Time Machine Password Doesn't Work

[JosiahClark]

Hello all, I am in need of some help.

I am using a 2011 iMac, which is running OSX 10.8.4. About a year and a half ago, I started to use Time Machine to back up my computer onto a 2TB Seagate external hard drive.

I am trying to access my files on the external hard drive, so I plugged it into the computer today, and was asked to enter my password to unlock the disk.

When I enter the password, (and I'm positive it's correct - caps lock is deactivated, etc.) the password isn't working. The dialogue window shakes a bit, and it wants me to enter the password again.

Additionally, the external hard drive does not appear in Finder when I plug it in - all that happens is that the "Enter a password to unlock the disk" dialogue window opens.

Thanks for your time,
-Josiah

 

[DeltaMac]

Have you successfully accessed files on your Time Machine backup in the past?
The correct method is to use your Time Machine utility to bring up the backup files, and NOT the Finder.

If you can't get past the password, even if you use Time Machine, did you use File Vault to encrypt the external hard drive - or did you use something else to password protect that drive?

 

[JosiahClark]

Have you successfully accessed files on your Time Machine backup in the past?

The correct method is to use your Time Machine utility to bring up the backup files, and NOT the Finder.

If you can't get past the password, even if you use Time Machine, did you use File Vault to encrypt the external hard drive - or did you use something else to password protect that drive?

I have been able to access files on the drive before - I've not gone looking through the drive in close to a year, though.

Time Machine Utility says that the backup disk is unavailable.

I believe I used the default encryption that Time Machine uses, where it allows you to enter a password.

 

[DeltaMac]

Then, you are either using the wrong password (maybe an older one that you don't often use ??) - or, the time machine backup is corrupted, or the backup drive that you are using is somehow corrupted. (possible that a damaged file system might refuse even a correct password. Repairing the directory structure may fix your issue. The built-in Disk Utility may not be able to handle that fix)
You may need to try a disk repair utility that claims to support time machine drives. Disk Warrior would be a worthy choice.

Is there any particular reason that you have not updated your Mountain Lion system (last version is 10.8.5)? You might, as a result, also be missing other updates that need a fully updated system.

 

[JosiahClark]

Then, you are either using the wrong password (maybe an older one that you don't often use ??) - or, the time machine backup is corrupted, or the backup drive that you are using is somehow corrupted. (possible that a damaged file system might refuse even a correct password. Repairing the directory structure may fix your issue. The built-in Disk Utility may not be able to handle that fix)
You may need to try a disk repair utility that claims to support time machine drives. Disk Warrior would be a worthy choice.

Is there any particular reason that you have not updated your Mountain Lion system (last version is 10.8.5)? You might, as a result, also be missing other updates that need a fully updated system.

Basically, I haven't updated past Mountain Lion because my primary use for this computer is as a production machine, but my current software is several versions out of date. I've heard horror stories about incompatibility issues between older software and newer OS updates, and I really can't afford the risk of losing functionality of the software I currently use until I can spend the money on upgrading it to newer versions.

---

Thank you so much for your help, everyone. It turns out my password was incorrect after all, I started shuffling through a number of different passwords I could remember using, and I realized my mistake: The password I was trying *was*, originally, the correct password for the drive, but I just remembered that around a year ago, I changed the password a second time, and then forgot I had changed it. Major facepalm, but lesson learned - from here on out, I won't stop trying passwords until I've exhausted all possibilities.