Restore time machine to new hard drive?

My hard drive just died and will need to be replaced. Once I have a new hard drive, how can I restore all the backed up contents onto my new drive? Thanks.

William Huisking1 wrote:
I have the same question but wanted some clarification. If I restore using this technique, will my new hard drive in my computer be fully up to date with all my Time Machine applications, data, etc.?
yes.
The reason I ask, is that I do use superduper as an alternative to make sure I have a full disk image that is up to date. If Time Machine accomplishes the same thing, then perhaps I don't need superduper.
it's a good idea to have both.
My Time Machine Backup Disk Drive IS a firewire hard drive. Could I boot from that and then restore?
you can't boot from a TM drive. if you want to do a TM restore you have to boot from the install DVD. If you want to restore from a SD clone you can boot from this clone and clone it back to the main internal drive. i would probably choose that route but it's up to you.
Thanks so much.
Skip
Message was edited by: V.K.

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Restore using Time Machine to new hard drive, but last "full" backup was 2012. how do I restore the rest of the Time Machine backups, particularily IPHOTO libraries for each user?

Restore using Time Machine to new hard drive, but last "full" backup was in 2012. How do I restore the rest of the Time Machine backups, particularily IPHOTO libraries for each user?
I entered Iphoto for my user and only photo up until 2012 were in the library. I thought the restore would do the incremental Time Machine backups too.....
Running 10.8.2

It usually means you are running Mavericks but have an earlier version of iPhoto. Open the App Store and upgrade your version of iPhoto to the Mavericks version.
The iWork apps are free with a new iOS device since 1 SEP 2013. They are free with a new Mac since 1 OCT 2013. They are also free with the upgrade to OS X Mavericks 10.9 if you had the previous version installed when you upgraded.The iWork apps are free with a new iOS device since 1 SEP 2013. They are free with a new Mac since 1 OCT 2013. They are also free with the upgrade to OS X Mavericks 10.9 if you had the previous version installed when you upgraded.
iWork and iLife for Mac come free with every new Mac purchase. Existing users running Mavericks can update their apps for free from the Mac App Store℠. iWork and iLife for iOS are available for free from the App Store℠ for any new device running iOS 7, and are also available as free updates for existing users. GarageBand for Mac and iOS are free for all OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 users. Additional GarageBand instruments and sounds are available for a one-time in-app purchase of $4.99 for each platform.

Problems "transferring" files from time machine to new hard drive

I was experieincing the spinning beach ball of death so I replaced my hard drive with a new one. I am running mountain lion (10.8.2) and the new Hard drive has two partions - one for "start up" which I was able to use migration assisant to move over my applications from my time machine. The problem I am having is that I can't figure out how to get my user account data transferred to my the data partition (journal extended) on my new hard drive.
When I enter time machine I can't "see" my last back updates before I changed hard drives.
I put my old hard drive in a case and it "isn't working" so I can't just copy data from my old hard drive. It did work initially but now it doesn't mount and I can't see it in disk utility.
Any Ideas on how I can get my user data off my time machine back up?
I forgot to mention that when I go into my external hard drive containing my time machine via finder and click on the folder with my user data I'm not able to open the various files - they have a red "-" and it says, The folder “Desktop” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents. In disk utility I can't run repair disk permision on my time machine drive because it is grayed out.
Thanks - Dave

I see. Don't do that. I do not believe using Migration Assistant is a valid method of accomplishing what you intend.
Furthermore, unless you are using the "Enter Time Machine" feature, you really shouldn't pick and choose what you want to copy from a Time Machine backup... "no user serviceable parts inside". You can certainly find and individual files and folders in the Finder, but you will run into the permissions problems you describle. I would not attempt to circumvent those protections.
As I understand Time Machine, you must either restore a volume from a Time Machine backup, thereby erasing the volume first, or restore individual files and folders by using "Enter Time Machine" when the backup has already been properly designated for the source.
Since your replacement hard disk - the source, now - is technically new, the latter is not an option. It's as if you were trying to restore to a different computer. This can't be done.

