Cannot access user data in Time Machine backup

I had some corrupt files on my iMac and after a lot of troubleshooting I had to do a clean install of OS X.
I had a Time Machine backup of the Mac with the corrupt files so I did not use the migration tool. I just want to get the files off my desktop and some other user files (/user/userX/desktop) from the backup.
When I go into the Time Machine backup to restore anything in the User folder; I get access denied.
Is there a way to take ownership of that folder? I need this data.
Message was edited by: Tom515

Strongly suggest erasing, reinstalling the OS, and using the migration tool. Resolves all such permissions and access issues.

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Accessing user's local Time Machine backup on client Mac?

I'm trying to configure a file server with backup for local Macs.
I've set up file sharing, users and groups in Server.app and it works as intended – after logging to the server, users see their home folders and other shared folders where they store their files.
The idea is to use Time Machine backups on the server Mac. I've enabled it on the server and used a separate hard drive. It works well, and I can enter the Time machine from the server.
Now, is it possible for users on client Macs connected to and working on the server volume to access Time Machine backups of their files?
Thanks!

Yes, I'm using OS X Mavericks Server. There's a shared volume "Design Work" where clients keep their files. It's backed up to a separate volume "Backup" via Time Machine. What I would like to do is to let clients access Time Machine backup of their files (stored on "Design Work" volume on the server) without the need to physically go to the server computer. Is that at all possible?
I've tried to follow this instruction but it doesn't seem to work. I can select the shared TM backup from a client via "browse other backup disks" option but I can't see the files on "Design Work" share, just local files.

Migration problem: migration assistant won't migrate both user accounts from time machine backup

My Mac was formatted due to some technical issues. Before handing to the lab- I backed it up using time machine ( and only that ).
I had two user accounts on the Mac before handing it to the lab.
One of them I never actually used -I'll call it the secondary.
The second one was the main one - which I used all the time - the principal account. All my data is there on that account.
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Since I never used it - I couldn't remember the login password and had to reset it, took a while.
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I'm really really stressed and worried.
BTW -when looking into the actual external disk used for the Time Machine at this path: computer name--> backups-->macintosh HD -->users--> principal account - I see all the folders and files with a 'no entry' icon next to them.
clicking on the folders - I get the following notice - 'the folder xxx can't be opened because you don't have permission to see the contents''
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I'm running on a 2.9Ghz intel core i5
16GB RAM 1600MHz DDR3
SW version: 10.9.4
would appreciate any kind of help,
Thanks
Dana

thanks,
the thing is the Mac was behaving strangely - that's why I sent it to the lab in the first place.
This Mac is just over a year old but it's content was initially migrated from the older mac.
And it (the new Mac) wasn't working properly from the get go..
It took ages for it to start up and wouldn't start up if any external disk was attached (via USB).
I had to start it up and only then connect external disks.
In the lab - They couldn't find and HW issues.
So they formatted and reinstalled the OS - I think that's all they've sone in the lab
The idea was to start afresh and slowly reinstall softwares - only those necessary.
So, having said all that- does that change your answer?

Not enough space on my new SSD drive to import my data from time machine backup, how can I import my latest backup minus some big files?

I just got a new 256GB SSD drive for my mac, I want to import my data from time machine backup, but its larger than 256GB since it used to be on my old optical drive. How can I import my latest backup keeping out some big files on the external drive?

Hello Salemr,
When you restore from a Time Machine back up, you can tell it to not transfer folders like Desktop, Documents. Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures and Public. Take a look at the article below for the steps to restore from your back up.
Move your data to a new Mac
http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5872
Regards,
-Norm G.

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No it isn't something you'd find on the computer, it has to be custom installed from the 10.6 installer disc or Software Update if it wasn't before. It allows you to use older PowerPC applications on your Mac. On the other hand double check the version of iTunes you have does not require 10.7 minimum either.

HT201250 (1) Where is the "Time Machine menu" and the choice to "Enter Time Machine" (mentioned in the "Restoring data from Time Machine backups" section)?

