Messed up Setup Assistant - need to copy TM backups to new ext HD then run Migration Assistant, I think

On a new 27" iMac, I ran the Setup Assistant a couple of days ago to transfer info from TM backups on an external hard drive. Unfortunately, there were clones on there from Feb 2010 (I didn't understand that TM needs to be alone on a HD) and the Setup Assistant picked ran those preferentially so it appeared that I had lost everything since Feb 2010. HOWEVER, the TM backups are still in the Backups.backupdb folder, and I can access each of the individual files. Now the external HD has not only the 3 clones and the Backups.badkupdb but also folders for Applications, Desktop, dev, Developer, home, Library, net, System, User Guides And Information, and Users. Most are dated to Feb 2010, but the System and Developer folders seem to have been updated to 6 Aug 2012 and 8 Aug 2012. The TM backups contain User info for the Office 2008 suite, including Entourage, and this is what I need -- all of my emails, documents, etc.
I have been trying to copy just the Backups.backupdb folder to a new external HD before doing anything else. I have followed the directions given by Apple at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5096?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US. Unfortunately, this yields a nifty error message: "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)." I have not found a solution in the Apple communities for this error message in the TM backup copying process - all mentions seem to relate to problems emptying the Trash when deleting TM backups. I have NOT tried the cloning process mentioned in this thread:https://discussions.apple.com/message/16601049#16601049. If the copying process has failed, will the cloning process allow me to pick up JUST the TM backups without damaging the TM backups?
I am thinking that once I have the TM backups successfully copied, I will use that new copy - without the clones - to run Migration Assistant. At this point, will it be better to use Migration Assistant OR go back and delete everything on the new 27" iMac and reload Lion, then run Setup Assistant again? The thought of going back to square one with Lion has me more than a bit rattled, to tell the truth.
Have others had luck with Apple tech support or a Genius Bar visit for such things?
Any guidance or suggestions are much appreciated.

Problem solved by taking the new iMac and the LaCie disk to the local Apple Store. They verified the LaCie disk with Disk Utility (thankfully it passed) then wiped the iMac clean, reinstalled Lion (10.7.3), and loaded the latest TM backup. Everything needed transferred over, so I'm back in business. HURRAY! I am setting up a new external HD for the solitary TM backups, and a separate external HD for clones. And, I now have access to a secure server for temporary storage of critical client files in addition to manually copying critical documents to a flash drive frequently while working on them.

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Message was edited by: Phil M2

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It is sadly what we find.. that Mavericks just doesn't do Time Machine as reliably as it should.. but the issue could be network.
How were you backing up the iMac before you got the TC? If you had a USB drive plugged in and used that, then plug that USB drive into the MBA and that will probably work a lot better.. it eliminates the network part of the issue at least.
TM does work better to local drives.
Otherwise then I have a few steps for you to try and get access to the iMac backup on the TC.
Mostly you won't like them.
1. Full factory reset. This will not mess with your backups.. ie nothing is deleted but you will have to reset TM to point it to the right place.
The Factory Reset universal
Unplug your TC/AE. Hold in reset. and power the TC/AE back on.. all without releasing reset and keep holding in for about 10sec. The time is not important.. it is the front LED rapid flashing that indicates you are in factory mode.
Release reset.
If it doesn’t flash rapidly you have released reset at some point and try again.
Be Gentle! Feel the switch click on. It has a positive feel.. add no more pressure after that.
TC/AE will reboot after a couple of minutes with default factory settings and will wipe out previous configurations.
No files are deleted on the hard disk.. No reset of the TC deletes files.. to do that you use erase from the airport utility.
2. When you redo the setup of the TC, use only names that are short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. For everything.
Even the computers really should have share names that also met that.
3. Manually mount the TC in the MBA,
In Finder use the top menu Go, and Connect to Server.
by typing,
AFP://TCname.local (where TCname is your new short name. local is the default domain)
You can use AFP://TCIPaddress (where TCIPaddress is the actual IP of the TC. eg by default in router mode, 10.0.1.1 you would type AFP://10.0.1.1)
The computer will ask for the password when it finds the network resources of the TC. type that in, public by default but the utility forces you to change it now.
Don't forget to save this password in your keychain.
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http://pondini.org/OSX/MigrateLion.html
Follow all his instructions.. although the guy who wrote it died before Mavericks was widely available, most of what he wrote here should apply.
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Messed up Setup Assistant - need to copy TM backups to new ext HD then run Migration Assistant, I think

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