Migration to new HD via Time Machine Backup fails

I have a complete new install of Leopard on a brand new HD and tried to use a very recent TM backup from the old drive to migrate all settings. This has failed tons of times, always with 7 minutes to go. It always says that an error has stopped it from completing do you want to try again. I did all the repair permissions stuff before I backed up but to no avail. It tells me in the next screen, if you click skip instead, that it can't create the user from my previous backup (the only user there is)
Before I found out I could use TM as a way to migrate my settings I did a full backup using SuperDuper! and it ran into problems as well.
Anyone else with this sort of migration problem? I leave again for business in a couple of days and would love to have my new bigger HD in my MacBook! (preferably with all my old data!)
Thanks,
FT

drdocument wrote:
And give yourself a pat on the back for having a complete backup!
Well can't be too happy with myself I learned this one the hard way... nearly lost all iTunes and Photos when a drive failed. Many MANY hours to recover all files. Now I have backups of backups and way too many internal and external hard drives!!! But they did their job this time around
OK so Drdocument you are a genius...the utilities version of 'restore from backup' was the ONLY thing that worked. I tore apart my laptop 12 or 13 times to switch the internal hard drive from the old to the new always without figuring out the problem. So I am super excited to have this working.
As for your installer question, yes it did give me the option to import data from a TM backup, that was the last thing I tried and it did not work either. Though the exact same TM backup worked when using the restore function, very odd.
Anyway, thanks a ton this makes life easier now that I have hard drive space!!!
FatherTime

Similar Messages

Migrating to new Mac via Time Machine: computers conflicting?

If I get a new Mac, and then during the Setup Assistant tell it to migrate from my Time Machine drive, will I have any conflicts with the old Mac? For example, will both computers have the same machine name? Will they be trying to write to the same Time Machine backup? I want to continue to use the old Mac, but want all my stuff on the new Mac, too.
Thanks!

misterMason wrote:
If I get a new Mac, and then during the Setup Assistant tell it to migrate from my Time Machine drive, will I have any conflicts with the old Mac? For example, will both computers have the same machine name?
Yes, but you can easily change one (or both) via +System Preferences > Sharing.+
Will they be trying to write to the same Time Machine backup?
No. Time Machine keeps track of which Mac is which by its +Ethernet Address,+ which is embedded in the hardware on the logic board.
If you're going to be backing-up both Macs to the same place, see #4 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.

Recovering Mac HD via Time Machine Backup fails because "Restore system from backup" doesn't show in Utilities Menu of original install. DVD

Hi, after serious problems (troubleshooting didn't help) with my iMac G5 (PPC) running Mac OS X Leopard I've tried to recover my Mac HD via Time Machine (exactly as described by David Pogue on page 242 of the Leopard Missing Manual). However, "Restore system from backup" in the Utilities Menu of my original Leopard installation DVD failed to show up. What can I do?
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated -
Ballant

Hi Ballant,
I'm not very good with TM, nor a fan of it, but our resident king of TM, Pondini, has a vast array of very well done TM trouble shootings...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

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.
The Mac was formatted at the lab.
Using the setup assistant I migrated one user from the Time Machine Backup.
Only later I realized it was actually the account I never used.
Since I never used it - I couldn't remember the login password and had to reset it, took a while.
I then tried to to migrate the principal account - the one I actually wanted to migrate, in the fist place, during the setup procedure - using the migration assistant.
At the relevant window I tick the principal account- the mac does some thinking and then in the login window my only options are the secondary account and guest account, the principal account is not to be seen.
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''
What's going on?
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?

I was transferring data from my old iMac to my new iMac via Time Machine. After about 4 hours, the electrical power fluctuated and turned off my wi-fi. Now most of my necessary programs are useless. How do I erase and start over?

I was transferring data from my old iMac to my new iMac via Time Machine. After about 4 hours, the electrical power fluctuated and turned off my wi-fi. Now most of my necessary programs are useless. How do I erase that mess and start over?

