Question :

I’ve bought a new MacBook and I want to use my existing Time Capsule for it’s TimeMachine-backups, but it’s full. The backup-file, a .sparsebundle-file, from my previous MacBook that I am going to pass on to one of my children, is far too big.

I have installed my new MacBook from the old MacBook’s TimeMachine-backup, so I am not needing that backup again, but I want to make two new TimeMachine-backups as soon as possible : one for my new MacBook and one for the old MacBook right after my child starts using it.

But, I can’t seem to delete the old .sparsebundle-file from my Time Capsule completely… I’ve done several attempts, but I keep running into the same error message “The operation can’t be completed because some items had to be skipped. For each item, choose File > get Info, make sure “Locked” is deselected, and then check the Sharing & Permissions section. When you are sure the items are unlocked and not designated as Read Only or No Access, try again.”. On first sight, the .sparsebundle-file is still there. On further inspection, it turns out the the .sparsebundle-file has shrunken in size.

But… what can I do to completely delete the old .sparsebundle-file ?

Answer :

This problem can occur especially with bigger and older .sparsebundle-TimeMachine-backup-files. Note that the really new TimeMachine-backup-files have a .backupbundle-extension, not a .sparsebundle-extension, but there is hardly any difference

To be able to delete the old .sparsebundle-file, start by doing this :

1. connect your new MacBook to the Time Capsule using a UTP/Ethernet-cable
   • make sure to shut off AirPort/WiFi on your MacBook :
     • in the top menu-bar, click on the AirPort/WiFi-icon (the piece of pie)
     • in the pulldown-menu, set the WiFi-slider to OFF
   • if you do not have an Ethernet-port or a USB-to-Ethernet-converter on your MacBook :
     • connect your MacBook to the Time Capsule using AirPort/WiFi
     • but make sure to disconnect all other AirPort/WiFi-connected devices
2. Make sure that your Time Capsule has the latest firmware installed :
   • goto Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
   • open AirPort Utility
   • in the AirPortUtility-window, click on your Time Capsule’s picture
   • when prompted, enter the Time Capsule’s password
   • in the popup-window, at ‘version’ check if there is an update available
   • if so, click on the button to install it
   • if just the version number is shown, you already have the latest firmware installed, so you don’t need to do anything extra here
   • exit AirPort Utility
3. Make sure that you have read&write-privileges on the .sparsbundle-file you want to remove :
   • right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the Finder-icon (blue-grey face icon) in the far left of the Dock
   • from the popup-list, select New Finder Window
   • scroll down to the “Locations” group in the menu list at the left and click on “Network”
   • in the window that opens, goto Network > Time Capsule
     • if you have multiple Time Capsule devices, make sure you select the Time Capsule that the .sparsebundle-file you want to delete is actually on
   • if it says “Not Connected” click the “Connect as”-button and typ the Time Capsule’s password
   • if it says “Connected”, you’re good
   • open the Data folder and right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the TimeMachine-backup-file you want to delete
   • from the popup-menu, choose Get Info
   • in the Get Info window that opens, choose these settings :
     • uncheck the check-box at “Locked” (so the file is unlocked, i.e. delete-able)
     • uncheck the check-box at “Hide extension” (so the .sparsebundle extension will be visible in the file name)
     • at “Sharing & Permissions” set Privilege for “everyone” to “Read & Write”
   • close the Get Info window

Having set the above, there are various options that might enable you to delete the old .sparsebundle-file (or .backupbundle-file). Your options are listed below, from simple to extreme. Read all of them before starting, and choose the option you want to try first. Any of these might be successful, and if the one you chose first doesn’t work, just try another one.

Option #1 : delete the .sparsebundle-file from within the Finder

• goto Finder > New Finder Window
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
• right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the .sparsebundle-file you want to delete
• from the popup-list, select “Move to Bin”
• wait for the “Move to Bin” action to complete
• if it doesn’t end in an error, empty the bin/trash (and you’re done)
• if this ends in an error, try any of the other options

Option #2a : additional TC reset

• restart your Time Capsule by unplugging the power cable for 30 seconds
• plug the power cable back into the Time Capsule
• when the Time Capsule comes back online, follow the directions from Option #1

Option #2b : additional Mac reset

• shut down your Time Capsule by unplugging the power cable (for 30 seconds)
• shut down your MacBook by selecting Shut Down from the Apple-menu top-left
• plug the power cable back into the Time Capsule
• restart your MacBook by pressing the power button
• when both your Time Capsule and your MacBook have restarted, follow the directions from Option #1

Option #2c : additionally disconnect other devices

• shut down your Time Capsule by unplugging the power cable (for 30 seconds)
• now, disconnect all UTP/Ethernet-cables leading to other devices than your MacBook (you can even disconnect the cable connected to your internet modem-router)
• shut down your MacBook by selecting Shut Down from the Apple-menu top-left
• plug the power cable back into the Time Capsule
• restart your MacBook by pressing the power button
• when both your Time Capsule and you MacBook have restarted, goto Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
• in the AirPort Utility window, click on the picture of your Time Capsule, typ your password if needed and check which devices are connected
• then, one-by-one go to each device listed and shut down it’s WiFi-connection
• when done, close the AirPort Utility application and reopen it
• again, in the AirPort Utility window, click on the picture of your Time Capsule, typ your password if needed and check which devices are connected
• you should now see no devices listed at “wireless clients” (except for your MacBook if you aren’t able to connect it using a UTP/Ethernet-cable)
• then, follow the directions from Option #1
• NOTE : do not forget to plug all UTP/Ethernet-cables back into your Time Capsule and switch on WiFi on all devices that were previously connected

