Back up and merge identical users on 2 macs

HI There,
I have a mac book pro 15.4 2009. I am getting an 'insurance' MBP pre 2008 so that I am never without a mac should my 1st choice need to go to the menders.
I want my wife to use the 'insurance' MBP to have access to my photos and for light domestic use.
Can I keep an exact clone of my MBP running as a separate user using time machine?
I will not be running both my user accounts simultaneously. Just my 1st choice MBP account and my wifes domestic account on the 2nd MBP. In an emergency, I will simply want to switch macs without losing access to too much recent work. Is this possible by backing up one and restoring to a single user, without effecting my wife's files?
Thanks
Ben

HI There,
[EDIT]
I have a mac book pro 15.4 2009. I am getting an 'insurance' MBP pre 2008 so that I am never without a mac should my 1st choice need to go to the menders.
I want my wife to use the 'insurance' MBP to have access to my photos and for light domestic use.
Can I keep an exact clone of my MBP running as a separate user [ON THE 'INSURANCE' MAC THAT MY WIFE IS USING] using time machine?
I will not be running both my user accounts simultaneously. Just my 1st choice MBP account and my wifes domestic account on the 2nd MBP. In an emergency, I will simply want to switch macs without losing access to too much recent work. Is this possible by backing up one and restoring to a single user, without effecting my wife's files?
Thanks
Ben

Similar Messages

  • I bought a mac air retina to replace a mac pro. How can I get all files of the back up and copy them to the new mac?

    I bought a mac air retina to replace a mac pro. How can I get all files of the back up and copy them to the new mac?

    Mail window may be in the Full Screen mode.
    Move the mouse pointer to the top right corner of the Mail window and hold it there.
    Menu bar should drop down and click the blue double arrow icon.
    Full Screen toggle shortcut:  control + command + F

  • I have partitioned my time capsule, but I can't get it to work as a Time Machine back up and permanent media server for both mac and PC. What format do I need to partition the drive to so that it works for both mac and windows and so that it will be visab

    I have partitioned my time capsule, as I want part of it to act as a media server for both mac and windows. However I don't know what format that I need to partition it to. I also can't make it a permanently accesible drive. I want to restore the drive to the original format (which I don't know) and start again and re-partition the drive in a format that can be used for media by both mac and PC and for time machine back-ups and make the media part of it permanetly accesible so I can add and acccess my files.
    Thanks

    You are mixing up a couple of things here.
    The TC drive cannot be partitioned without removing it.. did you do that?
    If you partition it you must use a Mac disk utility and use the HFS+ ie standard Mac format. And GUID partition table not windows type.
    You can select erase disk in the airport utility.. that will take the disk back to original format. No partitions. TC is deliberately not partitioned as it is not a media server.. it is a backup device for TM. Over time .. the disk will be filled with TM backups so you have a long history of file changes to your computer.
    There is no media server in the TC.. it is merely disk storage.. you can serve files from it to a media device.. but the TC itself is dumb as dumb.
    Now the actual format of the drive is irrelevant to the PC.. The TC offers SMB file services to the network. You can copy files to and from the TC as if it was a local disk without caring one iota about the format. The TC handles that .. it is not a local disk .. it is a network drive.
    Although you cannot partition the TC. you can still copy files to it.. this does have implications for TM.. but as long as there is plenty of free space should not be a major issue.
    You can create a disk image via the disk utility in a Mac.. and as stated you can create partitions if you do it on a Mac with the disk directly connected which means breaking warranty if any exists on the TC.