How to copy iphoto library folder from Time machine to new hard drive

How do I copy my iphoto library and music library from my time capsule to my new hard drive?
I have a Macbook pro - 2.53 GHz - 4 GB memory. I just replaced my hard drive to 500 GB and upgraded to OX 10.9.4. I created a new user account and login password for the new hard drive. I copied my documents folder to external drive before the old hard drive failed, but I was not able to copy over my iphoto library or imusic library. My old hard drive was regularly backed up on my time capsule (1TB).
I used migration assistant to transfer my user account to the new hard drive (1 of 3 on the time capsule). The data transferred successfully, but at login the login name does not match the user folder. Nor do any of my passwords allow me to login to the transferred username/account. When I login to the account that I set up on new hard drive I can see the userfolder migrated in but the folders do not allow entry.
What can I do now at least to get my photos on the time capsule onto my current hard drive? Can I go into my time capsule like an external hard drive and simply copy over my iphoto library from the last back up of the old hard drive?

You probably tried to move a user account from your TC to your computer that was already active on the computer.. this is one of the no no's that pondini lists.
See how to migrate. http://pondini.org/OSX/MigrateLion.html
There is a huge amount of info there about transferring files.. that you must not have a user account of the same name as the one you migrate.. and how to transfer files between migrated accounts.
He also has specific info on moving itunes and iphoto stuff here.
Q15 http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
You might need to fix up permissions or reset the password for the account.
There is details here..
How to reset admin password iMac
I have had to do that myself.. once you reset the password you will be able to login to the account.

After restoring from Time Machine to new Hard drive, system will not boot

I replaced my hard drive on my Macbook (2008 model) with a larger drive. I then put in my Snow Leopard disk, and followed the steps to restore from Time Machine backup. a few hours later it said it was restored, but when trying to boot up, I just get a blue screen with an occasional flicker to the Leopard screen. I tried an earlier back up as well but with the same results. Any suggestions??

Same exact problem here just yesterday, folks.
Got a bigger hard drive on my MacBook Pro (15-inch Core 2 Duo) and installed it. Followed the restore procedures from Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/333319/the-secret-of-the-time-machine+assisted-hard-drive-swa p). Then got the blue screen immediately after the chimes.
I only managed to transfer my old disk content by using CarbonCopyCloner.
Having said that, your solution looks uselful, Portland Mac! :
Portland Mac wrote:
... But when I decided to try and just do a fresh install and work my way back through all my software, I started by installing Snow Leopard and suddenly it boots and everything from my Time Machine backup is there...
But I would not say the following:
Portland Mac wrote:
... On a new drive apparently you have to install Snow Leopard before you do a time machine restore.
Am I mistaken, or did you do a fresh install after restoring your TimeMachine backup?
In any case, I found an interesting Apple article that might confirm that there is a problem: [Mac OS X v10.6: Issues after restoring a Mac from a Time Machine backup made with a different Mac ("Restore System From Backup…")|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3243]. Or is it a completely different thing?
And another discussion that might give some good advice: [http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12578529#12578529]. Personally, I will now do as the man says: two backups, on two different external hard drives, using different apps, the other one being CarbonCopyCloner...
For info, and I don't know whether that matters, my backup disk had been full and some past content had been erased automatically by Time Machine. But I don't think this should have mattered...

Restore Time Machine backup after hard drive crash

My hard drive on the mac book crashed, so I replaced it. Now I need to get my time machine back up on the new drive. I've already started using the computer and reinstalled lion, so I'm not getting the original "backup" screen. How do I find my old time machine backups?

Your best bet is to do a full restore from your backups. See #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

How to restore time machine from wireless hard drive?

I backed up my data to a wireless hard drive before I wiped my hard drive. But now I'm having trouble restoring it.
Can't restore it from time machine, as it was not fully complete.
Migration assistant asks for a password to the hard drive, which I don't know. The person in my family who bought the drive entered it, but then migration asssistant greys out continue and nothing seems to happen
I opened the hard drive myself and there's a bunch of blank files named 01 349 049 984 and such. No extension.
Help?

