Retrieving Time Machine Files with Windows or Other Mac

Hi everyone. I'm using a MacBook 4,1 running 10.6.8 and I also have an external hard drive in order to use Time Machine for backup.
If my MacBook dies then all I'm left with is the aforementioned external drive. However since my files have been backed up via Time Machine – and not the usual copy/paste method – what happens then? Do I need to buy a new Mac or is it possible to retrieve those files with a computer running Windows?
Please keep in mind that I only have one account – the administrator one – which is password protected, requested at login. In case I can't possibly retrieve them with Windows and I buy a new Mac, will the fact that they are password protected be a problem and prevent me from accessing them?
I can't possibly try it out myself because I don't have any other Mac or Windows computer/laptop.
Any insight is more than welcome. Thank you for your time.

If my current MacBook stops working and I get to buy a new Mac, is it possible to choose individual files (like iTunes libraries only, or pictures folders etc.) from my current Time Machine backup on my external HD and move them to my new Mac, instead of loading my entire backup on to the new one? (including system files and other files that I don't really need).
Pretty much how one might use Time Machine, where you browse backups by date, find the folders and files that you want and restore them back. You don't restore the entire backup.

Similar Messages

Using part of Time Machine HD with Windows

Hi,
I have a Western Digital 500GB external hard drive that I have partioned so that half of it is for time machine and half of it is for external hard drive use. Yet, when I connected it to a Windows laptop it wasn't recognized, but I want to use it with both Windows and Mac. What should I do -I looked at Disk Utility but couldn't figure out.

sweatsuit wrote:
As I understand Time Capsule disks should be partitioned with GUID.
Do you have a Time Capsule? If so, you should know that the TC HDD cannot be partitioned or formatted anyways (unless it is physically removed). Secondly, the TC HDD is a treated as a NAS (network attached storage) device. The TC HDD is formatted HFS+, but all machines connected to the TC created network will recognize the HDD storage just fine.

Retrieve Time Machine files from Tiger machine

Hi,
My Leopard machine is broken and being fixed. I have borrowed a Tiger machine, and desperately need to get a couple of files off my Time Machine backup drive. When I plug the drive in to the borrowed machine I can't see anything.
Any ideas how to do this?
Many thanks,
Chris

Waverider wrote:
Hi,
My Leopard machine is broken and being fixed. I have borrowed a Tiger machine, and desperately need to get a couple of files off my Time Machine backup drive. When I plug the drive in to the borrowed machine I can't see anything.
You should be able to do it. I've done it and it worked. was the TM drive directly attached or was it a network backup? with a directly attached backup you should be able to open the TM drive in finder and copy what you need using finder. all TM backups are kept inside backups.backupdb folder.
Any ideas how to do this?
Many thanks,
Chris

How to completely delete all backed-up time machine files but not other files in my external hard drive?

I use a 500G WD as my external.. I have documents and movies there that i do not want to delete. Simply i just want to delete my time machine files completely and for my mac to not recognised it as a time machine HD.. TY guys p.s. A video would be nice

If you have the external HD setup as one partition, you cannot delete only the TM files as a unit. You will have to use the brute force method of deleting directory by directory.
If you have the drive partitioned into a TM backup partition and another partition for your other work, you can simply reformat the TM backup partition.
So, the first question is, how is your drive setup, as one or as two partitions?

Is there a way to access Time Machine files associated with an old user name?

My iMac was running super slow and there was a bunch of programs, etc. that I wanted to get rid of anyway so I thought I would do a "clean install" from my Snow Leopard disc. I moved items on my desktop to my Seagate external drive and then unplugged it. I have had Time Machine saving to it for a long time so I was confident I could just move a few items (pictures, music, etc.) back on to my hard drive when the install was completed. To my surprise, when I went to Time Machine I found the items I had moved from my desktop but no earlier versions of my other files.
In researching this issue a little bit, it appears that perhaps I created a new user name when I did the install and that my historical items are likely still on the Seagate but stored somewhere associated with my old user name. I understand that if I can change my user name back to the original that I may be able to access the items and transfer the items I want. To compound the situation, I have no idea what my old user name even was.
Does this make sense to Mac experts out there?
If so, is there a way to see the old user names and access the Time Machine files?
I've been avoiding telling my wife that I may have lost all our kid photos so I'm desperately hoping someone can help.