  • Moving and Merging iPhoto Libraries From 2008 Macs to 2013 MacBook Pro

    I have a late 2008 MacBook and an early 2008 iMac. Both are running Lion and iPhoto '08. I will be getting a new MacBook Pro Retina very shortly to replace my MacBook. I would like to move the iMac's iPhoto library to the new MacBook Pro and merge it with the MacBook's iPhoto library once that library is also on the MacBook Pro.  I obviously need to get all iPhoto libraries up to date prior to doing this. I think I have a plan to achieve this, as follows, but I would appreciate your help:
    1) Upgrade iMac to Mavericks (App store said that I need to do this prior to upgrading to iPhoto 9.5)
    2) Upgrade iMac's iPhoto to 9.5
    3) Use set-up assistant to migrate old MacBook to new MacBook Pro. This should upgrade the old MacBook's iPhoto library to the current iPhoto version on the MacBook Pro???
    4) Move the iMac's iPhoto library to the MacBook Pro (6,604 photos, approximately 27 gb)
    5) Merge the two iPhoto libraries using iPhoto Library Manager or Aperture (I have not decided which one yet)
    Is this a plan that will work?
    MacBook just has Ethernet and USB.  iMac has USB, Ethernet and FireWire.  MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt and USB.
    I already need to buy a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter to transfer between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.  I'd rather not have too buy another adapter just to transfer the iPhoto library from the iMac to the MacBook Pro.
    Is there a way to do 4) on my wifi network using file sharing or some other method I may not be aware of just to transfer the 27 gb iPhoto library?
    Thank you.

    More simple.
    Wait until you get the new machine. Copy the two libraries to the new machine. Open them, this will upgrade them to the same version. Then merge them.
    Obviously, don't move them to the same folder, or rename one, so they don't overwrite each other.
    To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
    Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
    But however you do choose to link the two machines...
    Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
    Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
    This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
    I would strongly caution you that Migration Assistant is not very reliable with iPhoto Libraries.

  • Backing up and restoring FTP settings on a Mac?

    Using DW CS3 and CS4 how can I backup FTP settings in these programs and transfer them to CS5 on a Mac running Snow Leopard?
    Thanks.

    StanWelks wrote:
    Just to clarify:
    1. Do I import the file into CS5 through Site Manager?
    2. Are there any other files/settings I need to backup?
    3. Where can I backup the extensions  installed?
    Thanks!
    Yes
    Well, you would need to backup the site's files themselves.  The site definition file only contains information ABOUT the site.
    They are in the Configurations folder under the user :: Library :: Application Support :: Adobe :: Dreamweaver CS5 :: en_US folder.  Just back up that folder.
    Good luck!

  • I got a new macbook air and took my old macs back up and put it on the new macs desktop.  How do I put my old files and apps to have this new computer look like my old one?

    Help!  Please!  Thanks so much!!!!!

    Well, I don't know how you made the backup nor how you restored the backup. However, you don't put an entire backup on to the Desktop.
    I suggest you do the following:
    Open Users & Groups preferences. Click ont the lock icon and authenticate with the admin password you are currently using. Click on the Add [-] button and create a new account named "temp" (no quotes) and give the account admin status. Assign any password you want (but assign a password.)
    Log out of the account you are using and log into the new, temp, account. Open Users & Groups preferences, click on the lock icon. Authenticate with the password you used for "temp." Select the other user account (not the one named Guest) and click on the Delete [-] button. Select the third removal option and click on the OK button.
    Connect your backup drive. Open Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder. Select the option to migrate from another Mac or connected hard drive or select the option to restore from a Time Machine backup if TM was used to back up your old computer. Restore your old Home folder, third-party applications and support files, and system preferences per instructions in Migration Assistant.
    After the migration has completed (will take several hours) log out of "temp" and log into your newly migrated account. Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and authenticate with your normal account's password. Select the "temp" account, click on the Delete [-] button. Select the third option and click on the OK button.
    You should now have just one user account. The one migrated from your old computer.

  • Want to share some music with another User on my Mac - how?

    Hi everyone,
    Here's what I want to do, and any help is appreciated.
    My fiancee and I both users on my Mac laptop. Currently, we have our own iTunes library in our respective user folders. She wants some of my songs in her library, and I want a few of hers. I don't want to waste hard drive space, so I am trying to figure out how she can have some of my music in her library without creating duplicate copies on the hard drive. Then I want to be sure the shared songs she likes will upload to her iPod when she tries to sync.
    From reading the various entries, I think the solution to this is to have a shared library in a public folder. However, I have a few questions about how this will work.
    1. I don't want to see most of her music in my iTunes, and she doesn't want to see most of mine in hers. Can we control this with a shared library, or will each person see all of the available music?
    2. What will happen when we try to sync our iPods? Will my iPod try to import all of her music that I don't want? Will hers get all of mine, or just the songs she wants?
    Thanks in advance for your help...
    PS - yes, I did read the article that covers most of this topic, but it didn't answer some of my questions.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195

    Just in case anyone is having the same issue - since there were no responses to this post, I bit the bullet and copied my iTunes library into our shared folder.
    1. Our libraries stayed the same - nobody's music showed up in the other person's library. If she wants additional music from the shared library, she can just drag it into her iTunes from the shared folder on the finder level.
    2. The iPods behaved exactly as expected - they would only sync to the user they were attached to.

