Use Time Machine backup to create a new user

Hi,
my question is very simple.
First of all my situation.
Me and my wife have decided to share the same MBP 13" unibody with Lion istalled.
Previously this MBP belonged to my wife and some days ago I replaced her HD with mine Seagate 750 Gb.
In this Hd there was all my data with Lion istalled.
As expected, when I started up the MBP 13" with the Seagate 750 Gb I found exactly all my setup and data.
After that I create a new user account (admin, just like me).
During the process I didn't have the chance to import the Time Machine backup of my wife to set this new user account.
I was really disappointed.
I simply connected her external Hd, opened the backup file, picked up and copied the latest data on "my wife" folder, but it didn't completely worked out.
For example, her application folder is identical to mine.
So, do you know if is possible to use Time Machine in the way I expect?
Thanks a lot!
Simone

The following from our resident expert may help you:
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Hope this helps

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Message was edited by: Dan D\'Errico

Dan D'Errico wrote:
I use Time Machine to backup my data to an external drive. Let's say that my computer crashes and I buy a new computer with Leopard installed.
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*_Migrating User Data From One Mac to Another_*
*Firewire Disk Mode*
If you have a FireWire cable, you can connect one Mac to the other via FireWire Disk Mode. Then use Migration Assistant to transfer all of your files and applications over from the older Mac. It should result in a virtually identical setup as your previous Mac. Follow the instructions in this KB article:
“How to use FireWire target disk mode”
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
*Using Time Machine Before Initial Launch of New Mac*
Before starting the new Mac for the first time, attach the hard disk that contains the Time Machine backups from the old Mac.
Start the new Mac and begin the setup process. At some point it will ask you if you would like to Migrate/Import user data from another computer or a Time Machine backup disk. Follow the prompts and select the date of the backup you would like to restore your user data from. Once the migration is complete use Disk Utility to repair any permissions issues.
*Using Time Machine After Initial Launch of New Mac*
If you have already created a User Account on the new Mac using a DIFFERENT Username and Password from the old Mac, then do the following:
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Go to Applications --> Utilities --> and launch Migration Assistant.
At the welcome dialogue click "Continue." You may be required to enter your Admin password.
For Migration Method chose "From a Time Machine backup or other disk".
Select the hard disk containing the previous Time Machine backups. (Give Migration Assistant some time as it scans the disk for eligible data to migrate.)
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Create a new User Admin Account on the new Mac with a completely unique name.
Now, delete the first User Account you created on the new Mac - The one that is identical to the old Mac. (Of course, backup any important files that were created using the new User Account before deleting it.)
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zac850 wrote:
But what if I want to reuse my backup? How would I go about doing that? I trashed the time machine plist file (the only one i found was "Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist") in the hopes that after a restart I would be prompted to reuse the backup. No luck.
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Hi,
I had visited the Genius Bar with some problems with iTunes not opening. The Genius had indicated that I likely had some corrupt files and that the easiest fix would be to create a new user profile... So we did...
After transferring all my data over to the new profile and setting everything back up as I like I deleted the old (presumably corrupt) user profile. To my dismay I no longer have access to any of my time machine backups that were created prior to setting up my new user profile... They appear to still all be there. However, I am unable to select any of the dates prior to the new user profile's creation and the deletion of the old profile...
Please help...
Thank in advance,
Des

desbiss wrote:
After transferring all my data over to the new profile and setting everything back up as I like I deleted the old (presumably corrupt) user profile. To my dismay I no longer have access to any of my time machine backups that were created prior to setting up my new user profile... They appear to still all be there. However, I am unable to select any of the dates prior to the new user profile's creation and the deletion of the old profile...
That's correct. What you see in Time Machine's "Star Wars" display depends on what you have the Finder window set to. While looking at the new profile, you can't see any backups that were done before it existed.
You're right, they're still there, for now, but are grayed-out in the timeline at the right, because what's in the Finder window wasn't backed-up then.
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Use Time Machine backup to create a new user

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