The problem is that Time Machine detects your new OS X copy as a new Mac and it doesn't let you access to your backups. To access to them, see > http://pondini.org/TM/E3.html
Another option would be to access to your backups manually. Open a Finder window, select the Time Machine drive in the sidebar and go to Backups.backupdb > your computer's name > one of the backups > your partition's name, and copy the data you want

I have a power pc (g5) computer that I will soon be replacing with a current i5 or i7 mini. How do I transfer the Time Machine files from the internal hard drive on the G5 to an external drive that I will later use with the Mini?

I have a Power PC G5 computer that I will soon be replacing with a current i5 or i7 Mini. How do I transfer the Time Machine files from the internal hard drive on the G5 to an external drive that I will later use with the Mini?

Hi, likely the easiest is to just poll the drive & get something like this...
Get MacScan...
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_security/macscan.html
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3NVSPATA/
But if you have a good external drive already, just clone it.
Get carbon copy cloner to make an exact copy of your old HD to the New one...
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
Or SuperDuper...
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/

HT201250 I have two external hard drives. One is my Time Machine backup drive. The other I use for external storage of files (documents, photos, movies, etc). Can I set Time Machine to backup BOTH my Mac hard drive and my other external hard drive?

I have two external hard drives. One is my Time Machine backup drive. The other I use for external storage of files (documents, photos, movies, etc). Can I set Time Machine to backup BOTH my Mac hard drive and my other external hard drive?

Yes you can make multiple backups on one hard drive, for example if you’ve 1TB hard drive installed in your PC and you’ve two Mac Machines with 500GB drive each then you just make two backup images with size of 500GB each.
http://www.halfspot.com/use-your-pc-hard-drive-for-time-machine-backup/

HT201250 i would like to use time machine but also back up other file to my external drive?

I just got a WD T3 external hard drive and I would like to use time machine but also back up other files that to the drive. Can anyone help me out.
Thanks Mark

You would need to go to your Applications folder>Utilities>Disk Utility> and there create Two Partitions on your external hard drive, naming them differently. Then you could go back to your desktop, open the dock, right click on the Time Machine icon and select "Open Time Machine Preferences". In there select the external hard drive Partition that you want to use for TM. The other external drive partition will be available for other uses.
Hope this helps

Can't access Time Machine files since upgrading to Mavericks

I have searched the community and found that people have experienced issues backing up to Time Machine since upgrading to Mavericks, but my problem appears slightly different from the ones I've found. I can see that my Time Machine is actually backing up since the upgrade as it was before the upgrade. The issue I'm having is that I can't access the backed-up files in any way.
When I try to open time machine it launches the "space view" with all of the historical tabs lined up for me to scroll through, but imediately closes that window and gives the error message: "Can't connect to a current Time Machine backup disc". It's so weird, because it says that there have been backups completed since the upgrade (most recently this morning). If it wasn't writing to the disc, it would have showed me an error of some sort.
What I am, specifically, trying to accomplish is that I need to restore some iTunes playlists that I somehow managed to delete this past weekend. I figured that I would easily be able to access the library file that contains the playlists from Saturday morning, when I KNOW that playlist was still there, and just restore it. Now that I am seeing that I can't access any of my time machine files, I'm realizing that I have an even bigger problem, and that all of my files are, essentially, going without backup at this time (assuming I can't access the files that have already been backing up).
If anyone has some insight as to how I can fix this problem, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hi John, (The above was for your attention) I'm 72 and must've hit the wrong button!!!
I followed your instructions to the letter, but sadly, no success...all my backups are showing on the TM external HD, but I cannot access them after instsalling 'Mavericks'
I spent the entire day on and off the phone with Applecare (they are very nice, and I'm sure they know most of the stuff needed; but not this problem. They are phoning back tomorrow as the senior chap was not available.
I love my apple products, and like you, have been using their gear for well over 25 years...not studying the things, but using them all the way through.
My present Mac, a 24" iMac is nearly 7 years old, bought on December 11th 2007, and this is the first time I have had a significant problem, and never a virus..got bless em!. I bet there are not many Windows users around who can say the same!
However, if I cannot access my backups, I'm a bit lost, as all my accumulated stuff is there!
I guess the worst case scenario is that I revert to OS X 10.7.5, and wait 'til the bugs are ironed out in Mavericks....Ho Hum
Message was edited by: briinoz

