Can't mount backup image
 

Hi,

I'm just trying to do a simple sparse image backup of my hard drive to a new external hard drive. First time I'm trying this. This is as simple as it gets, but I've still found a way to run into problems.

I searched threads and noticed someone was having the same exact problem a while back, but I didn't see how it was solved.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Scott

???
Log:

| 01:19:11 AM | Info | SuperDuper!, 2.1.3 (80), path: /Applications/SuperDuper!.app, Mac OS 10.3.9 build 7W98 (ppc)
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Started on Fri, Nov 17, 2006 at 1:19 AM
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Source Drive: Macintosh HD, mount: /, device: TOSHIBA MK8026GAX, interconnect: Internal ATA, file system: "Journaled HFS+", OS: 10.3.9 (7W98), capacity: 74.41 GB, used: 73.23 GB, directories: 58368, files: 245154, ejectable: NO, ACLs: Disabled
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Target Image: /Volumes/IOMEGA_HDD/Backup Image.sparseimage, name: Backup Image
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Copy Mode : Erase, then copy files
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Copy Script : Backup - all files.dset
| 01:19:11 AM | Info | Transcript : BuildTranscript.plist
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | PHASE: 1. Prepare to Copy Files
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ...ACTION: Preparing Macintosh HD
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ......COMMAND => Verifying the integrity of volinfo.database
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | volinfo.database OK
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ......COMMAND => Enabling permissions on Macintosh HD
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | Refreshing Disk Arbitration ...
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ......COMMAND => Verifying that permissions are enabled for Macintosh HD
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | Permissions on '/' are enabled.
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ...ACTION: Mounting Backup Image
| 01:19:12 AM | Info | ......COMMAND => Preparing Backup Image
| 01:19:13 AM | Info | Initializing...
| 01:19:13 AM | Info | Creating...
| 01:19:13 AM | Info | Finishing...hdiutil: create failed - Invalid argument
| 01:19:13 AM | Error | ****FAILED****: result=256 errno=0 (Unknown error: 0)

It's definitely not your fault: this is -- unfortunately -- a known problem in SD! with 10.3.x that we'll be fixing in the next release. Until that's released, the workaround is to create the sparse image, of the appropriate size, using Disk Utility. You'll only have to do this once.

1. Open Disk Utility (found in /Applications/Utilities).
2. Without selecting any volume/drive on the left side, click the New Image toolbar button.
3. Give the image an appropriate name (like Backup), and store it on a drive other than the one you're trying to back up.
4. In the Size pop-up, choose Custom.
5. In the sheet that appears, enter the size of the drive you're trying to back up. Note that the pop-up does not have a selection for GB: you need to enter "40000" MB for 40GB. Click OK when you've got the right size entered.
6. Decide whether or not you want the image encrypted, and choose the proper value in the Encryption pop-up.
7. In the Format pop-up, choose sparse disk image.
8. Click Create.

Once it's created, go back to SuperDuper! and choose the "Disk Image..." selection in the destination pop-up. Navigate to the location where you created the image and click it (it's grey, but that's OK -- click it anyway), then click "Save".

That should do it!

Thanks for the help. All was going well, but then...

| 05:29:06 PM | Info | SuperDuper!, 2.1.3 (80), path: /Applications/SuperDuper!.app, Mac OS 10.3.9 build 7W98 (ppc)
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Started on Sat, Nov 18, 2006 at 5:29 PM
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Source Drive: Macintosh HD, mount: /, device: TOSHIBA MK8026GAX, interconnect: Internal ATA, file system: "Journaled HFS+", OS: 10.3.9 (7W98), capacity: 74.41 GB, used: 73.72 GB, directories: 58425, files: 246606, ejectable: NO, ACLs: Disabled
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Target Image: /Volumes/IOMEGA_HDD/Backup Sparse Image.sparseimage, name: Backup Sparse Image
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Copy Mode : Erase, then copy files
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Copy Script : Backup - all files.dset
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | Transcript : BuildTranscript.plist
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | PHASE: 1. Prepare to Copy Files
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | ...ACTION: Preparing Macintosh HD
| 05:29:06 PM | Info | ......COMMAND => Verifying the integrity of volinfo.database
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | volinfo.database OK
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | ......COMMAND => Enabling permissions on Macintosh HD
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | Refreshing Disk Arbitration ...
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | ......COMMAND => Verifying that permissions are enabled for Macintosh HD
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | Permissions on '/' are enabled.
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | ...ACTION: Mounting Backup Sparse Image
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | ......COMMAND => Preparing Backup Sparse Image
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | Initializing...
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | Creating...
| 05:29:07 PM | Info | Finishing...hdiutil: create failed - Invalid argument
| 05:29:07 PM | Error | ****FAILED****: result=256 errno=0 (Unknown error: 0)

Will the existing sparse image created with disk utilities cut it until the new release?

Thanks again.

Yes, an existing image -- or a new one created as above -- will work fine.

Thanks again. Very, very helpful.