How to tell if a client has backed up to Time Machine

I have multiple MACBook Pro and an iMAC at my home. All are configured to backup to the same Time Machine. One of the MacBook Pro had a problem with the installation of Lion and needs to restore from a Time Capsule backup. When prompted for the user and password for the system to access the time capsule disk, the information entered is not accepted.
Since I am the administrator, is there a way from my system to tell if the other system has been backed up to the Time Machine or when the last time it was backed up was since I can not seam to get into it from the system needing to be restored?

Time Machine normally only shows the backups for the Mac it's running on. To see a different Mac's backups, you need the Browse... option, per #E2 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

Similar Messages

How do I get rid of the back-up on Time Machine?

Got rid of a computer, how do I get rid of the back-up on Time Machine (housed on a Time Capsule)? Can I safely just delete the sparsebundle file?

It is much easier, and much faster, to erase the Time Capsule drive if you do not have other backups on the drive.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click the Time Capsule icon
Click Edit
Click the Disks tab
Click Erase Disk
The Quick Erase option will be fine and will only take a minute or two
If you do not plan to hold onto the Time Capsule use the Zero Out option, which is more secure
If you do have other Time Machine sparsebundle files on the Time Capsule and do not want to erase them, then you will need to manually delete the sparsebundle file that you no longer need.
It will likely take about as long to delete the file as it took to make the first backup.

How to delete .inProgress from my failed back-up in Time Machine?

So I deleted it my failed back-up and it doesn't want to be emptied in trash.. So because of that I can't back up now because my external hard drive is full because of that failed back up! Help please!!
Thanks in advance!

You shouldn't have to delete it -- Time Machine will "recover" it on the next backup.
Depending on just when and how the backup failed, deleting the inProgress file can corrupt your backups. Usually, they can be repaired. See #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Have you fixed the problem that caused it to fail? If not, start with Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
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 (especially the destination for the backups), what you've done, and the results.

How do I get access to files backed up with time machine on another computer?

Hi. I recently migrated to a new macbook air. got most of the data across, but not my iphoto library, which exists now only on an external harddrive onto which i backed it up using time machine.
I had to delete the iphoto library from my old computer before migration.
The harddrive doesnt work on my old computer anymore (says the disk is damaged. Im currently trying to repair it, but no luck so far, disk utility says it cannot repair it.)
I can get the harddrive to work on my new computer.However, the folder i want to access is inside a time machine backup folder (made on my old machine) and it is locked. I tried to unlock it using command+ i but that did not work.
How can i access such a locked folder?

maedi wrote:
I realize it is not good to get time-machine created files back by going through finder, but that seems like that is my only option.
Were you trying to access it via either Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant? If those don't work, you still may be able to use the "Star Wars" display to see and restore some data. It all depends on just what and where the damage is.
If you can get into the display, you may be able to restore the iPhoto Library; start with the most recent backup, and work back in time.
the problem now is the folder is locked with a big red no go sign, and command-i cannot change it (not even when i do it on the computer on which the file was created).
Correct; Time Machine protects it's backups with very restrictive ACLs, basically "nobody can do anything," so us mere mortals won't damage them.
If you use the same user account on the same Mac that did the backup, via the Finder, you should have read rights, and you may be able to copy from the backups.
if i succeed, am i going to see my iphoto library file in that folder?
Yes. Each of those date-stamped backup folders should contain a set of "hard links" to the backup copies of everything that was on your system at the time of that backup, no matter when each item was actually backed-up. If you can copy the most recent one successfully, that will get everything.
The iPhoto Library looks like a file; but it's actually a special kind of folder called a "package." If you can't copy it, right-click it and select Show Package Contents to see inside it, but don't copy individual items except as a last resort -- at best, you'll recover raw photos, with no organization or data, and probably no editing, either.

How does this work with multiple systems backing up with time machine

I was wondering as Apple states that this will do multiple time machine backups as in multiple computers, how does this do this? I am assumng that it will require me to partition the srive in the unit as multiple partitions. 1 for each time computer with time machine running.

I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure how to interpret your answer so I'll ask for clarification.
Do you mean that the backup belonging to each user will be protected by filesystem perms? In other words Alice's backup will be owned by Alice and only readable by her, ditto for the hyperthetical Bill?
I guess in other words, does Time Machine preserve file ownership perms?

How to restore particular pictures in iphoto backed up via time machine

cant we open an app like iphoto via time machine for a particular date ??
like i want a pic that i deleted from iphoto , how can i do that without restoring full iphoto library???

