Backup Failed

[Sharon Godkin]

Help please: I have been regularly letting Time Machine back up my computer to an external hard drive which I have partitioned into two parts. Lately I have been getting the notification that "Backup Failed". When I check the details, I get this:
When I enter Time Machine I see a stack of desktop images starting with the current today, then from 22 Feb 2021 backwards. Computer: MBPro 13", mid-2012; running Mojave 10.14.6 on a fusion drive. As you can see, both drives have room. Can someone tell me, is the problem with the external drive, or the computer? How can I fix the problem? If the problem is with Time Machine, would I be able to get it repaired in town? All advice appreciated!

Further details: the external drive also won't eject normally. I get a notification that: '"The disk "My Passport 2TB Backup for Fusion HD" wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it. You can try to eject the disk again or click Force Eject to eject it immediately.' The only way to eject the drive is by using the 'Force Eject' button. Does this mean that Time Machine is trying but not succeeding to create the backup folder to send to the external drive, so the problem is with TM in the computer?

Thanks!
Sharon

 

[chas_m]

Here’s a couple of things to try:

1. Eject the drive from the Mac, unplug it, plug it back in, wait for it to try to do a backup again, see if you get the same error message.

if that doesn’t solve the issue:

2. Open Disk Utility from you Application folder. Select the backup partition. Select “First Aid” from the options. That may repair it.

 

[Sharon Godkin]

Thanks Chas!
I have tried all the above suggestions. Force-eject and reconnection doesn't make any difference. I had done in many times before posting, but tried it again. I tried running Disc Utility, but it can't proceed because the drive will not 'unmount'. I have tried running it multiple times, and finally the drive changed colour from dark green to orange - whatever that means! and actually started to do backups again. But it still won't eject, says 'Finder' is using it so it can't be ejected. Tried Disc Utility First Aid many more times without success. Also tried running First Aid on the computer drive - same result, can't run. See the attached responses I get: ... what is wrong with my drives and how do I proceed now?? Thanks for any ideas! Sharon

 

[chas_m]

It sounds as though the directory is screwed up because the drive was ejected improperly. I would replace it with a new drive.