1) Where do I find the "Time Machine menu" and the choice to "Enter Time Machine" (as mentioned in the "Restoring data from Time Machine backups" section in the Mac Support article "Mac Basics: Time Machine")?
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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
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2. If you want to do that with individual photos, it's the same way as for documents. If you want to do it with iPhoto, you have to restore the whole iPhoto library, not only one photo

Can't access library folder on Time Machine Backup

I'll try to explain this as clearly as possible...
1) I have wiped my hard drive and completed a clean install of Mavericks. I did this due to persistant problems with disc permissions that I could not eliminate.
2) I did not want to take a chance on introducing problems with migrating a profile from my Time Machine backup so instead of using Migration Assistant, I used Finder to browse the Time Machine backup I made prior to reformatting my drive to simply copy all my necessary data files back onto the drive in my newly created profile.
3) I've reinstalled the majority of programs I use and everything is looking good (no disk permission problems when I've checked using Disk Utility).
4) Mail is working just find with all my accounts having been restored using my Apple ID.
Here's the problem....
I forgot that some of my mail had been stored on my local hard drive. I beleive this mail should be in my user/library/mail folder of my time machine backup. However, I cannot access my User/Library folder in Time Machine. I've tried opening my current (new) User/Library folder in Finder and then selecting "Browse Other Backup Discs" from the Time Machine icon and, although this opens the Time Machine backups, I cannot do any time travel...in other words, although there are many stacks of folders shown in the backup, I cannot move into the past from the present.
Any suggestions on how I can get this Mail folder out of the Time Machine user/library? I know there is some stuff there that I'm going to have to get to.
Thanks!

It woked to get me into my current User/Library of my "new" profile but I cannot move back in time into the actual backups despite the timeline increments on the right side of the screen in Time Machine showing they're are backups for the past several months. I'm stuck on this moment so to speak.
Got to hit the sack...head is swimming. Thanks for the suggestions Barney. Let me know if you think of any others.

How can I access ~/library on my time machine backup?

I recently re-installed OSX Lion and made sure i'd backed everything up before I did a clean install and did not want to transfer my old archive across. I need to access my user library on Time Machine so that I can restore my Transmit favourites and Little Snapper image database.
I've tried following the process here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3633972?start=0&tstart=0 but I get "The folder can't be found" (see screenshot) and now i'm at a complete as to what to do.
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Last but not least, navigate the TM disk within the Finder, (do not enter TM).
When you are on the date you are looking for, navigate the directory structure until you reach the Users folder.
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cd
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cd Library
open .
please note the dot after open. Last command opens a Finder window of the Library folder inside TM disk.
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HT201250 Mac OS 10.6 - How to restore OS and Data from Time Machine Backup

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cindy1023 wrote:
i had a hacker get in my computer, got all my info used my name and passwords to convert safari into windows on another computer? and APPLE IS THE ONE GAVE HER THE PASSWORD.
There is no way to "convert" Safari into Windows. And very unlikely for a hacker to get into a Mac.
But, ok, your system is all messed-up somehow.
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We need the Version number.
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You may need that, depending on what version of OSX you're running, to restore the backups or start fresh.
You really should have a copy of the original disc, as there's an Apple Hardware Test on it, tailored to the hardware on that Mac. You'll need it it there's ever a problem. If your daughter can't send it, call AppleCare (800-275-2273),and give them your serial number -- they can send you a replacement for a nominal fee.
Sorry, but it's late here, and I'm going to bed, but will be back tomorrow.

How to migrate my past user data via time machine (not the latest back up)

Does anyone know how do i migrate my past data from time machine. I read the step posted on http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413 but does it migrate the latest back up?
How can i migrate a older time stamp data?
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If you want to restore the entire computer using a backup other than the most recent you'll need to use your computer's restore DVD (the grey one) or your commercial Leapard DVD to boot the computer. Then look under the utilities menu for Restore. Both Migrate and Setup Assistant automatically select the most recent TimeMachine backup.
Pondini's Time Machine site has everything you've always needed to know about TimeMachine but didn't know you should ask. You might want to take a look before you proceed.

2 user folders after time machine backup. Macbook Pro 13", Mac OS X 10.6.8

After a time machine backup my macbook pro runs fine, however the backup has created a 2nd user file. my new user file is now named like my old one, just with " 1" added. I have 2 user folders, can I delete the old one?
After a random check of the content in both user folders I found out that it's not identical. Some files that weren't backed up with the time machine before the re-setup are in the original folder, while the new uder folder obviously only backup what it could find on the time machine disc. (Time machine backed up my whole hdd about 2 days before the crash & re-setup)
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Can I then re-name the new one (user 1) back to "user"?
Thanks
J.