As AnaMusic said, iPhoto library can't be opened via Time Machine to restore photos separately, so you will have to restore the whole iPhoto library.
1. If you don't want to lose changes made after your last backup, copy the iPhoto library, that it's on Pictures folder, to another folder.
2. Open Finder, select Pictures in the sidebar and open Time Machine.
3. Navigate through the backups, select the iPhoto library you want to restore and press Restore.
4. Double-click the iPhoto library to open it on iPhoto.
5. Drag the photos you want to transfer to your "existing" iPhoto library to the Desktop. You can select more than one pressing Command key.
6. Delete the "restored" iPhoto library on Pictures folder and copy the "existing" iPhoto library to Pictures folder again.
7. Open iPhoto and drag the photos on the Desktop to iPhoto, so the photos will be on the iPhoto library.
If you have any problem restoring the iPhoto library, see > http://pondini.org/TM/E9.html

How to judge whether the client has installed AcrobatReader?

How to judge whether the client has installed AcrobatReader?

Hi,
first check the client copy log using scc3->all clients
under target client you can identify which client is generated by client copy.
the remaining client is only created using SCC4 ( exclude 000,001,066 )
regards,
kaushal

TS1550 Back up to time machine failed. Error, "Files can't be copied onto the backup disk because it appears to be read-only". Back up has been working. drive is not read only. How do I fix this?

Back up to time machine failed. Error, "Files can’t be copied onto the backup disk because it appears to be read-only". Back up has been working. drive is not read only. How do I fix this?

Hello,
http://pondini.org/TM/C6.html

Can I restore a iPhone back up from time machine and if so how?

I have upgraded my iphone to IOS 7 this morning. However as I was backing up my phone, the cable I was using was removed from the macbook.
I now have a iPhone back up that is corrupted, and when i try and restore my settings to the new IOS7 upgraded phone, it will not allow my old settings to be placed on the phone.
I am therefore thinking of using an old back up from Time Machine, but do not know how to access itunes from time machine. Everytime I try and enter iTunes from my Time Machine vault it says Mac OSX requires the application and therefore cannot be restored.
Please help or tell me what I should be doing instead.
I have a feeling I will lose my app data and have to manually sort my home screens. Luckily all my contacts, emails, photos etc are synced to iCloud, but the back up of my iphone isn't as I don;t have the upgraded space on ICloud and have a iPhone thta has 16GB on it.
Cheers in anticipation of your help
Stephen

Hi Lawrence. Thanks so much for that advice - I'm really grateful. I hope you don't mind me asking a couple more questions: I have found that folder via Finder - I clicked on Library then App Support then Mobile Sync and within that, there's a folder called Backup and within that, 4 files. I also tried accessing it via the Go/go to folder method you suggested (in case that revealed more which remain hidden unless I use your route) but I couldn't make that route work.
I presume I'm looking at the correct files but please advise me if it's still possible that I'm not.
I had already tried to look at these backup files in Time Machine. They appear to be backed up, going back a year. If I can restore one from yesterday, that should solve my problem. However I've looked through them randomly going back a month or more, and they all seem to have been created in 2013, and last modified then. Only one of the files has a more recent 'last modified' date. But surely Time Machine has captured each backup of the iPhone going back over time? I'm baffled.
I hope the above makes sense. I'd be really grateful for any further advice.
steve

My Lacie external hard drive will not back up on Time Machine. Says there's not enough space. This has happened with every single external I've purchased. Thought TM was supposed to delete old backups??

My Lacie External backed up on Time Machine after the first back up but now says there's not enough room. I thought TM deleted old back ups to save new versions. What am I doing wrong. This happens to me constantly. Every single external hard drive I've purchased for the MacBook Pro (5 of them) has not worked either initially or at the second back up. It either isn't formatted properly so I have to go to Genius bar to help me set up for the first back up, or after the first back up, it says there's not enough space and I have to go back to Genius Bar. Is there a way I can fix this on my own?

I just purchased 2 external hardrives. a LaCie Minimus and a G Drive. Each 1 TB. The guy at Apple told me that would provide 2 good TM backups for me. My internal HD has 750 GB capacity, of which I'm using 700 GB. Perhaps the ratio is not great enough. I do wish they would have told me this before I purchased the two Bummmmer! I even had them format and get the first back-ups going because of issues I've had in the past. I also just bought a 750 GB for photos.
So, I won't be able to buy another bigger external since I've just purchased 3. Ugh. Well, I'll just exclude some files and divide things up. Eventually, I just want my 20,000 iphotos on one of the 1TB externals, and a TM back-up on another so that iphoto will function once more. It really hates how many photos I have and is brutally punishing me for it.I seriously need to do some housecleaning!
Thanks for the advice. Just moved from US to Australia last week and was hoping to upload a few photos and the domino effect has lead me to this. Just went to Genius Bar in Perth today and they told me how to reformat drive to transfer iphoto library over, but I got stuck at trying to back-up my TM.

