Restored from TM; missing default apps like System Preferences, etc.

Question

I restored from my TM last night. Unfortunately, I came back to some missing essential applications, such as System Preferences, Preview, all of my Utilities folder, Games, iCal, Photobooth, etc. I didn't realize I'd have to back up those applications when I did my first TM back up; what I had originally backed up were my essentials.
How exactly do I go about getting everything back? Thanks a bunch in advance!

Answer 1

that's what she said wrote:
I restored from my TM last night. Unfortunately, I came back to some missing essential applications, such as System Preferences, Preview, all of my Utilities folder, Games, iCal, Photobooth, etc. I didn't realize I'd have to back up those applications when I did my first TM back up; what I had originally backed up were my essentials.
Hi, and welcome to the forums.
Do you mean you excluded things from Time Machine, like your Applications folder?
How exactly do I go about getting everything back? Thanks a bunch in advance!
If so, you can get your Apple apps back by reinstalling OSX from your Snow Leopard install disc. (That won't disturb anything else.) Then download and install the 10.6.4 "combo" update. Info and download available at: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1048 Be sure to do a +Repair Permissions+ via Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder) afterwards.
If you bought your Mac with Snow Leopard, your iLife apps will be on the disc that came with it. If not, they'll be on whatever disk came with your Mac, or, if you upgraded iLife separately, those discs.
Any missing 3rd-party apps will have to be reinstalled from the original discs or re-downloaded.
It's obviously a bit late now, but excluding things like that usually isn't a good idea. See #11 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum). Please reconsider any such exclusions.