few unsuccessful tries I assumed an HDD problem and got myself a new HDD. Same problem. After at least 10 hours the backup is stuck at around 730GB of 900GB. The "remaining time" goes up and the backup never finishes. I swapped the USB port but again same result.

Posted on Dec 15, 2019 11:03 AM

Similar questions

4 replies

macjack

Level 10

111,240 points

Dec 15, 2019 1:03 PM in response to kraut55

It's odd. You might try starting up in Safe Mode and see if that makes a difference.

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

EDIT: Oh and if you still have TM Editor please delete it for now.

macjack

Level 10

111,240 points

Dec 15, 2019 11:16 AM in response to kraut55

When you set up Time Machine in System Preferences > Time Machine did you click on Options and exclude those other volumes from being backed up?

kraut55 Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 15, 2019 12:27 PM in response to macjack

Yes I did.

kraut55 Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 17, 2019 3:47 AM in response to macjack

Deleted TM Machine, started in Safe Mode plus used an SSD as backup disk. I do have a full backup! Thank you very much. What I don't get is that it took almost 14hours to backup 900GB to an SSD.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Unable to make backup using Time Machine