A backup is a lifeline to your data files. If it fails, you're virtually left with nothing. Ensuring that your backups are free from errors is essential to prevent this disaster from happening. Follow along, and we'll show you how to test your Time Machine backups to ensure they are error-free and ready for duty, should your Mac start acting up.
>> A Time Machine backup
>> TechTool Pro (for more in-depth data analysis)
Follow our gallery below to learn how to test your Time Machine backups for errors.
Follow this article's author, Cory Bohon on Twitter.
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beeblebrox
April 28, 2011 at 2:37pm
"WARNING: This tip only works for Time Capsules used as Time Machine backup destinations. If you're using a local drive on your Mac, the steps below won't actually perform the verification process."
I tried to post a link to this but it kept being blocked by this site's spam filter.
macs.about.com*od*backupsarchives*qt*Verify-Time-Machine-Backups.htm
Change the '*' to '/' above to go to the about.com mac site.
edit: added quotation marks to the WARNING
Mr. Happypants
April 27, 2011 at 8:24pm
Yeah, the "Verify" option in the Time Machine menu only verifies that the backups exist. NOT that they are valid, corrupt, or even perfectly intact. Perform the step, but know that you won't get any indication unless, I suppose, something is horribly wrong.
Either get a better utility to verify the actual data or create a secondary backup like SuperDuper, Carbon Copy Cloner, etc. One reason not to use only TM for your backups, it's just not full-featured enough.
dave3110
April 27, 2011 at 12:18pm
I also second Tony's comment:
I did the "Option + click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar." From this menu, click “Verify Backup.”
The menu just closed. It did not appear to do anything.
Upon reopening the menu, it appeared exactly as before - nothing changed, no "Verifying Backup" message.Any thoughts on why we don't get your results, Cory?
Dave
akosh
April 26, 2011 at 5:53am
I second Tony's comment:
"Okay I did"Option + click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar. From this menu, click “Verify Backup.” This will cause Time Machine to check your Mac for various files and/or versions of files that may not be backed up."
It did not appear to do anything.
Maybe it just checks it and if it is okay it doesn't do anything else.
Is there an "okay" notice or anything?"
Any word from the wise here?
Amy
william2a
April 26, 2011 at 3:00am
Oups! The mistake I have found is: I never bought TechTool Pro and, probably, I'll never buy it. Too expensive for me.
william2a
April 26, 2011 at 2:55am
I did it and nothing happens.
Probably I made a mistake but what and where?
Thanks in advance, William2A
william2a
April 26, 2011 at 2:53am
Hi! As Tonymanx did, I do the 2 operations("Option"+ cilc on ......." and nothing happened.
Where is my mistake?
My system is MAC OS X 10.6.7
Thanks in advance, william2a
khamac
April 26, 2011 at 2:24am
I purchased DriveGenius 3 ages ago and I was wondering if It would be sufficient for this or does Tech Tool have unique capabilities that cannot be found in DriveGenius?
corybohon
April 26, 2011 at 9:26am
DriveGenius will provide the same functionality, the tools that you use in the software just have different names.
Tonymanx
April 25, 2011 at 5:28pm
Okay I did
"Option + click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar. From this menu, click “Verify Backup.” This will cause Time Machine to check your Mac for various files and/or versions of files that may not be backed up."
It did not appear to do anything.
Maybe it just checks it and if it is okay it doesn't do anything else.
Is there an "okay" notice or anything?
Tony
corybohon
April 26, 2011 at 9:21am
Thanks for the feedback, Tony. When you option + click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, a new option will appear called "Verify Backup." This option will only appear while the option key is pressed. If you click on this "Verify Backup" option, TimeMachine will go through your backups and verify that files are backed up.
You should see the menu change to "Verifying Backup" and will show the percentage completed.
