Restoring time machine to new MacBook Air

I have an older MBA that I am replacing with a brand new MBA. I have been using a 1tb USB 3.0 Drive for backups. The drive is partitioned in 2. One is for my mac, one is for my wife's mac. Both are encrytped. I have had no problems running the backups. Have been doing it this way for over a year.
Now I am having a problem. When I load up the new mac it asks me where to transfer my info from. I plug in the USB external and it is not recognized.
Tried it in the old mac and works like a charm.
So my thinking is that the fact that it has 2 partitions or encrypted is causing an issue. Could this be? I started to decrypt the partition I want to use but this is going to take some time. So while I am waiting I figure I would reach out here and see if anyone has any tips. thanks so much!
SF

Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. All existing data on the destination volume will be erased. That shouldn't be a problem, because you don't want to mix backup and non-backup data on the same drive anyway. Turn Time Machine OFF in its preference pane while copying the volume.

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Macbook was stolen, how do I restore time machine to new Macbook?

My Macbook Pro was stolen recently. Luckily before that I backed up all of my files onto a USB external hard drive, and I also recently bought a new Macbook Air. How do I restore all of my old Macbook Pro settings from the USB hard drive onto my new Macbook Air? I tried using Migration Assistant but the Migration Assistant won't detect my external hard drive as a time machine backup. I've tried right clicking on Time Machine in the dock and clicking "Browse other time machine disks" but it still won't detect my external hard drive as a time machine backup. I can see my old username and folders (ex. desktop, applications, downloads, library, etc.) but they all have a red thing next to them and when I click them it says "you don't have permission to access this content". My old macbook was stolen so I don't know how to grant permisions for me to access it. What is the best way to load all my old settings from my USB hard drive onto my new Macbook Air?

Pondini's excellent resource provides some useful reading:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Setup.html

How can I migrate iTunes from time machine to new macbook air?

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06/2014 ChrisCA post: Restore iTunes library from Time Machine backup - https://discussions.apple.com/message/26104480

Restore Time Machine to new Macbook?

A co-workers mom's macbook was stolen but they left the external drive with hopefully backups of photos. Attempted to plug into another machine and the drive is not responding at all. Is there a chance to restore to another machine, or just send the drive out and see if a 3rd party can recover?
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should work.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

Time Machine Locked after MacBook Air reformatted. My MacBook Air was overfull due to an Address book issue (duplication) so after many attempts to clear space, I ended up wiping out the system and reloading Lion.

Time Machine Locked after MacBook Air reformatted. My MacBook Air was overfull due to an Address book issue (duplication) so after many attempts to clear space, I ended up wiping out the system and reloading Lion. This resulted in the Time Machine thinking that it was now connected to a different computer. Apparently this diables the existing information.
Now I can see that the back-ups exist (back to Sept 2012) but they are greyed out, therefore unavailale to restore. Again, this seems like an issue that shouldn't be happening. The whole point of the Time Machine is to enable reinstatement of data after catastrophic failure. What if my computer actually had to be replaced due to a hardware issue? How would I beableto restore anything?
The path already (unsuccessfully) taken;
Open Library on the computer, Open Time Machine, Select Correct date, drill down to correct data you wish to restore, click "Restore".
This did not work because the correct date was greyed out. Restore key was greyed out.

Time Machine Locked after MacBook Air reformatted. My MacBook Air was overfull due to an Address book issue (duplication) so after many attempts to clear space, I ended up wiping out the system and reloading Lion. This resulted in the Time Machine thinking that it was now connected to a different computer. Apparently this diables the existing information.
Now I can see that the back-ups exist (back to Sept 2012) but they are greyed out, therefore unavailale to restore. Again, this seems like an issue that shouldn't be happening. The whole point of the Time Machine is to enable reinstatement of data after catastrophic failure. What if my computer actually had to be replaced due to a hardware issue? How would I beableto restore anything?
The path already (unsuccessfully) taken;
Open Library on the computer, Open Time Machine, Select Correct date, drill down to correct data you wish to restore, click "Restore".
This did not work because the correct date was greyed out. Restore key was greyed out.

Can I restore Time Machine "B" to Macbook "A" and then back again?

My family had 2 Macbooks-- I'll call them A and B -- each equipped with an external USB hard drive that we used for regular Time Machine backups.
Macbook B contained some digitized family videos. About 8 months ago it was destroyed by spilled coffee (family member shall remain unnamed!) Apple tech said it would cost as much to repair as it would to replace, and I ended up doing neither. Coffee-spilling family member went off to college with a new Macbook Pro (equipped with a thin plastic keyboard cover!!!)
Macbook A continues to be used, and backed up (by a family member who doesn't drink coffee, BTW).
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Thanks!
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No. See:
iOS: Unable to restore from backup of a newer device

How can one do a full system restore from Time Machine to a Macbook Air

I recently had a major crash on my two internal disc DualG5. The system internal disk failed completely and I used Time Machine to do a full system restore to the second internal disc. It worked PERFECTLY!! I followed the instructions in support
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/15638.html
This involved inserting the Leopard DVD into the optical drive and backing up from my external LaCie time machine backup.
I also have a MacBook Air. I use an external USB HD drive as Time Machine backup. The Air only has one USB port. I have an external DVD drive for the Air. Clearly, I will not be able to mount the DVD and External disk at the same time unless I use a small hub. I guess this will work but is there any other work around. Could I do a full reinstall and then connect the external HD?