  • 3 user profiles on mac book pro.  cant see one account in time machine - has it backed up? and for other users ''no permission'' to open folders - i just want to know that stuff IS backed up (before attempting upgrade to lion)

    We have 3 user profiles on mac book pro.  want to upgrade to lion but want to be sure that all users are backed up to ext hard drive via Time Machine.  When I go into Time Machine - I cant find anywhere my user account (1 of the 3) - loads of photos and documents. For other user accounts - if i go to open a folder i cant ''no permission'' is the message.  All I want to be sure of is that there is a back up and for these 2 reasons I am far from sure.

    famfran wrote:
    When I go into Time Machine - I cant find anywhere my user account (1 of the 3) - loads of photos and documents.
    Be sure they're not excluded in Time Machine Preferences > Options.
    Also, if iPhoto is open while a backup is running, Time Machine may not be able to back up the changes in the iPhoto Library. It will "catch up" the next time, if it can.
    For other user accounts - if i go to open a folder i cant ''no permission'' is the message.  All I want to be sure of is that there is a back up and for these 2 reasons I am far from sure.
    That's correct; one user, even an Admin user, doesn't normally have access to another user's files.  You should see the same behavior if you try to look at their data on your Mac.
    Log on as the other users (or have them do it) to see their backups.

  • Can you merge two user accounts on macbook? my wife has created a user on her new macbook , then inadvertently created a second one when using the migration tool. 1st ac has her office 365 install, yet 2nd has her itunes database, docs and contacts.

    Can you merge two user accounts on a macbook? my wife has created a new user on her new macbook air then, inadvertently, created a second one when using the migration tool. 1st a/c has her office 365 install, while 2nd has her itunes database, docs and contacts. What is the best way forward to get everything into the one account? Not sure if the office 365 will allow another installation into the second account, otherwise would just do that and delete the first, if that is possible?

    There is no merge but you can move data from one account to another via the Shared folder. Data is copied from Shared. Watch your free space when copying. These are large files.  Do one at a time if you are on a small drive. After making copy, delete from other users before you start next copy.
    Office365 installs in the main Applications folder and is available for all users on the computer. Activation is tied to the drive not the User.

  • HT5622 I have a new desktop and re-installed my identity from my airtime back up and on the log in page my picture comes up with my usual password hint, but it is not accepting my password and I do not have the option to reset using my apple id - that par

    I have a new desktop and re-installed my identity from my airtime back up and on the log in page my picture comes up with my usual password hint, but it is not accepting my password and I do not have the option to reset using my apple id - that particular function is in grey and cannot be clicked on

    Depending on what kind of computer you have, you're gonna need to put that backup in the appropriate folder or itunes is not gonna be able to see it for you to use.

  • Newbie: dropping and creating an identical user

    Oracle 10g
    Hi: I need to drop and recreate the user. This is what I had from my previous notes.
    1. how do I figure out what is the current default tablespace
    2. how do I figure out the current temporary tablespace?
    3. the table space and temporary table space get deleted when I drop the user. if Yes, Is it possible some other user's default tablespace and temporary tablespace is the same as well.
    Drop user systems cascade;
    CREATE USER SYSTEMS
      IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'Test123'
      DEFAULT TABLESPACE USERS
      TEMPORARY TABLESPACE TEMPts1
      PROFILE DEFAULT
      ACCOUNT UNLOCK;
    /

    When I do a "SELECT DBMS_METADATA.GET_DDL('USER', 'Test123') || '/' DDL FROM DBA_USERS;", I get 34 rows. What does that mean. They all look identical.
    SELECT DBMS_METADATA.GET_DDL('USER', 'Test123') || '/' DDL FROM DBA_USERS;
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
       CREATE USER "Test123" IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'F42EB0B11017F065'
          DEFAULT TABLESPACE "ARSYSTEM"
          TEMPORARY TABLESPACE "TEMP"
    34 rows selected.