Hello there, LynnS.
The following Knowledge Base article and it's referenced link should get you started with the Erase and Install of Mavericks:
OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14243
Once you've gone through those 2 articles, this article should help you with restoring from your Time Machine Backup:
OS X Mavericks: Recover your entire system
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14185
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro.

Trying to use Migration Assistant to restore from Time Machine backup but it keeps "Looking for other computers..."

Hi!
I just bought a new MacBook Pro 15" and I wanted to transfer my old files from a previous Time Machine backup done with my old MacBook Pro 15".
Both computers have Mac OS X 10.8.2 (Mountain Lion) installed.
I always used Migration Assistant without any problem to accomplish this task, but now I don't know why it's stuck on a screen displaying "Looking for other computers...". What? What computer? I'm trying to restore from a Time Machine backup on an external hard drive, so I don't understand what computer it is looking for.
Do you have any idea to solve the problem?
Thanks!

At the screen in Migration Assistant titled "Select a Migration Method," select From a Time Machine backup or other disk.
How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac

Migration assistant does not recognize time machine backup

Hi Guru,
I made a time machine backup today, 10.8.2, then made full reinstall of system in Apple store, in Berkeley, because my iMac experinced some unstability.
we installed new Mac OS, and now I face a problem: migration assistant does not recognize hard disk with buckup.
Finder sees this disk, it has Backups folder.
OS: 10.8.2
BackUp made: Time Machine 10.8.2
Hard Disk: Lacie 500MB
any ideas?
Thank you

I am conserned about restoring using setup assistant because I need to transfer personal files and applications only.
You can do that in Setup Assistant.
Migration Assistant doesn't accept Time Machine backups of the computer it's running on; it only accepts compatible backups of other computers. You can't migrate a system to itself. To restore files from the same computer, enter Time Machine in the usual way, or else boot into Recovery and either restore the whole startup volume or erase, reinstall OS X, and restore in Setup Assistant.

Full Restore from Time Machine Backup Fails

Hello all,
I'm having some serious issues doing a full restore from a time machine backup located on a time capsule. I was connected via ethernet to the time capsule for the duration of the restore. When the restore finished i choose restart. The spinning icon that appears below the apple logo when you boot your computer appeared on screen, I assumed it indicated that the computer was restarting. I waited and after five minutes of the spinning circle I force shutdown. When I restarted the apple logo appeared and the spinning icon did for about a second and then the computer suddenly turned off. I tried starting in safe mode but the same behavior occurred. When I did a verbose-safe mode boot the message "CPU halted" appeared on the screen just before the computer shut down.
I decided to reinstall the OS and migrate all my files back. I did an erase and install. When the startup assistant appeared, I choose to migrate my files from a time machine backup. When I was asked what I'd like to restore I checked everything off but the continue button was grayed out. I noticed that under size, the message "Calculating" was displayed. The system was taking a very long time to calculate the size so I clicked around a bit. Somehow, I managed to crash the startup assistant 3 times doing this, resulting in the "Welcome to Mac OSX" video to play and the startup assistant to appear again.
Currently I am doing another erase and install and am going to try migrating the data again, this time waiting longer for the "Calculating" step to finish. If this doesn't work are there any suggestions for how to migrate my data back? Also, if this helps the time capsule is the older model, 500 GB, without the dual band capability. There are two backups on the time capsule.
After this episode I don't particularly trust time machine to backup my data and allow me to restore it when I need to. Are there any suggestions for a good external drive to use with Super Duper? I have a 320 GB internal and am looking for something portable, running of USB or Firewire 400, and preferably drawing power from the cable and not needing an additional A/C adapter.

