How do I copy a time machine backup onto my old computer after I've replaced the hard drive?

Hi everyone,
I own a MacBook that I purchased in 2009, and it's served me very well since then; the only exception is that the hard drive suffered after I dropped the computer, and I had to replace it last month.
The old hard drive is now useless, and the new one is nearly blank, and I'd like to upload my old Time Machine contents onto my computer without losing some new files I've gained. What's the best way to do it?
Thanks!

Use Migration Assistant to move over the files from the Time Machine backup to the Mac.
Finder > Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant

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from this support article:
(click on image to enlarge)

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Thanks
Richard

Thanks Kevin for the suggestion posted on MacOSXHints how to "Repair Time Machine after logic board changes".
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080128003716101
It seems as though I am not alone with my frustration with the way Time Machine uses the MAC address of a computer to tell one system from another. This means that if you have your Mac repaired with a new logic board, or replace your system with a new one, you can't resume backups where you left off. Reading through the readers who used the fix using Terminal, it appears that the fix does not always work. I contacted Apple again, but they were no help. Surely Apple should come out with a solution as more and more people use Time Machine/Time Capsule.
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I replaced the hard drive in my iMac, now time machine won't back up to time capsule because there is not enough space. I believe time machine/time capsule thinks the new hard drive is a new computer and therefore must perform a new complete backup even though the data on the new hard drive came directly off the old hard drive (the was backed up on time capsule. Our time capsule is currently backing up two computers (both Macs). How do I get time capsule to start backing up the new hard drive?

You'll have to be more specific -- that's like emailing an auto mechanic saying only "My car won't start."
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Does your Mac recognize your Time Capsule?
Do backups start?
If so, do they hang, or fail? If they fail, with what message?
Start with Time Machine - Troubleshooting. It will show you how to locate the message(s) that describe the problem, then help you fix it. If that doesn't help, post back with details, including all the messages, your setup, what you've done, and the results.

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Give this a try:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions - Lion/Mountain Lion
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
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See if you are able to get the partition to mount. If not select the Terminal from the Utiilities menu. At the prompt enter:
sudo mount disk0s1
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ivan wrote:
How Can I Migrate My Time Machine Backups To A New External Hard Drive?
I have a external hard drive that has 500 GBs left, but I want to buy a larger drive.
Hi iVain
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http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2595485&tstart=0

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Re: How do I reformat my time machine backup disc Oct 13, 2012 5:32 PM (in response to Jim Tee)
Hi again Niel:
Regarding "use the Erase option in disc utility to reformat my backup disc:
I tried the erase again and came up with the following fault messages.
"Mac OS X can’t repair the disk “Time Machine.
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First, how did you prepare your new drive? See:
Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. If you need to reformat your startup volume, then you must boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
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4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
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If you plan to partition this new drive then be sure you create a larger partition for TM than your old volume.
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Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
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4.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
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7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
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Dan Ringuette wrote:
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How do I copy a time machine backup onto my old computer after I've replaced the hard drive?

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