Trying to restore Macbook Pro back up from Time Machine.

Trying to restore MacBook Pro from backup thru Time Machine. Got message asking "Do you want to replace your current copy of "Desktop" with the one your're restoring? "Desktop is required by OS X. When I select REPLACE, get window stating "Operation can't be completed because the item "Desktop" is in use. HELP

I think you are not restoring your files in the correct way.
If what you want to do is to restore a complete Time Machine backup, you have to do it in OS X Recovery, so first hold Command and R keys while your Mac is starting up. Then, choose the option to restore a Time Machine backup, and follow its steps.
If you want to restore individual files, you cannot restore that type of user files because you are using them. Instead, you can restore individual files in your user folders. Read > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

Similar Messages

Can I restore a iPhone back up from time machine and if so how?

I have upgraded my iphone to IOS 7 this morning. However as I was backing up my phone, the cable I was using was removed from the macbook.
I now have a iPhone back up that is corrupted, and when i try and restore my settings to the new IOS7 upgraded phone, it will not allow my old settings to be placed on the phone.
I am therefore thinking of using an old back up from Time Machine, but do not know how to access itunes from time machine. Everytime I try and enter iTunes from my Time Machine vault it says Mac OSX requires the application and therefore cannot be restored.
Please help or tell me what I should be doing instead.
I have a feeling I will lose my app data and have to manually sort my home screens. Luckily all my contacts, emails, photos etc are synced to iCloud, but the back up of my iphone isn't as I don;t have the upgraded space on ICloud and have a iPhone thta has 16GB on it.
Cheers in anticipation of your help
Stephen

Hi Lawrence. Thanks so much for that advice - I'm really grateful. I hope you don't mind me asking a couple more questions: I have found that folder via Finder - I clicked on Library then App Support then Mobile Sync and within that, there's a folder called Backup and within that, 4 files. I also tried accessing it via the Go/go to folder method you suggested (in case that revealed more which remain hidden unless I use your route) but I couldn't make that route work.
I presume I'm looking at the correct files but please advise me if it's still possible that I'm not.
I had already tried to look at these backup files in Time Machine. They appear to be backed up, going back a year. If I can restore one from yesterday, that should solve my problem. However I've looked through them randomly going back a month or more, and they all seem to have been created in 2013, and last modified then. Only one of the files has a more recent 'last modified' date. But surely Time Machine has captured each backup of the iPhone going back over time? I'm baffled.
I hope the above makes sense. I'd be really grateful for any further advice.
steve

HT3231 Is it better to migrate to a new MacBook Pro using FireWire, from Time Machine, or over ethernet?

Hello,
Is it better to migrate to a new MacBook Pro (non Retina display) using FireWire, from Time Machine, or over ethernet? The older Mac is a MacBook (Intel, 2007 vintage). The Time Machine backup is to a Western Digital external drive with FireWire & USB ports.
Thanks!
Chips

Thanks for the helpful reply.
After posting, I read & researched further. We're going to be limited by the hardware – the MacBook & external drive both have FireWire 400, & we don't have a 400 to 800 cable or adapter. So we'll connect by ethernet, & be patient that it make take some time.
I have to assume that Migration Assistant will be just as comprehensive regardless of the connection method / protocol.
Best!

Can someone please help me re-install my Creative Design 5.5 on my Mac? My MacBook Pro recently crashed and had to have the hard drive replaced. The back up from Time Machine is not reinstalling the program. Since I have the download paid, and codes, I

Can someone please help me re-install my Creative Design 5.5 on my Mac? My MacBook Pro recently crashed and had to have the hard drive replaced. The back up from Time Machine is not reinstalling the program. Since I have the download paid, and codes, I need direction on how to reinstall -- HELP?

