Archived - Mac OS X 10.5: Time Machine - "The backup volume could not be found" alert

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.5, Time Machine

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.

Symptoms

If you erase your designated Time Machine backup disk, or if your external hard drive has a sleep function that does not wake for Time Machine backups, Time Machine may alert you that "The backup volume could not be found" and backups may not be made.

Resolution

For hard drives that are erased

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. From the View menu, choose Time Machine.
  3. Click "Change Disk...".
  4. Select your back up location again.
     

For hard drives that sleep and do not wake for Time Machine backups

  • Disable the sleep function of the external drive.
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