Time Machine backup fail

My Macbook Pro with 500GB drive will not back up to a 1TB external drive. Keeps telling me there is not enough space. Help!

Posted on May 24, 2024 7:53 AM

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May 24, 2024 8:10 AM in response to ColdType

So mine gave me an error started last night after recent update. My disc drive is always connected and I have it on a weekly schedule as I don’t is it that much right now it has some error message of a apple file I’m not at the computer right now but can add the message when I get back to it I might restore to my last backup and see if that works then I’ll k ow for sure I have trouble shoot with no change

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May 24, 2024 8:38 AM in response to ColdType

1 TB archive storage is too small for a 0.5 TB source device.


Roughly 2.5 to 3 times the input works well for providing some depth of backups, or a yet larger-capacity archive device for deeper backups.


An input of 0.5 TB best uses an archive device of between roughly 2 to 3 TB, or larger.


And getting a whole lot of Time Machine churn right around a macOS update is entirely normal and expected, and also right when you’re going to want that backup depth.

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May 24, 2024 9:08 AM in response to MrHoffman

I thought that was problem. I tried using the 1TB a few months back, but it didn't work. Then in March I bought a 2TB WD My Passport drive, which worked until yesterday when it blew up. So I'm back to the original 1TB . . . seems I'll have to cough up another $150 on a replacement drive. Hope it lasts a bit longer this time . . .

Thanks for you help.

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May 24, 2024 9:51 AM in response to ColdType

The EXACT text of the error message is essential in figuring this out.


I addition to the obvious issue of DESTINATION disk Full, Time Machine stages 'snapshots' -- lists of files to her backed up, on the boot drive, and if the boot drive is too full, those lists are purged to make space for other files and the backup cannot continue.


¿How full is the Source drive?

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Time Machine backup fail

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