Hi bodegakc,
If you have the serial number then please use the below mentioned link to download the product you are looking for .
CS5.5
Also before installing Please go to Applications-->Utilities--> Adobe installers and if there is any uninstaller for CS5.5 , you can remove it and do a fresh install.
You can also use creative cloud cleaner tool before installing.
Use the CC Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems | CC, CS3-CS6
Thanks
Nikhil Gupta

IMac late 2009 i7 2t HDD, Grey screen problem on rebooting, tried all support recommendations inc re installation of Yosemite, now about to wipe HDD backing up from time machine would like to go back to mavericks on this 2 days before help please

OSX Yosemite gray screen at startup, tried all Apple Support recommendations inc reinstall, now need to wipe HDD backing up from time machine, would like to backup 2days before Yosemite installation ie Mavericks help please

Do a backup, preferably 2 seperate ones.
Revert to a Previous OS X
Revert Yosemite to Mavericks
If you do revert, I'd use Setup Assistant to restore your data. This process takes a while, so do it when you won't need the computer for several hours, based on my experience.

I performed a time machine backup without plugging my labtop into a power source. My computer died and all the settings were changed, ie the clock and date were changed back to 2001. So I tried to restore my computer using a previous time machine backup.

I performed a time machine backup without plugging my labtop into a power source. My computer died and all the settings were changed, ie the clock and date were changed back to 2001. So I tried to restore my computer using a previous time machine backup. (which I now know was wrong). However, when time machine tried to restore it said there was not enough room to do a backup. It seems that it did a half backup because some essential files such as system profiler are now missing. Can I undo this restore...? What can I do to fix this

You need to do a full system restore, per Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #14.
If that sends a message, please note the exact wording.

I can't restore 'library' with support files from Time Machine

backup - I can't restore 'library' with support files from Time Machine - Ask Different
Due to an accident, my entire applications folder with all the support files, including plists and caches got deleted.
I tried restoring by files from the most recent Time Machine backups but I cannot retrieve my applications with the support files.
I even tried it with migration assistant on a new image.
Is this impossible?
Must I start from scratch?
Details of the ‘accident’
I was using this app called ‘AppCleaner’ that also automatically deletes related support files which are normally left behind if one simply trashes an Application.
In the search view, I typed the app name and I selected all the apps in the results using Command + A. Unfortunately, this selected every single Application in the Applications Folder in the background and I trashed and deleted all files.
Anyway.
I tried to restore the applications and library from my Time Machine Back-ups but failed to do so because I didn’t have enough space to restore. (I have a 11inch Macbook Air 2012 64GB SSD
When I tried to restart in recovery mode, I had the same problem, I was disallowed the option to restore using my time capsule backups because my SSD didn’t have enough space for the backup.
I then tried to restore it to a totally different but new image on a 64GB USB3.0 Sandisk USB Stick, but the process stopped after hours of being stuck around 30.4 percent and the computer was unable to boot, leaving me with a persistent verbose message suggesting it couldn’t identify the os, kernel or anything.
I finally tried restoring the state using migration assistant on the very same SSD that had my files missing. This happened successfully and I have all my applications in the applications folder.
But now I have 13GB free (I had 2GB before) and all my application support files, saved states, preferences, caches and customizations are gone.
Basically, it feels like I just got a new macbook with my documents and itunes folder loaded on to it.
How can I get my apps back to the pre-deletion state or is this impossible? Do I have to start from scratch? I thought my Time Machine Backups would restore it to exactly the same state, am I wrong?
Screenshots:
Message was edited by: Arsenenger

Can you simply navigate to your Time Machine backup with the Finder? Treat it like an external hardrive and just look for your old Applications folder. /Applications/
Also, quite a few apps put config and support files in ~/Library/Application\ Support/
So you may be able to get the files from there as well.

HT4927 How to restore photos in mountain lion from time machine ?

How to restore photos in mountain lion from time machine?

I have tried doing this but it dosen't work.
I opened time machine. I picked the file from the date needed.
I restored it (I told it to keep both).
Then when I double click on the file it opens a treminal window.
I have also tried opening iphoto while holding down the option key.
This file is not slectable.....
Any thought or ideas?

