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I have a SmartDisk Firelite 100GB Hard Drive that I use for back-up my MacBook Pro. The last several back-ups have "failed" to complete at about 90% data remaining. I am using Time Machine as the source on my computer. Looks like the machine is not overwriting the old back-ups, because there is only 3.7 gigs available. Is this fixable?
Optional Information: Product: Other Software (if necessary): Time Machine Already Tried: re-loading the preferences for time machine, re-starting the computer and software several times, all ending in the same message - "back-up failed"
Welcome To JustAnswer!My name isXXXXX am one of the Experts who will assist you today! I assume, since your trying to clear the old backups, then you dont need them. So lets repair the disk, and then manually delete some of the backups.To open Disk Utility, from the Applications folder, open Utilities, and then double-click the Disk Utility icon.In the column on the left, click your external hard drive..Click the First Aid tab, click repair disk. Once it has finished repairing the disk.. Attempt one more backup. If it still wont backup.. Lets manually remove some of the backups you no longer need.. Browse your external hard drives folder structure and then free up some space.. ( maybe 40 gigabytes would be good) Time machine can overwrite backups, but it the way it is setup, it needs some room on the hard drive for orginazational purposes.. If you dont have enough room, it cant successfully write the backup, and delete an older one at the same time.. So the backup fails, though not before eating up more of your space.. So free up close to 50 percent of the drives space.. And then time machine should work.. Let me know if you have any further questions.Please remember to rate the effectiveness of the answer given before you go, as thats the only way it shows whether or not I was able to help you. Remember that in some cases you cant always repair or solve the issue, and in those cases getting a correct answer to your question is the best solution possible. If you feel like leaving a one or two star rating please contact me first so I can try and resolve the issue in a more effective manner.Thanks, D.Sandlin
I have run the disk first aid, and 2 red items have appeared in the list and the repair is stopped. The first one is "incorrect permissions for private directory" - and I have tried to follow the directions for "permissions problem" but the "repair disk permissions" is suppressed, and doesn't respond. The next red notice is "volume header needs minor repair" and there are no instructions for this action. Jerre
Thats a bad sign.. If you have any files on teh external drive you dont have saved elsewhere.. We need to get them off the drive soon.. As the drive is starting to fail. You may be able to repair the drive and continue using it if we do a erase and format.. ( of course the erase part will clear everything off the drive, so move anything off the drive you dont have saved somewhere else first. Heres how to format.http://guides.macrumors.com/Formatting_an_External_Device Even if this does get your drive working again.. I would not recommend using it as the sole backup for anything important.. If you have any questions, let me know.
got thru the disk repair the second time ok, but new back-up failed with same message (not enough space on disk). I can find NO files on the firelite 100 GB disk, so don't know how to manually remove files.
Is there files on the drive that are only on that drive? ( ir-replaceables)
No, I only use this drive for backing up the computer.,
No, I only use this drive for backing up the computer.,No, I only use the drive for backing up my computer
Excellent.. Then lets try to save the drive. Lets erase it , and format it. http://guides.macrumors.com/Formatting_an_External_Device Once formatted.. Run the disk repair again, for good measure.. ( though it should be fine now that its been formatted) And then.. Start time machine again.
Experience: 4 Years in the US Military working with Mac's and networking equipment