I've never heard of a 'problem' as you're having - and I searched Pondoni's Time Machine Troubleshooting FAQs and couldn't fine anythig similar.
I would be wary of deleting anything manually from your TM backup - the sparsebundles are rather sensitive. If you like, however, you could always erase your TM backups and start anew... that's the only way I would know to 'fix' the problem.
Good luck,
Clinton

Can I move all data from time machine backup to another external drive & work from it?

Hi all, the harddrive on my macbook died (2nd time in a year) & I had a new one put in that's much smaller than the old one. Can I move everything from my time machine backup onto a seperate external drive and work directly from that on my laptop/imac? At the mo. I don't think time machine will recognise my computer as it's a new drive etc. Thanks Jenny.

What exactly do you want to do?
Is it that you wish to extract an older version of some documents to edit, but leave the original intact?
You can Restore an older version from TM and choose not to replace the current one.
Or, do you wish to install the OS on your new drive, and migrate all the information from the TM backup to the new isntallation?
EDIT: Ok, re-reading your question, I think macjack probably has the right idea.
However, see Pondini's Time Machine FAQ # 16

Help: cannot retrieve old files from Time Machine backup on new computer!

I backed up my old Macbook Pro for several months. I've got a new Macbook Pro and I succeeded to restore the last content of the old one using the migration assistant.
However, now I need some older files that I know are in the backup, but I can't restore them because you apparently can only do that with the computer from which you made the backups... a Time Machine backup is 'tied' to the sparsebundle using the MAC-address of the computer...
I don't have my old computer anymore, does this really mean that all the old file in the backup are lost for me? Or is there an other way?
Please help.
Wim

Wimek,
According to this KB article (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1760)
"When upgrading from one Leopard-based Mac to a new Leopard-based Mac, and you wish to use Time Machine backups from the previous Mac, make sure the computer name of the new Mac (in Sharing preferences) is the same as your previous Mac's computer name was when its Time Machine backups were made. Afterwards, if the previous Mac is still on your network, give it a different computer name."

Mountain Lion installation failed, cannot repair HD, cannot pick a destination for Time Machine backup

It seems I am not alone in the failure of installing Mountain Lion. I am using a mid 2010 MacBook Pro, had Lion installed, tried upgrading to Mountain Lion. Like so many others I am getting errors, can't repair disk, etc. I do have Time Machine backups, and can go select the most recent one, but when I get to the screen to select a destination, there is nothing to select.
What are my options for restoring to my last good backup? My Lion OS was also from the app store. I believe I had either Leopard or Snow Leopard when I first bought my MBP, but not 100% sure. I am just extremely frustrated and while I know I have been doing backups to the Time Capsule, if I can't get one of those to restore, will I be able to get to the files it backed up if I have to completely erase and start over with a lower OS?

At some point I was finally able to get the recovery from the Disk Utility menu, once I threw in an older OSX DVD (Snow Leopard.) Once I could get to my files, I copied just the folders/files I wanted from my HD to an external drive, then went back in through Disk Utility, erased everything and when I went to reload, it did an online recovery and actually grabbed my copy of Mountain Lion and installed it without a hitch. I figured it was going to reload the older OS but apparently since I had already purchased Mountain Lion, the online recovery retrieved that from the cloud?? Anyway, once that installed and I added back on what I wanted, it's like I have a new MacBook. No other issues once I installed. I did have to get an update for one of my programs, Final Draft, but so far everything else is running. Seems the erase and clean install was the best way to go. Thanks!

Data Safety - Time Machine Backup HD

Greetings,
Our organization uses time machine and individual external HDs to backup our workstations. Most of the employees use laptops, and leave the external HDs at their desk.
Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping this data safe? Is the best solution to lock the HDs? If the HDs are indeed stolen would it be easy for someone to access the data that has been backed up?
Thanks in advance for your ideas and insight.

If the drives were stolen, then yes, the data would be moderately easy to access. Of course, the same is true of the data on the laptops, which are far more likely to be stolen given their portable nature and the fact that they're taken out of the office regularly. Don't be fooled by the login system... a knowledgeable person could have full access to any of the data on your laptop's hard drive within minutes.
The only way to protect your data is through encryption. I don't generally recommend File Vault, which encrypts the entire user folder. This is almost always extreme overkill and causes all kinds of problems (including problems backing up and restoring). You can create an encrypted disk image, using Disk Utility, to store sensitive data, and this disk image will also be encrypted in the backup. You could also try using some other backup software that supports encryption of the backups, but that still leaves the originals on the laptops in a vulnerable state.

Cannot access user data in Time Machine backup

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