# Backup Failure

**URL:** <https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backup-failure/346255>\
**Category:** External SSD for macOS\
**Created:** [February 18, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backup-failure/346255 "2013-02-18T14:46:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JDHartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@JDHartman](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/JDHartman)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backup-failure/346255/1 "2013-02-18T14:46:02Z")

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I have a 500GB external hard drive that I have partitioned for backing up both my MacBook and my wife’s MacBook. &nbsp;When I perform the backup for my MacBook, the backup works just fine, but when I attempt to backup my wife’s MacBook the message I get in Time Machine is “preparing for backup”. &nbsp;The message is displayed continuously and the backup never starts. &nbsp;What can be the problem and how can I resolve this issue? &nbsp;Help appreciated :-). &nbsp;-John

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**Author:** ![Wizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/43a26b/32.png) [@Wizer](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Wizer)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backup-failure/346255/2 "2013-02-19T21:46:34Z")

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You can try forcing the backup by going to the TM icon on the notification area ( top right ) and hit rum backup

You can also verify the disk on the Mac the drive is having problems via Disk Utility