Option #3 : by backing up the Time Capsule content

• NOTE : you will need a Mac-connectable external USB-harddisk for this ! (at least as many GBs as the internal HD of your Time Capsule, so 500G, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB of larger)
  • to check if the USB-harddisk is Mac-connectable, plug it into your Mac and if it pops up you’re okay
  • if it doesn’t show up, it’s a Windows NTFS-disk that needs to be reformatted to Mac Journailed format ( note that this erases all content, so ONLY reformat it if it’s an empty brand-new external harddisk ! )
• NOTE : this method will work 99% of the time, but it will probably take (far) more time than any other method
• start by connecting the external USB-harddisk to your Time Capsule’s USB-port
• then, on your MacBook, goto Finder > New Finder Window
• then, in the top menu-bar, goto Finder > Preferences
• in the Finder Preferences window, click the Sidebar tab
• in the list that shows up, make sure that “External disks” and “Connected servers” are checked
• then close the Finder Preferences window
• now select the New Finder Window you had just opened
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule
• next to the Data-folder, there is now a new folder named after your externe USB-harddisk
  • for the following, assume that your extern USB-harddisk folder is simply called “usb-HD”
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > usb-HD
  • if the “usb-HD” folder is completely empty, you’re okay
  • else, click on the “More” icon (the circle with 3 dot in it) and in the dropdown menu click “New Folder” and call it “TC-backup”
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
• inside the Data-folder select all files (both backup-files and other files) that you DO NOT want to delete
• drag&drop all the files into Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > usb-HD
  • it may take some time for all files to copy over, so let it run
  • if you run into an error, try copying over every file one-by-one
  • if you still run into an error, just try again
• when all files are copied over, you can unplug the external USB-harddisk from your Time Capsule
  • as an extra safety precaution, you can unplug the power cable from your Time Capsule before you unplug the USB-cable and replug the power cable when the external USB-harddisk is disconnected
• then goto Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
• open AirPort Utility
• in the AirPortUtility-window, click on your Time Capsule’s picture
• when prompted, enter the Time Capsule’s password
• in the popup-window, click the Edit-button
• in the window that opens, select the “Disks”-tab
• in the Disks window, click the “Erase Disk”-button
• next, choose the level of security for the erase (“Quick Erase” should do fine, since you are going to use the disk for the same purpose immediately afterwards)
• then click “Update” and the Time Capsule’s status light wil flash orange-yellow until the disk is erased and the Time Capsule is accessible again
• then, exit AirPort Utility
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > usb-HD or Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > usb-HD > TC-backup (depending on where you put your Time Capsule back-up files)
  • if you don’t see the “usb-HD” folder, make sure your external USB-harddisk is plugged back into your Time Capsule
• now, select all files from the back-up folder (either “usb-HD” or the “TC-backup” folder within it)
• drag&drop all the files into Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
  • it may take some time for all files to copy over, so let it run
  • if you run into an error, try copying over every file one-by-one
  • if you still run into an error, just try again
• when the copying is finished, you should now have your Time Capsule the way you wanted it : exactly the same (backup) files on it’s disk, but without the .sparsebundle(s) you don’t need anymore

Option #4 : manually deleting all files inside

• goto Finder > New Finder Window
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
• right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the .sparsebundle-file you want to delete
• from the popup-list, select “Open Package Content”
• in the Finder window that opens click on the “bands” folder
  • if the “bands” folder appears empty, just wait a few moments for its content to appear in the Finder window
• SHIFT-click on the top file and scroll down to select multiple files, then press the Backspace-button on your keyboard to delete them
  • you are able to select and delete up to 8000 files per batch (according to user ‘cmaryg’)
  • if a batch refuses to delete at the first attempt, just try again – usually it will eventually be deleted anyway (according to user ‘cmaryg’)
  • if a batch refuses to delete after a few attempts, reduce the number of files in it by selecting less files at once and try deleting again
  • if you happen to run into a single file that refuses to delete, do this :
    • right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the file
    • from the popup-list, select “Get Info”
    • in the window that opens, make sure that there is no checkmark at “Locked”
    • then try deleting the file again
• then repeat this for the next batch of files, until the “bands” folder is completely empty
• if the “bands” file is completely empty, close the Finder window that displays the “bands” folder
• then, goto Finder > New Finder Window
• goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
• right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the .sparsebundle-file you want to delete
• from the popup-list, select “Move to Bin”
• if it doesn’t end in an error, empty the bin/trash (and you’re done)
• if this ends in an error, you can still try Option #3, but probably this will help too :
  • goto Locations > Network > Network > Time Capsule > Data
  • right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the .sparsebundle-file you want to delete
  • from the popup-list, select “Open Package Content”
  • in the Finder window that opens, select the top folder and drag it to the bin (trash)
  • repeat this for all folders listed
  • then, select the top file and drag it to the bin (trash)
  • repeat this for all files
  • if you run into a file that refuses to delete, do this :
    • right-click ( CTRL-click ) on the file
    • from the popup-list, select “Get Info”
    • in the window that opens, make sure that there is no checkmark at “Locked”
    • then try deleting the file again

That should be it !

As mentioned before : the Option #3 method will work (nearly) always, but it’s time-consuming and you will need a lot of extra disk space for it (on an external harddisk).

enjoy 😉