Can Time Capsule be used as a time machine on a Windows Server. Is this possible, and how do i configure this?

I like to use the new TC in my office as a time machine on a Windows Server. Is this possible, and how do i configure this?
In fact my plan is to make the first back up by connecting to the server via an ethernet cable, but thereafter i like to bring the TC to my home and perform the incremental backups over the internet. This is for safety reasons, in case for example the office is broken into, or flooded, or fire (god forbid).
I sincerely hope it is possible, and not complicated.
Alternatively i would not mind replacing our current Windows server 2003 with an Apple server, but all computers in the network (except mine) are Windows 7 or 8. Would it work?
Thanks in advance.
Paris

I will consider the WD My Cloud device.
It is a NAS.. it is designed to provide a cheap centralised file storage.
What is NAS?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage
A file server like windows uses heaps of power to do very little.. in your setup.. In most setups like SBS it will do exchange server and provide a heap of useful connectivity to your clients.
Since you are not using the windows server in anything but simple file serving you can replace with a NAS..
Problem with the TC is, it is a router with a hard disk inside.. designed specifically for Time Machine.. it fails to provide what a NAS does.. easy access to any clients, local or remote.. TC is designed by apple for apple and the rest of world is not really invited to the party.
It provides no backup.. no data protection.. and is so specifically apple orientated I do not think it works at all well with windows.
For a simple example.. windows will have file issues with large files.. because it is only NTserver FAT32 to windows.. bad luck if you have large files.. !!
Plainly if you use active directory in windows that facility is gone.
I just like Apple products, find them more stable than Windows and easier to use. Plus i can access the server from home if it is an Apple Server.
If you only need remote access for yourself that is fine.. too bad for the windows clients I guess.
Or you open it up to the world and bad luck for security.
Apple do not design for mixed environment.. in fact with the TC there is no provision for windows access officially at all.. so anything you do is a fudge.
You can use the TC for your Mac backups within the network.. that is fine. Apple provide no software at all to help with your windows clients.

Time Machine Files - How To Copy

Short story: I am trying to transfer my Time Machine files from one external hard drive to another. I followed the instructions at the following Apple link:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5096?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
This did not work. When I started up Time Machine on the new drive, Time Machine indicated that the old backups were there, but when I tried to access them, Time Machine could not find them.
I could not use the process indicated here:
http://www.macyourself.com/2008/12/10/how-to-copy-your-time-machine-backups-to-a -new-larger-drive/
Long Story: I got a new external 2 TB external to replace my 1.5 TB. I wanted to use the new one for Time Machine and iTunes. I stupidly did not partition it. This is a problem since Time Machine will fill up a hard drive. I tried using Disk Utility to partition after the fact, but I kept getting an error. So I followed the instructions in the Apple link and copied "Backups.backupdb" back to my old drive, reformatted and repartitioned my new drive, then copied "Backups.backupdb" back. Now Time Machine cannot find my old backups, although they appear to exist in the time line. When I look at "Backups.backupdb" there are a bunch of alias that do not link to anything.
So I assume there must be some hidden files.
Have I messed up my year of Time Machine backups and need to start over?