Richard,
Alternatively, you could use Remote Disc Sharing (via the DualG5) to do the install and reserve the USB port for the Time Machine disk.
[http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1131]
[http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1777]
Let us know if this was helpful.
Cheers!

How do I accept/purchase/download ilife programs after restoring Lion on a new Macbook Air using a new apple ID. App store will not let me do anything but accept; and it won't accept the apps with the new apple id

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Have you tried repairing disk permissions : iTunes download error -45054

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I didn't have this problem before.
Any advice. Thanks.

Hello,
I transferred from my Intel Imac which is completely up to date. Used the same Time Machine disk to transfer everything to other Macbook Pro and Air. Maybe I did something wrong, because usually all of the mail, the settings, the photos and Itune contents were transferred in one go. It was simple and complete. This time I got many files, and no email setting nor email contents, no download or document. Maybe I should reinstall from scratch and try again. I can't install and archive because I don't have all of the elements from the Time Machine backup that I wanted. I was going to migrate from Migrate Assistant directly from my Imac to the Pro but I don't have a firewire cable and wasn't able to find a way to use the ethernet cable, because I didn't see that option, even though in the user guide is says you can connect the two computers through an ethernet connection.
Still need help.

Can't back up to old Time Machine from new Macbook Pro.

TM wants to copy everything to external HD, not just back up the changes as per how i did it on my older 2007 Macbook. The external 320GB HD has only 13GB left and is trying to send all 300GB from new machine to it, not just any changes i've made in last few days since getting the new Macbook Pro.

wjkelly29 wrote:
The external 320GB HD has only 13GB left and is trying to send all 300GB from new machine to it
As r8er says, Time Machine will do a full back-up of the new Mac -- you cannot prevent it.
Also, that's much too small a drive. See #1 in
Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

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.
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Thanks so much.
Skip
Message was edited by: V.K.

Time Machine and New Macbook, old iBook problem.

Hi there. I was using a G4 iBook until about 1 month ago. I had been backing it up with time machine. I then bought a new computer. Upon start up, I used time machine to move my applications and files over to the new Macbook. Everything has been dandy with the new Macbook.
Today I tried to back up the Macbook using time machine but it appeared to freeze about halfway through. I investigated the boards for advice. Since my iBook was a Power PC and the new Macbook is an Intel computer, I understand that I needed to reformat the external hard drive. Okay, I did that. I then tried to run a backup but it again froze, after only 60 MBs of 37 GBs. When I try opening the external hard drive I notice that it still refers to my computer as my iBook rather than the Macbook. Does this explain the problem and if so, how can I rename my computer to reflect the change? I don't get it.

To the extent that Time Machine uses a computer's "name" in naming its backup files, that could be the explanation.
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Cannot back up to time capsule using time machine on new MacBook

Have a time capsule that was seamlessly backing up my previous MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard. Recently got a new MacBook Pro running Yosemite. After a horrendous file migration using migration assistant from my Time Machine backup (non Apple programs were crashing after migration), I erased the MacBook hard drive, reinstalled Yosemite, installed non Apple apps from original disks and transferred files from my old Mac manually (drag and drop). Now everything works well on the new MacBook except for back ups via Time Machine to my Time Capsule. Airport Utility can find the Time Capsule and Time Machine starts a back up but it stops and produces an error that ends in ".sparsbundle" could not be accessed (error null)"

Hmmm that is one of our old errors.
Haven't seen that one for a while which suggests one of you apps might be a problem.
Look at C17 in particular here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Although the error codes have changed the basic reason for the error can be the same.
It can also just be a network error.
It is most important if you want to preserve the old backup.. that you make sure you still have enough space. and the new computer has a completely different share name to the old one.
Look at the reference and it has some info about names.. these are vital to get Yosemite to work properly as Apple have changed default protocols between SL and Yosemite.
I would even go further and say.
1. Factory reset the TC.
2. Redo the setup via yosemite version airport utility.. but do not use the apple recommended names.. use extremely short names, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.
3. Use only WPA2 Personal security with pure alphanumeric mixed case and number password.
Tell me if you still have issues as there is some other stuff that might help.
What gen is the TC?
What firmware is it running?

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I recently backed up my desktop iMac with a Lacie Porsche external hard drive into Time Machine. I'm hoping to be able to use the external hard drive to play my iMac's iTunes library on my MacBook Air, as there isn't nearly enough memory on the MacBook to transfer all my audio files to it. It seems like I can play one audio file at a time by going into the external hard drive, but is it possible to access the entire iTunes library directly from the external hard drive?

Hey Rototiller,
The following article goes over how to move your iTunes Media folder to a different location, in your case your external hard drive. It's a way to make the move while retaining all your playlists, ratings, and play history. Be careful to follow the directions very closely though:
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Cheers,
David

How to use Time Machine for new Macbook Internal Drive

I need to replace my almost-full 80G internal drive. 1) After I install the new internal drive, what steps do I follow with TM to transfer all to the new internal drive? 2) After completing this transfer, will the external back-up drive and new internal drive "work together" - i.e., will the external drive recognize the new internal drive and just continue to accumulate more TM backups?

After you replace the old drive you first need to prep it as follows:
Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
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Restoring time machine to new MacBook Air

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