Unfortunately, this is one of many errors that will display when a Time Machine backup file has become corrupted. We see this occurring often with Macs that have been 'upgraded' to the Catalina operating system.
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Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Time Machine 'clock' icon at the top of the screen
Click on Verify Backups
Backing up a Mac with Time Machine requires an external hard drive formatted for macOS. Formatting the drive will erase everything on it and configure it for macOS. After formatting the drive, if prompted to back up with Time Machine, select Use as Backup Disk. This will open the Time Machine preferences window and start your first backup. If you used Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac, you can restore your files from that backup or a local snapshot on your startup disk. You might want to restore your files after the originals were deleted from your Mac, or the hard disk (or SSD) in your Mac was erased or replaced, such as during a repair.
It might take anywhere from 10-60 minutes or more for the process to complete, depending on how much data is stored on your Time Capsule's hard drive. Allow the process to run to completion or until you see another error message.
If you do see an error message, post back the exact text of the message.
You can check the progress of the Verify process by holding down the option key and clicking on the Time Machine 'clock' icon.
Apr 13, 2020 5:38 PM
If you used Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac, you can restore your files from that backup or a local snapshot on your startup disk. You may want to restore your files if the original files were deleted from your Mac or the hard disk (or SSD) in your Mac was erased or replaced, such as during a repair.
Restore from a Time Machine backup
When you restore from a Time Machine backup, you can choose to restore all your files or restore both the Mac operating system (macOS) and all of your files.
Restore all of your files
- Make sure your Time Machine backup disk is connected to your Mac and turned on. Then turn on your Mac.
- Open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- If your Mac starts up to a setup assistant, which asks for details such as your country, keyboard and network, just continue to the next step. The setup assistant includes a migration assistant.
- If your Mac doesn't finish starting up, or you also want to restore the macOS you were using when you created the backup, follow the steps to restore both macOS and your files.
- When you're asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup or startup disk. Then click Continue.
- Select your Time Machine backup, then click Continue.
- If you're asked to choose from a list of backups organised by date and time, choose a backup and click Continue.
- Select the information to transfer, then click Continue to start the transfer. This screen may look different on your Mac:
- If you have a lot of content, it may take several hours for the transfer to be completed. When the transfer has been completed, restart your Mac and log in to the migrated account to see its files.
Restore both macOS and your files
These steps erase your hard disk, then use your backup to restore both your files and the specific version of macOS you were using when you created the backup.
- Make sure your Time Machine backup disk is connected and turned on.
If your backup disk isn't available, keep going. You may be able to restore from a local snapshot on your startup disk. - Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R to start up from macOS Recovery. Release the keys when you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose the option to restore from a Time Machine Backup.
- Click Continue until you're asked to select a restore source, then select your Time Machine backup disk. Or select your startup disk (Macintosh HD), which may have a local snapshot you can restore from.
- Click Continue. If your disk is encrypted, you will be asked to unlock the disk. Enter the administrator password you used when setting up Time Machine, then click Continue again.
- Select a backup, if available, then click Continue.
- Select a destination disk, which will receive the contents of your backup. If restoring from a local snapshot, you won't be asked to select a destination.
- Click Restore or Continue. If your Mac has FileVault turned on, you will be asked to enter your administrator password to unlock the disk.
- When finished, restart your Mac.
Restore specific files
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Find out how to use Time Machine to restore specific files, including older versions of your files.
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- What to do if you can't restore with Time Machine. If you need help, contact Apple Support.