dhatch387 wrote:
I'm migrating the backup over from the time capsule now. Unfortunatally, it seems to have frozen. I checked this morning and I was told there was less than a minute remaining in the migration. Now, 9 hours later, I am still told there is less thane a minute remaining?
No, after that long, it isn't going to complete, so cancel it.
Then see if it will boot. If so, see how much of your data it managed to copy. You should be able to use Time Machine to recover the remainder, in the usual fashion.
If it won't boot, your best bet may be to do an Erase and Install, then load and install the "combo" update to get OSX updated, then use Migration Assistant (in your Applications/Utilities folder) to recover your users, etc.
Would moving the data from the time capsule to an USB/FireWire external drive help?
No. The backups on a TC are stored differently.
Also, could all these problems I'm having be caused by an hardware issue on either my mac or the time capsule?
Possible. Why did you do the restore?
And Baltwo's statement about TM not being "designed for backups" isn't true. While some say TM may not be as reliable as CCC (Baltwo is their discussion moderator), it usually will restore your entire system to the exact state it was in at the time of the backup you select, even if that's a previous version of the OS. But of course if there are hardware issues, or corrupt data was saved, all bets are off.

Time machine backup fails; error creating folder. Western Digital drive requires password which is perhaps/likely the issue. I can't eliminate the password/encryption.

Time Machine backup fails on new WD external drive (My Passport Studio); error creating folder (after several hours of Time Machine apparently working).
Background: I purchased a Western Digital drive from an Apple Store to use for Time Machine backup. I followed the Western Digital instructions that came with the drive for Mac. I didn't get the Time Machine prompt which the instructions indicated I would receive--namely to select whether I want to encrypt my Time Macine backups. (I already have a Time Machine backup I use at another location, which is perhaps why I didn't receive a prompt.)
I decided to install the Western Digital utilities and security software that comes on the disk--with a view to potentially encrypting the disk (since I still wanted to have an encrypted backup since I was mobile). I forgot that (from experience 2-years previous) that I shouldn't install Western Digital software because it just makes life really complicated.
I tried several times to do a Time Machine backup with failures each time (error creating the backup folder). I tried to get help from WD but I don't think the technicians were following what my issue was. Potentially I was not helpful in explaining it. I deleted the WD applications from my system after the first contact with WD. However the problem persisted--I still had an encrypted hard drive. After three phone sessions with three different WD techs I still could not get a solution. (By the second call I was not at all interested in having an encrypted drive--I just wanted to format and restore the drive to an unencrypted state so that I could have SOME kind of Time Machine backup.)
I still don't have a solution--either to get Time Machine working with the WD encryption/password on the drive, or to remove the encryption so I can backup. Right now my options are to return the drive to the Apple Store -- or get a return authorization from WD. Seems crazy since the drive is fine and I have the working password.

Never install "helpful software" provided by WD and Seagate (or any HD mfg.)
All such stuff is fluff and nonsense that interferes with normal HD operation.
Always when you buy a new HD, format it for Mac and then use it to TM backup or clone a HD, or archive data.
Less is more on HD new out of box. A "blank brick", no fluff and cotton candy software

Time Machine backup fails in extended network

Dear all,
I've recently setup an extended network using 2 additional AirPort Express units connected to the main Airport Extreme modem (all working well). I'm using the Extreme for Time Machine Backups, which used to work just fine as well.
However, when connected to the Expresses, the Time Machine Backups fail with the message that the backup file is already in use. I'm guessing the Express modem tries to connect to the backup file, while the Extreme is keeping the file stand-by or something.
Does anybody know a fix to this problem?
Kind regards,
Dennis

It took a Snow Leopard a while but after 2 days it started working again. I've checked whether the connection was directly to the Extreme, but the connection actually went through one of the bridged Expresses.
I guys one just has to hope for the best ;-)
I've upgraded to Lion last week and backup works fine with the new operating system as well.

Time Machine backup fails because "volume could not be found".

I just had my logic board replaced in my Macbook Pro and went to do a backup (yeah, I didn't do this right before it crashed) and now Time Machine backup fails with the message "volume could not be found" Under Time Machine/Choose Disk, it appears that the drive is the one selected. The computer "sees" the drive and I can read files on it. The only other thing that has happened in the meantime is that a friend helped pull a file off the hard drive that I needed for a project. No apparent issues there. Any suggestions?

