LaCie back up failure

[nancyspeed]

LaCie replaced my first HD last year. Yesterday I began getting an error message "failure to back up files" because it couldn't copy them or something like that. The LaCie tech said to erase the HD and that usually solved the problem. It didn't. I've read some info that seemed to make it appear to be a Mac problem and not a LaCie problem. I probably won't hear from them until Tuesday. I'm glad they have a tech support but it is maddening to have a conversation with them through email and having to wait a day every time they tell you to try something and you do it and it doesn't work.

OS X Version 10.5.8

 

[chscag]

You didn't provide us with much to go on. Which backup program are you using - Time Machine or the LaCie software? The error you received could either be caused by the backup program or the LaCie external hard drive.

 

[nancyspeed]

I'm confused about TM vs. Lacie. It is a Lacie external HD, but it appears in the time machine icon and is turned off/on in the TM window. Lacie does everything automatically when installed so I really do not know the answer to your question. However, the log info from Lacie shows the unit is working properly. Can you please explain to me what the Time Machine would have to do with it?

 

[chscag]

The reason I asked about whether you were using Time Machine is because it could be the program which is doing the backups to the LaCie drive. If you open System Preferences, Time Machine, it should show that it's turned on or off and when the last backup was made. It also has an option to select the disk which it backs up to. Let me know what you find out.

I suspect that LaCie installs the drive and sets it to use Time Machine to do the backups. That's why we need to know if there is a problem with the LaCie drive or Time Machine. It could be either.

 

[nancyspeed]

You are correct. TM is doing the backups. I have done much reading on this today. I double checked the Lacie and the log says it is okay. I updated my OS. I changed the firewire to USB. I trashed the plist files. I deleted Itunes from the back up. I unplugged it and waited and plugged it back in. I erased the HD and reformatted it. (All of this per apple forums fixes.) I turned off TM and tried to back up from the Lacie software. It failed the first time. I deleted another plist and it is now backing up in the Lacie software. This is fine with me, but I would like to know how to delete Itunes from the back up. I'm not real sure how the shortcut button works.

Chscag said:
I suspect that LaCie installs the drive and sets it to use Time Machine to do the backups. That's why we need to know if there is a problem with the LaCie drive or Time Machine. It could be either.

 

[chscag]

To exclude iTunes from your TM backup do this:

Open System Preferences, Time Machine. Choose "Options" from the dialog. A blank selection box will open with a small + and - sign at the bottom. Press the small + sign and navigate to your iTunes folder and select it. Here is where it is:

MacIntosh HD/Users/your user name/Music/iTunes/

Select that entire string and you should be good to go.

 

[nancyspeed]

I wasn't clear on the successful back up. TM still isn't working, but the Lacie software is working. I can't see how to exclude Itunes from backing up with the Lacie. TM makes it very simple.

One thing about having a problem like this--you learn so much. I never understood why TM was doing my back up when I had a Lacie unit. Now I understand. I wonder if the TM will ever work again. It seems so odd it would work for 3 years and now just decide to be difficult.

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[chscag]

If the LaCie backup program is making backups and storing them on the external drive, there may not be enough room for Time Machine to do the same thing. And using two backup programs directed to the same external drive is asking for disaster.

I'm certain you can get Time Machine working again but it may require cleaning up the LaCie drive and starting over. If you're willing to do that, use Disk Utility to erase and format the LaCie drive. Format it using the Mac OS Extended file system, GUID partition scheme.

Of course turn off the LaCie backup program first. After preparing the LaCie drive, open Time Machine as I described above and select the LaCie drive. Then start Time Machine. (Exclude iTunes as I described.)

However, if you're happy using the LaCie backup program and it's working OK, you might want to just stick with that. In that case, go to System Preferences, Time Machine, and turn it off.