The exhaustive list of backup devices supported by Time Machine consists of Time Capsule and locally connected and mounted volumes, period. Time Machine can use NAS devices, but there are many caveats including but not limited to the necessity for AFP to be running on the server. Wireless storage devices introduce yet another element of uncertainty.
OS X Mountain Lion: Disks you can use with Time Machine
Anything else, and you're a test pilot. Let Apple know how it works for you.

Problems Moving Time Machine to New Hard Drive, Error -8062

I'm in 10.8.5, trying to copy my Backups.backupsb folder from my current 2TB ext drive to a new 4TB drive, following Apples instructions for changing the Time Machine drive. Both are Seagates, single partitioned (GUIDE) formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
The 2TB is nearly full, hence the move. This morning after 12 hours of the projected 14 to copy the backups file over, I got an alert that action could not be completed because of Error 8062    I've found pages with suggested fixes from simple restart to more elaborate measures. The one thing I've done so far is restart and check Disk Permissions for both drives, which read as okay.
But before trying again, since error occured 12 hours into the process (of course it did,) I would like to see if the portion of the file that shows in the folder, size 1.46TB out of the 1.93 total, could be "replaced" by the original folder and thus not have to copy everything again.
One apparent problem is that, after a similar attempt to do similar replacement after a problem 3 hours into copying, instead of asking if I wanted to replace it, it just started copying it with "(original)" added to the end of the folder name. That file tagged (original) is the 1.46TB partial copy. So I deleted the much smaller initial partial copy, but of course the *true* original folder from the active Time Machine will not replace the existing partial copy. I don't know if removing (original) from its name so it matches will help because I can't; the folder is greyed out and I can't alter the name. I've tried changing Permissions on it, and tried Terminal commands that will supposedly change the name of a hidden file - nothing works.   Of course, I don't even know if it would ask to "replace" the next time I try, since it didn't do so when the folder names matched on the first attempt.   And since *when* does Finder not ask to "replace" an identically named folder, anyway? This begs the question if it is simply not going behave like a normal folder with files no matter what I do to it.
Is there anything else I can try? Barring a solution, any other precautions I might take to try to avoid the joy of anohter "cannot complete" 12 hours in?   I've got multiple backups to make of loads of data, including a full extra backup to keep offsite, and would love to avoid such time wasters.
Thanks for you kind assistance!
Brian

This looks right on point and very thorough. I've started a new backup directly to the new drive. Since I don't necessarily need the old drive for storage of anything else for the time being, I will probably do as he recommends and keep the old backups ther, at least until I'm reasonably sure I'm never going to need anything dating back that far, and long enough to confirm the new configuration is stable, and everything is there and backed up off site.
I"m all for simple solutions right now! :^)

HT1553 Advice on restoring time machine backup after hard drive replacement install?

Can't get past "Select a Destination". Did I miss a step?

If your replacement disk isn't showing up on 'Select a Destination', the new drive might not be formatted correctly.
How is it formatted?
Allan

Trying to restore after getting a new hard drive. I can see the backup on the Time Capsule and on the correct date but it is Greyed out. That is it wont let me open it and restore the machine. Have tried also Migration Assistant, no luck.

Trying to restore after getting a new hard drive. I can see the backup on the Time Capsule and on the correct date but it is Greyed out. That is it wont let me open it and restore the machine. Have tried also Migration Assistant, no luck.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5210788?tstart=0
At startup hold down the Command+Option/Alt+r keys until you see a globe on the screen. Then use disk utility to partition and format the drive HSF+ and then select Reinstall Mac OS X. whatever version of OS X that originally came on your system will be installed and then you can upgrade back to Mavericks.

Time Machine Restore Problem on A New Hard Drive

I am trying to restore my data from my time machine after a hard drive replacement which was done for me at my local Apple Store today. I started my Mac with the new drive and it starts like a new Mac. It then asked me during the first boot if I wanted to transfer from my time capsule which I selected. The transfer process then commenced taking 8 hours. This completed and then it took me Registration Information. This is a form which I filled in but the Continue button is greyed out even though the form is complete. The only field that I cannot enter data into is My Account (a drop down which won't provide me with any options to select). I assume the reason for the continue button being greyed out is because I cannot choose from My Account. However there is no way to select it. So I am in Limbo here. My data has been transfered but I am stuck in this process and can't Go Back (it is also greyed out). ESC doesn't work either. Any suggestions.PLEASE HELP!