You might try going to /Library/Preferences, then drag the file com.apple.TimeMachine.plist to the Desktop. Reboot your Mac, then try declaring the backup disk for Time Machine. It might help if you mount the backup disk first.
Are you using Time Machine to write its backups to the disk of a Time Capsule? If not, since this discussion section is for Apple's Time Capsule AirPort base station, a discussion involving Time Machine should be held on the discussion section for whatever version of OSX that you're using.

Time machine backup fails in my seagate 3tb external drive

Time machine backup fails in my seagate 3tb external drive

Without any specifics it's impossible to assist you, however the best tool for debugging TM failures is using Pondini's Time Machine Troubleshooting guide.
Good luck.

Time Machine Backup Failed even though I still have 1.9TB of a 2TB Time Capsule. I am using Yosemite.

Time Machine Backup Failed even though I still have 1.9TB of a 2TB Time Capsule. I am using Yosemite 10.10.3 on an iMac (mid 2010)

The recent update in Yosemite (10.10.3) is causing some issues for some users.
Try a complete network power cycle as follows:
Power off each and every device on your network......modem, Time Capsule, computers, printers, etc......in any order that you want
Wait a minute
Power up the modem and let it run 2-3 minutes
Then, power up the next device that is connected to the modem an let it run a full minute
Then, continue to power up devices one at a time about a minute apart until everything is back up
Check the network
Wait for a backup to occur and report on your results

Migrate Data from External (non time machine) backup to new HD

I have a late 2007 iMac that HD went bad. Only 51 sectors were bad and I was able to Carbon Copy off 99% of the data onto an external drive. I have gotten a new HD installed and have restored the Lion OS. My question is, How do I migrate all of the data that I was able to save to new system so everything is there? For example, all of my saved emails, Pictures, desktop, etc, etc.
Thanks for any help that you can give.
P.S. I tried renaming the Applications and System folders out of the way, starting the new drive at a "T"arget drive on the iMac and then copying those two folders (What would copy) onto the new HD on the iMac ... unfortunately it didn't show any success.
Thanks again!

Okay, I have finally completed the task that I set about trying to complete a week ago.
I reformatted the drive s instructed above as one partition of GUID Mac OS Journalled format.
I then wanted to clone my Time Machine back up hard drive to the new hard drive in Disk Utility. When I tried using the restore function, it would copy all the back-up's that had been created using "Backup", but would error out on the first app when copying the time machine backups.
Confused, I then tried Carbon Copy Cloner and it too errored out, but on the third app in the apps folder of the first time machine back up file.
Before giving up I tried to clone the hard drive using Super Duper!
11 hours later I now have a perfectly working cloned hard drive. I redirected my time machines to the new hard drive and it backed up to the correct folder as if nothing had changed. So all is good now and I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice.
Thanks.
PS. I have no idea why DU and CCC errored when copying... but at this point, I don't really care. It worked with Super Duper!

Possible to restore iTunes safely to a new mac (from time machine backup) without using setup/migration assistant?

Hello all,
I have just acquired a new MacBook which I want to set up completely fresh. The only data I really need to restore/copy to it, besides a few document folders, is the iTunes library from my existing iMac. The iTunes library has been backed up using time machine on the iMac (using a portable drive). I’ve heard it might be possible for me to plug the time machine backup into the new MacBook and then option-click the time machine icon in order to 'browse other backup disks' and then restore iTunes. Would this work and would all my devices still sync with iTunes? I’m just a bit nervous because apple has migration assistant and setup assistant for doing this sort of thing - I just really don’t want to use them because the only thing I want on my new MacBook from the whole of the time machine backup is literally the iTunes library. I don’t want to start restoring user accounts which you must do with the assistants.
Thank you.

Thank you ever so much for the replies. Just one thing: the link you provided seems to discuss restoring individual items on the computer for which a backup has been made. On my macbook I can't click "enter time machine" which I'm guessing is because the time machine backup is for my old iMac (hence my comment about control clicking the menu bar).

Migration to new HD via Time Machine Backup fails

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