HT1338 Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

If you look at the User Tips tab, you will find a write up on just this subject:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4053
The subject of buying/selling a Mac is quite complicated. Here is a guide to the steps involved. It is from the Seller's point of view, but easily read the other way too:
SELLING A MAC A
Internet Recovery, and Transferability of OS & iLife Apps
Selling an Old Mac:
• When selling an old Mac, the only OS that is legally transferable is the one that came preinstalled when the Mac was new. Selling a Mac with an upgraded OS isn't doing the new owner any favors. Attempting to do so will only result in headaches since the upgraded OS can't be registered by the new owner. If a clean install becomes necessary, they won't be able to do so and will be forced to install the original OS via Internet Recovery. Best to simply erase the drive and revert back to the original OS prior to selling any Mac.
• Additionally, upgrading the OS on a Mac you intend to sell means that you are leaving personally identifiable information on the Mac since the only way to upgrade the OS involves using your own AppleID to download the upgrade from the App Store. So there will be traces of your info and user account left behind. Again, best to erase the drive and revert to the original OS via Internet Recovery.
Internet Recovery:
• In the event that the OS has been upgraded to a newer version (i.e. Lion to Mountain Lion), Internet Recovery will offer the version of the OS that originally came with the Mac. So while booting to the Recovery Disk will show Mountain Lion as available for reinstall since that is the current version running, Internet Recovery, on the other hand, will only show Lion available since that was the OS shipped with that particular Mac.
• Though the Mac came with a particular version of Mac OS X, it appears that, when Internet Recovery is invoked, the most recent update of that version may be applied. (i.e. if the Mac originally came with 10.7.3, Internet Recovery may install a more recent update like 10.7.5)
iLife Apps:
• When the App Store is launched for the first time it will report that the iLife apps are available for the user to Accept under the Purchases section. The user will be required to enter their AppleID during the Acceptance process. From that point on the iLife apps will be tied to the AppleID used to Accept them. The user will be allowed to download the apps to other Macs they own if they wish using the same AppleID used to Accept them.
• Once Accepted on the new Mac, the iLife apps can not be transferred to any future owner when the Mac is sold. Attempting to use an AppleID after the apps have already been accepted using a different AppleID will result in the App Store reporting "These apps were already assigned to another Apple ID".
• It appears, however, that the iLife Apps do not automatically go to the first owner of the Mac. It's quite possible that the original owner, either by choice or neglect, never Accepted the iLife apps in the App Store. As a result, a future owner of the Mac may be able to successfully Accept the apps and retain them for themselves using their own AppleID. Bottom Line: Whoever Accepts the iLife apps first gets to keep them.
SELLING A MAC B
Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
Step One - Back up your data:
A. If you have any Virtual PCs shut them down. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
B. Clone to an external drive using using Carbon Copy Cloner.
1. Open Carbon Copy Cloner.
2. Select the Source volume from the Select a source drop down menu on the left side.
3. Select the Destination volume from the Select a destination drop down menu on the right
side.
4. Click on the Clone button. If you are prompted about creating a clone of the Recovery HD be
sure to opt for that.
Destination means a freshly erased external backup drive. Source means the internal
startup drive.
Step Two - Prepare the machine for the new buyer:
1. De-authorize the computer in iTunes! De-authorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
2, Remove any Open Firmware passwords or Firmware passwords.
3. Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
4. Turn off File Vault, if enabled.
5. Disable iCloud, if enabled: See.What to do with iCloud before selling your computer
Step Three - Install a fresh OS:
A. Snow Leopard and earlier versions of OS X
1. Insert the original OS X install CD/DVD that came with your computer.
2. Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
3. Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu; repartition and reformat the internal hard drive.
Optionally, click on the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
4. Install OS X.
5. Upon completion DO NOT restart the computer.
6. Shutdown the computer.
B. Lion and Mountain Lion (if pre-installed on the computer at purchase*)
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because
it is three times faster than wireless.
1. Restart the computer while holding down the COMMAND and R keys until the Mac OS X
Utilities window appears.
2. Select Disk Utility from the Mac OS X Utilities window and click on the Continue button.
3. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the left side list. Click
on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
4. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on the Security button
and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
5. Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
6. Quit DU and return to the Mac OS X Utilities window.
7. Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
8. Upon completion shutdown the computer.
*If your computer came with Lion or Mountain Lion pre-installed then you are entitled to transfer your license once. If you purchased Lion or Mountain Lion from the App Store then you cannot transfer your license to another party. In the case of the latter you should install the original version of OS X that came with your computer. You need to repartition the hard drive as well as reformat it; this will assure that the Recovery HD partition is removed. See Step Three above. You may verify these requirements by reviewing your OS X Software License.