Try restoring the specific files.
http://pondini.org/TM/15.html

Toasted my installation. Restoring from Time machine to 2 hard drives?

I just installed a second hard drive into my macbook pro. SSD is the system drive and HDD is the data drive.
When it was still working, I had my home folder on the SSD and my iTunes and Photo libraries on the HDD. Things were good.
Then I decided to move the entire home folder to the HDD.
Sys Prefs -> Users -> right-click the user -> advanced -> "move the home folder"
and again, everything was good.
Then I read something about having the user Library folder on the SSD is a good thing.
So I moved the home folder back to the SSD. Rebooted and all my prefs were now gone. Figured I messed up something and didn't want to troubleshoot.
So time for a restore.
Attempt 1
- Open Time Machine, select both hard drives, selected a past date and hit restore.
- Got a message that I didn't have enough space.
* I figure this is because time machine restores the entire contents of each drive as entire new volumes as a first step.
Attempt 2
- Go into recovery mode COMMAND+R
- Discovered I don't have a recovery partition
* I guess this is because I cloned my original system drive to the SSD using CCC and it didn't move this part.
Attempt 3
- I created a LION USB Install Key
- Booted from it, and selected 'Reinstall Lion' (because I read an article that I could recover my files after Lion had finished installing)
* Discovered that it reinstalled 10.7.0 and I would have to apply all patches on top. It didn't restore my HDD either.
* Later found out this method only restores the main system drive.
Attempt 4
- Now that I have a recovery partition, I booted from it.
- I selected "Restore from Time Machine Backup"
- Was able to select my Time Capsule, and it gave me choices on which date I would like to restore to.
- I selected and hit restore.
* It's about 25% done now. And I realize that i should've done this in the first place.
Question: Will this method restore both of my hard drives?

hsmp wrote:
Question: Will this method restore both of my hard drives?
No, only a single OSX drive. If both were backed-up, and both contained OSX, there was a (not very obvious) option to select which one you wanted.
See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #14. Section (g) shows this.
If you want to restore the "other" drive, and it contains OSX, run the restore again and select it.
If the other drive doesn't contain OSX, use the "Star Wars" display to restore it, per FAQ #15.

I have three computers backing up onto the same Time Machine. The Hard drive of one has now failed, and I'd like to restore certain items (principally photographs) to one of the other two computers. How can I do this?

I have three computers backing up onto the same Time Machine. The Hard drive of one has now failed, and I'd like to restore certain items (principally photographs) to one of the other two computers. How can I do this?

"You can also browse the original backup disk for past backups by using "Browse other Time Machine Disks"--to see this choice, hold the Option key then click the Time Machine menu in the Finder (to see the menu, "Show Time Machine status in the menu bar" must be selected in Time Machine preferences."
Mac 101: Time Machine

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it?

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it

http://pondini.org/TM/21.html

Restoring Time Machine backup to a drive in a "Voyager Dock"

Restoring Time Machine backup to a drive in a "Voyager Dock"
I would like to restore a Time Machine volume to a hard drive not installed in the computer it has backed up.
I have an iMac 24” with a failing drive. It will eventually need to be replaced.
I have my Time Machine back up for this computer in a Voyager Docking station.
I would like to have Time Machine “restore” the iMac’s data to a drive in another Voyager Dock running from a computer other than the iMac involved.
What I hope to do is bring the “restored” drive and the iMac to my Mac service provider and just have them swap the old drive for the new.
How do I get Time Machine to do this?

So, You're saying I can do this from a different computer with its own Time Machine?
In other words, I have my Time Machinedrive from the dead iMac and a fresh, formatted drive both hooked up to an unrelated computer with its own Time Machine.
If I enter Time Machine on that computer won't it show me the data it backs up for that computer only?
Will Time Machine know that there are two Time Machine backups (the one from the iMac and the one from the new host machine), and allow me to select the one from the iMac?

Restore time machine to new hard drive?

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