Preparing Back Up ..........Time Capsule

[RnR]

So having updated to macOS Sierra, I get 'Preparing Back Up' continuously when trying to back up to Time Capsule. Any advise? Thanks

MBP, early 2011
[doublepost=1474409001][/doublepost]Have tried this but without success

"It is because your Mac still thinks it is backing up to a disk on an old router. Simply fire up System Preferences from --> System Preferences --> Time Machine --> Select Disk. Select your disk and the backups will begin again."

 

[zorinlynx]

This can take a long time. It took about 35 minutes for me before the backup started.

Since you upgraded the OS, it has to re-compare everything on your computer with what's on the Time Capsule before it can know what needs to be backed up.

 

[RnR]

This can take a long time. It took about 35 minutes for me before the backup started.

Since you upgraded the OS, it has to re-compare everything on your computer with what's on the Time Capsule before it can know what needs to be backed up.

Unfortunately, 8 hrs later and still 'Preparing Back Up'

 

[PowerBook-G5]

Unfortunately, 8 hrs later and still 'Preparing Back Up'

It took 3 hours for my backup to prepare, then another 7 hours to copy ~22GB.

At one point, I was about to stop it when it was "preparing backup," but right then it began to backup ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[CTHarrryH]

Glad it is not just me. Will let it sit and see what happens

 

[chatbr]

I think 8 hours waiting is a bit too long to start backing up...
But I guess it could depend on how much data you have as well.

I just wanna share that I tried backing up last night before going to bed and it took 1h preparing, but my back up size was probably around the 10gb mark.

 

[ahostmadsen]

My Macbook spent about 5 hours in preparing. Now the backup is done.

 

[zorinlynx]

My Macbook spent about 5 hours in preparing. Now the backup is done.

Yeah it might take a really long time especially if you don't have an SSD and the machine is busy doing other things.

 

[RnR]

Update: With some help from a friendly Apple advisor via phonecall......

Disabled Sophos, Removed Disk in Time Machine, full restart, Selected disk in Time machine, back up commenced. Full back up of 750GB took three hours (using Samsung Evo SSD). Will leave Sophos disabled awaiting their update.

 

[chriscl]

Upgraded my MBP to macOS Sierra, it sat for nearly three hours at "preparing backup" (using an external USB drive) before it then commenced to back up 15GB of data.

Just leave it going, it'll get there in the end.

 

[zorinlynx]

By the way, the issues that cropped up in this thread are some of the things Apple is trying to solve with their new filesystem. Hopefully we'll have smoother backups in a few years.

 

[chatbr]

Its no biggie.
It only happened on the first sync, which is expected on a big change.
Just letting people know not to be worried if takes too long.

 

[USAntigoon]

Did some reading about this issue, which I also struggle with.
I am not close to my iMac, hence cannot give the suggestion below a tryout..

Found the following in another forum and apparently was successfully implemented.

"Do you know if Spotlight is trying to index your TM drive as well? (That could take all day!) To check, open System Preferences and go to the Spotlight tab. Select the Privacy tab and check to see that your TM backup drive is listed there. If it isn't, add it!" FYI

 

[JohnDS]

Also, if you are backing up to a Time Capsule (rather than a USB drive), try connecting by ethernet rather than wifi.