Bootable Backup Had Over 12,000 Errors

This is the just the second time I've created a bootable backup. I typically just back up certain folders, such as Lightroom. I use Intego Backup Manager Pro to do so. Don't recall if I had any errors reported during the first backup, but this time it reported over 12,000 file errors of the 1.8M files it backed up. Does this sound like an issue, or is this typical.

Just based on what you report, it certainly sounds like an issue to me.

Some info might prove useful. Is the backup being made on a Windows or Mac based machine and to what type of media? What if anything have you down to check the actual drive integrity?

John, I was backing up a late 2008 macbook pro onto an external drive. Figure this thing isn't going to last much longer.
I haven't done a thing to evaluate the errors. Don't really know how or what to do.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #19291362
John, I was backing up a late 2008 macbook pro onto an external drive. Figure this thing isn't going to last much longer.
I haven't done a thing to evaluate the errors. Don't really know how or what to do.

Unfortunately I know little about Macs but the write up at https://apple.stackexc​hange.com …isk-health-checker-on-mac should provide some guidance on two methods that the Mac offers to check both internal and external drives. Before starting however do a few simple things just to insure the integrity of the communications to the drive. I would start with replacing the cable to the external drive. If the external drive is the type that requires a power supply, make sure the power supply connections are reliable.

Please also share the make and model of the external drive.

The external drive doesn't require a power cord. It connects via USB and the cord is essentially new.
It's a western digital external drive.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #19291701
The external drive doesn't require a power cord. It connects via USB and the cord is essentially new.
It's a western digital external drive.

Then go to the link I suggested earlier and see if anything there is helpful. I’m a Windows guy and truthfully if I had a drive report 12,000 errors, once I ruled out something like intermittent connections etc. I would buy a new drive, try to recover as best I could the content of the old drive, and then trash the old drive. Drives are cheap these days, even solid state drives. If this is your primary back up you need reliability.

By the way, what actually is indicating you have 12,000 errors? Can you post a screen shot?

The issue might not even be a 'bad harddrive' in that external unit. I have had a problem with WD MyBook harddrive connected by USB, and when it finally failed, I hacksawed the enclosure to get the HD out of it...I put the HD into a docking unit, and it worked just fine! ...the MyBook interface hardware had failed, not the HD itself!

One of the reasons I asked about the USB ports, in Macbook Pro of vintage about 2008 to 2009 there were a great number of audio problems reported (primarily with Skype) and it was determined that problem is a symptom of being plugged into an under-powered USB port. It was reported that "The rear USB port, the one nearest the screen, is in fact already on an internal hub, shared with everything USB inside the case: the keyboard, the Bluetooth, the trackpad, the iSight camera and the infra-red receiver. Adding a four way hub to this is bound to end in disaster.

On machines from that timeframe, it was determined that only the front USB port on the MacBook offers a full powered, full speed bus. On the MacBook Pro the magic USB port is the left one, the right one is hubbed.

In spite of the original issue being reported as a Skype problem, so the OP may want to investigate which port he is using and make sure he is using a "full" powered port as described.

Interesting. The OP was using the front USB port. The mouse bluetooth is connected to the back port.
I should mention that the mac has been experiencing intermittent power shifts from AC to battery due to a worn transformer cord. I don't recall any issues that day though. Also, I did pause the operation overnight. Far more errors appeared on day two.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #19292055
Interesting. The OP was using the front USB port. The mouse bluetooth is connected to the back port.
I should mention that the mac has been experiencing intermittent power shifts from AC to battery due to a worn transformer cord. I don't recall any issues that day though. Also, I did pause the operation overnight. Far more errors appeared on day two.

The "intermittent powers shifts" could be a big contributor to the problem, especially if the battery is the original from 2008.