  • What is 'Backing up' and why does it take so long even if my library is identical to my ipod?

    I've just plugged by ipod touch into the computer to sync it and it keeps telling me the ipod contains stuff that isnt in my library (eventhough my library is identical to the content on the ipod) and that if i dont back up i will lose this stuff, i clicked back up and now it has been backing up for over 2 hours! what is it doing and why is it taking so long?

    TC has to check to see which files need to be backed up. So its going thru the file directory and looking for any changes since the last backup. Do you have a lot of files on your Mac to check? Or are they just a small number but very large. If its the former, then that might be the culprit.

  • 10.9.1 used terminal with rm-rf and deleted my user data. Can I get back the deleted data? Help.

    10.9.1 used terminal with rm-rf and deleted my user data. Can I get back the deleted data? Help.  I really just need mail file and desktop files recovered.

    If data were on the SSD drive with TRIM - practically no chance. If HDD - use DIY recovery software such as DiskDrill or DataResue.
    As quickly as possible turn off the drive where deleted data.
    Use an external HDD with installed OSX for data recovery.
    Alex
    Apple Certified Support Professional

  • TS3694 Error message when attempting to back up iPod to iTunes, no number given. No previous back ups as a new user, current iTunes software and iPod iOS.

    Error message when attempting to back up iPod to iTunes, no number given. No previous back ups as a new user, current iTunes software and iPod iOS.

    The issue you are experiencing is with installing the latest iTunes update.  I recommend following the steps below:
    Resolution
    Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
    Check for .dll files
    Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes and C:\Program Files\iTunes and look for .dll files.
    If you find QTMovie.DLL, or any other .dll files, move them to the desktop.
    Reboot your computer.
    Note: Depending on your operating system, you may only have one of the listed paths.
    Uninstall and reinstall iTunes
    Uninstall iTunes and all of its related components.
    Reboot your computer. If you can't uninstall a piece of Apple software, try using the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Utility.
    Re-download and reinstall iTunes 11.1.4.
    I understand that you have already uninstalled iTunes, but when you get to this step, it is important to uninstall iTunes and the related components in the order listed in the link for that step. 

  • Last Time Machine back-up is 45 days old and only of User Account files (not entire HD) and I must now reinstall Lion without being able to perform a new back-up. Will any new User Account files, since my last back-up, be lost when Lion reinstalls (via i

    My last Time Machine back-up is 45 days old and only of User Account files (not entire HD) and I must now reinstall Lion (via internet) without  performing a new back-up. Will any new User Account files, since my last back-up, be lost when Lion reinstalls ?

    Reinstalling OS X doesn't affect user data, provided nothing goes wrong. But it would be very unwise to assume that nothing will go wrong, especially if you're having (unspecified) system issues. You should try to back up all data before you reinstall or do anything else. There are ways to do that, even if you're unable to boot.
    If your backups include only user files, you won't be able to access them in Setup Assistant.

Maybe you are looking for

  • IPod (3G) reboots when turned on (often)

    wondering if anyone has had a similiar issue and if they have any advice (either to fix or to send back to Apple to be fixed): if i let the iPod sit for a day or so without being used or charged, when i turn it on it will reboot. the iPod still works

  • How to use EWS or Powershell to rename all folders that have a forward slash in them

    We have many users that have created folders in Outlook that have forward slashes in the name (i.e. / ). They did this in Outlook/Exchange 2003. We upgraded to Outlook 2010 and this is no longer aloud so there are issues with the folders when perform

  • Item Details Columns of Production Order

    Hi, In a Production Order Component overview screen,i can see 4 columns related to item details- ITEM, OpAc,ItemID,ItemNo. Can anyone explain what is the use of above 4 columns and how are they different from each other. Does maintaining all the abov

  • Reinstalling OSX Lion for sale

    Hi, I'm cleaning up a MB Pro for sale. It's from March 2011 and has Apple care for another 18 months. I can't remember if it had Lion or Mountain Lion as its original OSX. The problem is; I've deleted the partition in disk utility but when I come to

  • Aliases in a smartforum

    Hey all, Does anybody knows if this is possible? I create a smartforum and there i would like a clickable word that's refers to an URL. For instance: Click <u>here</u>: And if you click <u>here</u> you will be navigate to a webadress. So the user don