How do I make the Volumes folder visible so it will back up using Time Machine?

Hi
How do I unhide the Volumes folder for backing up using Time Machine?

OK I have to say this even though you probably realize it, having anything but mount points in the Volumes folder, especially regular files that are critical to you is really a bad bad idea.
You should do everything in your power to correct this asap.
In the meantime as to Time Machine, your profile says you are running 10.6.8 is that correct? TM has changed some since then.
Basically if you are not excluding system files from the backup the Volumes folder should be in the backup. If the regular files are in there is an other issue.
You can check by opening a Terminal window cd to your TM backup drive then into the .backup folder. Pick a backup and see if the Volumes folder is there and if the files are in it.
But again having anythgin in there is going to be a problem.
good luck

After backing up through time machine on external hard drive, how do you access that data?

I backed up my MacBook to an external hard drive through Time Machine. After it was all done and I reconnected the external hard drive to make sure that I could access everything that was backed up, I couldn't get into the data on the external hard drive because it said that it was backed up through Time Machine.
What does this mean? How to I access the data that is on my external hard drive?

There are 2 options.
1) (The Suggested way) With the TM external drive connected Open The Time Machine App in Applications and you can browse what has been backed up.
2) Open Finder and select the drive name on the left then the Backups.backupsdb folder and in there is all your files from the backups you have made listed under your Machine Name and in that folder under the dates/times they were created

Backed up with Time Machine, reinstalled OS X, how do I import contacts?

Hi all,
I backed up my MacBook with Time Machine, and reinstalled OS X 10.5.5 on it, then upgraded to 10.5.8. How can I re-import all of my contacts back from the Time Machine backup?

PoisonSerpent wrote:
@Jolly Giant:
There is no AddressBook folder in the backup. There's an Application Data folder, but no AddressBook folder is inside of it.
EDIT: Thank god! I misread the post, and now my addresses are all back! Thank you SOOO much. Definitely adding that link to my favorites. One more thing. It's not about contacts, but it's about the Time Machine backup. How can I get my applications back? I tried copying and pasting the Microsoft Office 2004 folder to my applications folder, and it worked, but when I tried to run it it gave me an error. When I edit again I will tell you what it says.
Do you know what folders/files I need to copy for this?
You can not restore applications like MS office by hand from TM backups. they restore stuff all over the system and you need to get all those files. you can only restore by hand applications that were installed by drag and drop. fro MS office and any other app that used an installer you need to either reinstall them from scratch or run Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities). it will let you migrate all your apps from the backup. you can not pick and choose which ones to migrate though. MA also lets you migrate all your users (with all their data) but you seem to have decided to recreate them all by hand so uncheck that option.
Message was edited by: PoisonSerpent

HT4500 how do I transfer files I backed up with Time Machine in an external disk to a PC?

I back up using Time Machine in an external hard drive in my Mac Air. I need to open those files in a PC, but I can't open the files. How do I open them from a PC?

TimeMachine first saves a complete state of your Mac's boot drive, then it saves incremental updates consisting of changes and uses placeholders (file names with no content) for those files that didn't change between states.
Now it will do this until there isn't enough room on the drive and then it starts deleting older states.
So it does it like this so there isn't any duplicated files wasting precious drive space.
Now what does that have to do with your problem? Well there is no TimeMachine software for PC's that can decode this mess and get to the files you want.
However if you understand a bit more details about it, then you can perhaps recover your files.
TimeMachine uses the same drive formatting as on a Mac, OS X Extended Journaled otherwise known as HFS+ or JHFS, and Windows PC's can't read that format natively.
However there is third party software called MacDrive which you install into Windows that can read that drive format.
The next trick, if it works, is to look a the TimeMachine folders and find your data, but have to recall when it was created as to go back into the correct folder or else you will find the empty placeholder with the same name and no data.
Next if you can recover files, is being able to open those files in a compatible PC program, which a lot of Apple software and OS X based software might not have PC versions.
Neutral formats like Mp3, jpg, .mov, .doc, .txt and so forth can be opened on other platforms using other programs, however the more platform or proprietary the files are in, then the harder it is to find a PC version that will work.
What you can do is to use the TimeMachine drive on a temporary Mac (OSX version has to be same or later than on the TM one) and restore the users accounts/software to that Mac and then go about retrieving data or simplifying the data or transporting it into more neutral/cross platform formats.
LibreOffice is excellent for this as it's the only Office suite that's cross platform with Linux, Windows and OS X, plus works with OfficeMac/Office Win files. So pasting into that will preserve a lot of formatting etc, that will be lost if you just pasted into txt format.
I've been aiming to create a transition to Windows User Tip, perhaps one day I will.

How to tell if a client has backed up to Time Machine

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