I wanted to use the new one for Time Machine and iTunes. I stupidly did not partition it.
I know it's tempting to want to use all the vast space on a large drive your not using, the problem is when your hardware fails, it takes both backup partitions with it when it goes.
Have multiple copies of your personal data on separate hardware, in separate locations, using easily accessible means and maintain two copies of your personal data off the machine at all times.
Your at that stage where you need more options than TimeMachine provides, you might want to consider cloning.
With cloning you could have just cloned the entire drive to another one no sweat, also you can access the files directly from any computer, Mac, Windows or Linux machine. Plus you can boot from cloned drives and do other things, like data recovery etc.
Most commonly used backup methods

How retrieve Time Machine purple backups?

How retrieve Time Machine backups older than now? Am using Lion (10.7.2). In Time Machine, all my backups that are older than 'Now' have purple date/time stamps and bars, and no 'populated' finder-like window to enable access to my older-than-now backups. My TM backups are on a Drobo S.

Kadege wrote:
Hello Pondini, I've got the same problem, nearly all dates are purple, older than some days. This moves with the time, some days ago, 25-Dec was available, today it isn't (but 26-Dec is).
Do you mean the Dec 25 backup is no longer shown in the TimeLine at all? If so, either it's been deleted, or your backups are corrupt. If you didn't delete it, try to repair your backups, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
Or, if you mean the Dec 25 backup is there, but is faded-out and you can't select it, that's because whatever's in your Finder window before you Enter Time Machine wasn't included in that particular backup -- select something else before entering Time Machine, or in the Finder sidebar once you're there. See #15A in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for details, especially the pink box there.
When accessing the Backup on TimeCapsule via Finder directly, I can see the volume (500 GB) has left 19,37 GB free. I can see, too, all the backups, which are purple in Timemachine, exist (beginnin in July 2011 when I bought the computer).
Yes, eventually, Time Machine will fill all the empty space available to it. Before that, it will periodically "thin" your backups, per the schedule on the Time Machine Preferences window -- all but the first of the day are deleted after 24 hours; those are kept for a month, then reduced to one per week.
Once the drive gets near full, it will start deleting the oldest backup(s) to make room for new ones. Since you have your first backups, that hasn't started yet, but probably will before long.
including system-sofware and applications, which I don't backup by Timemachine.
That's usually not a good idea. It saves relatively little space (perhaps 10-20 GB), and no time (after the first backup), but it means you can't do a full system restore from those backups, or use them with either Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to set up a new Mac, or to transfer your stuff if you have to erase or replace your internal HD. Once you get this sorted out, I'd strongly recommend removing those exclusions.
Message was edited by: Pondini

Retrieving Time Machine Backups on PC

for the last year or so I've been using time machine to back up my MacBook Pro. This proved smart, as about a month ago I spilled a drink on said MacBook Pro. unfortunately Im a student and don't have the money to get it fixed, so I'll have to make due with a windows laptop for a few years until I can afford amother MacBook. So my question:
from rom what ice read it's not so easy to restore time machine backups to a PC. All I need are documents, pictures, and iTunes files- I was using MS office, lyx, etc., mostly programs that's are cross-platform. iTunes files are a concern because not all of my music was purchased through iTunes, and much was personal recordings that can't be found elsewhere. My family owns several Mac computers I can use for the transferring of files, although not all of them have OS X Yosemite. When my windows computer arrives, is there any way to access the files from that computer alone? If not, will I be able to use another Mac to move the files to a flash drive or cloud service in order to put them on my new PC? (obviously this needs to happen without restoring the whole harddrive.) And if none of the above, how can I get my files back?