I restored my safari bookmark playlist from time machine.But it again missing after sometime.Again I restored the same thing happns again.plz help

I restored my safari bookmark playlist from time machine.But it again missing after sometime.Again I restored the same thing happns again.plz help

Triple-click the text on the line below to the clipboard, then copy it to the Clipboard (command-C):
~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist
Quit Safari.
Select
Go ▹ Go to Folder
from the Finder menu bar. Paste (command-V) into the text box that opens, then press return.
A folder window should open with a file named "Bookmarks.plist" selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the folder open.
Relaunch Safari. It will open with the default set of bookmarks. Delete them all. Select
File ▹ Import Bookmarks
from the Safari menu bar. Import from the bookmarks file you moved to the Desktop. Arrange the bookmark folders as you wish.
If Safari now performs normally, you can delete the old bookmarks file. Otherwise, quit Safari again and put back the file you moved, replacing the newer one with the same name. Close the Finder window and post again.

Back up from time machine and first new tm machine back up on new mac

hi
i just made a back up from time machine into a new iMac...
no i need to configure again TM for the new mac but even if i use the same TM disc the first new back up doesn't write onto the old one so I need to make a new back up from scratch... can't I keep on writing over the old one?
thanks
m

Here is some of the best information you can find on Time Machine:
Pondini's Time Machine FAQ

Macbook Pro sleep Problems with Time Machine and Time Capsule

I recently installed a time capsule as a Router and a Time Machine backup device for 2 macs in the house.
Unfortunately, I found that my 2011 macbook pro 15' updates the time machine backups even when the lid is closed and in sleep.
When I wake the macbook pro, it hangs and I have to reset the mac to restart.
This did not happen when I was using a firewire hard drive with the time machine.
My question is:
Is there a way to prevent the time machine to backup when the macbook pro is in sleep mode?
My mac is not equiped with power nap so it is not suppose to be doing this.
Thanks
Other info: OS Mountain Lion, regular hard drive, 8 Gig Memory

Edwin,
I assume that since the repair of the sparsebundle failed you still cannot open the sparsebundle in Finder and get the message:
The following backups could not be opened:
Imac of E.sparsebundle because there are no activatible filesystems
If the sparsebundle cannot be opened in Finder, then the chances that Time Machine can open them are nil in my opinion. Time Machine, in effect is just going to open the sparsebundle as Finder is attempting to dot, then it gives you a fnacy display, but the underlying issue with the sparesbundle is the same for both methods of access.
Do you, by chance hav a bootable backuo of your Snow Leopard system?
If so can you access the TM backups with it??
You didn't change the Time Capsules Network Password did you?? see this.
I looked to see if I could find anythng about the error codes you mentioned in your original post and so far can;t find anything about them.
Steve

I manually deleted back-ups from Time Machine and now I can't empty the trash

I manually deleted back-ups from Time Machine and now I can't empty the trash.

Using Finder (deleting Time Machine backups) to manage Time Machine files is a mistake. The remedy is somewhat easy, but you will lose all the files on that TM drive.
If there is nothing elese on the Time Machine drive, try reformatting the drive with Disk Utility. This will effectively remove the files from that drive from the trash. If you have files on this drive, temporarily copy the files to another drive, then reformat the TM drive.

My 2008 MacBook Pro Stop Recognizing my Time Machine Backup Disk "HELP"

My 2008 MacBook Pro Stop Recognizing my Time Machine Backup Disk & without it my MBP Run's Slow like a "I Hate to say it Windows OS" Is my USB Drives? (2.0) Or is it Time to UPGRAIDE to a Unibody MBP? Please Help ASAP

Take it to an Apple store or AASP.

Restore macbook pro back to the factory settings, Snow Leopard, then back to Mavericks

If I restore my macbook pro back to the factory settings with the OS X install disc, it came with Snow Leopard. Would I have to pay to go back to Mavericks OS?

If you have Mavericks now, why not just boot into the Recovery partition, erase the disk with Disk Utility, and reinstall Mavericks? Command and R at boot should get you to the Recovery partition.

How to restore macbook pro back to factory settings

how do i restore macbook pro to factory settings

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
If it didn't come with DVDs:
1. Press Command, Option and R keys when your computer starts and open Disk Utility.
2. Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar and erase the disk.
3. Install Mac OS X.
If it came with discs:
1. Insert the Mac OS X disc and press C key when your Mac starts.
2. Go to Utilities > Disk Utility, select Macintosh HD in the sidebar and erase the disk.
3. Install Mac OS X

Trying to restore Macbook Pro back up from Time Machine.

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