Hey Dobermuffin,
I know it is frustrating to lose the use of your MacBook Pro. I am so glad that you have been making backups of your data using the Macintosh Time Machine application. It will not run on a Windows computer, but as you have Macs available through your family, the best way to do this will be to recover your files to a Mac and then move those files to your new Windows machine.
The Migration Assistant application (located in a Mac's /Applications/Utilities folder) will allow your transfer information from your data from the Time Machine backup to the hard drive of another Mac. See this article -
Move your data to a new Mac - Apple Support
In particular the section titled Migrate from a Time Machine backup or external drive.
Note step 8. You do not have to transfer everything including applications, computer or network settings. You can just select your home folder, or indeed just portions of your home folder.
Once you have those files on the other Mac you can use one of several methods to move them to your Windows computer. For small amounts of data you can just use a flash drive, you can use a Windows formatted external hard drive, or for a large amount of data you can network the Windows computer with the Mac and use File Sharing to move the files over the network. See this article for how to set up File Sharing on a Mac to work with a Windows computer -
OS X Yosemite: Set up a Mac to share files with Windows users
And this one to connect to the Mac from the Windows computer -
OS X Yosemite: Connect to a Mac from a Windows computer
I hope we see you back in the Macintosh world soon!
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Be well,
Brett L

Cannot delete Time Machine file from external hard drive

Hello,
I'd like to delete my original Time machine file from an external hard drive ( Lacie mini ). I move the file into the trash bin and it constantly "deletes". At one time I left it deleting overnight and the file still wasn't trashed.
I am going to hook up Time Machine to a different, dedicated external hard drive, but I'd like to gain space on the drive that Time Machine is currently on.
I currently have Time Machine turned off ( I do have everything backed up with my home folder on another external HD ). Should Time Machine be turned on for me to trash the file? Is there a better way to delete the file?
Much thanks in advance.

V.K. wrote:
... the best and the quickest way to delete it is to erase the TM hard drive....
But what if a person doesn't want to erase the TM drive? My MacPro came with tiger installed, but since tiger-intel-retail discs don't exist, my copy of tiger is what i have. I was all manner of foolish directing TM to that drive, but damage is done. What can someone in my position do?

How can i RECOVER a time machine file from the trash

I hope someone can help me... I have spent hours and hours reading forums but none that have addressed my problem.
My daughter gave me her old backup drive. She also has a MAC so she had Time Machine backups on the drive already. I started backing up onto this drive about a year ago. Backups have been done now for a year or so. Last night I got the message that I was running out of space so I looked at the drive and realized that her backups were still on the drive so I moved them into the trash. Then Time Machine wouldn't work anymore and I realized that not only did her backups get moved but all of mine did as well. I need the backups because after I upgraded to Mavericks many of my photos dissappeared from iPhoto. These are photos that I can't recreate - I sell jewelry and take pictures before I send the piece out. Everything is one-of-a-kind so it's very important for me to get these back. I realize now that I never should have moved the backups into the trash as I will have a problem deleting it once I separate her backups from mine but I will deal with that after I figure out this problem.
Is there anything I can do to move the backups back from out of the trash and into Time Machine again? (BTW - I don't know which version of Mavericks I have - I have done all available updates so I assume it is 10.9.3)

As long as you don't delete the trash, the files should be recoverable.
I suspect using the Put Back command could take a long time, so be patient.
If your Time Machine backups are mixed with your daughter's backups you might want to buy a larger drive and move the Time Machine files to the new drive.
Regarding missing photos in iPhoto...There might be options to rebuild/recover that data from iPhoto rather than trying to revert to a Time Machine backup.
Check out this third party app, iPhoto Library Manager. It has a demo.
http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
Options for a larger drive.
I like the Seagate USB 3.0 Backup plus drives. Works on USB 2.0 ports. They come formatted for PC but easy to format in Disk Utility.
I don't recommend Western Digital because of the boot problem with some of their drives.
LaCie makes good drives.
All Mac formatted drives will cost more and it’s easy to reformat with Disk Utility. Do not use the software that comes with the drives. It’s recommended that you use Apple’s Disk Utility.
Prices vary but this gives you an idea of what you’ll find. As you notice the second and third TB is usually only $15 more per TB. Normally, you’ll find these prices but right now the 1T is more than the 2T
Seagate Backup Plus 1 TB USB 3.0 $85
Seagate Backup Plus 2 TB USB 3.0 $99
Seagate Backup Plus 3 TB USB 3.0 $115
I have seen the 3T on sale for $99.
Locally, Best Buy seems to have the best prices.

Retrieving Time Machine Files with Windows or Other Mac

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