What's best: restore using migration assistant or time machine back up?

Hi,
here's the scoops, wondering what to do:
1-tech support at apple store did a clean install of os lion on my macbook.
2-I have a back up from time machine
3-I want to restore everything but applications
4-Problem is: "I think" it's better to use the back up rather than install one certain program (quickbooks) again
5-Should I just use migration assistant to restore everything after setting the computer as a new one; or restore using time machine, without the applications, and restore quickbooks from the back up by itself later on?
Sorry for the sillyness of this question..
Thanks

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User Not Found Using Migration Assistant and Time Machine

My iMac running Leopard kernel panicked which forced me to do a hard reset. After rebooting, the account I was logged in as disappeared. Fortunately, that wasn't the admin account. I logged into my admin account and thought I would use Migration Assistant to recreate the missing account (I did run Disk First Aid first to ensure the hard drive was in good working order). However, Migration Assistant does not list the missing user account when reading my Time Machine backup. I do see the user if I go directly into into Time Machine. I'm guessing that Migration Assistant may only be looking at the most recent backup which obviously doesn't contain the missing user.
Suggestions on how to restore the missing user or how to get Migration Assistant to read all of the users in my Time Machine backups?

BobParr wrote:
I'm guessing that Migration Assistant may only be looking at the most recent backup which obviously doesn't contain the missing user.
Correct.
Suggestions on how to restore the missing user or how to get Migration Assistant to read all of the users in my Time Machine backups?
How many backups were done after the problem occurred? One possibility would be to delete those backups (see #12 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum), so the last one has the missing user's data, and Migration Assistant can find it. If you do that, once everything's properly restored, boot up from your Leopard Install disk, then reboot normally. That will trigger a "deep traversal" in the next backup, where TM will compare everything on your system to it's backups, thus assuring that nothing was lost via the earlier deletions.
Another would be to do a full restore from Time Machine, per #14 in the FAQ.

Error using migration assistant and time machine

Daughter dropped water on our old macbook pro. Got a new one and trying to restore using backups to our time capsule, but we are receiving this error using the migration assistant: "Make sure that all of your network devices are connected and turned on. It appears that some backups are already in use. If you don't see the backup you need, make sure it is not currently mounted by another machine and try again."
any suggestions on how to transfer the data from time capsule to new macbook?

Do you see the backups in the Select Your Disk window?
If so, can you connect to them?
Make sure Time Machine is OFF on all Macs on your network. If any backups are trying to run, cancel them. If they won't cancel after a few minutes, see #D6 inTime Machine - Troubleshooting.
Also be sure no other Mac is looking at them. If you continue to get that message, disconnect all users, per #C12 in the same article.
If none of that helps, the backups may be damaged (could have happened when the old Mac died). Try to Repair them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting

Using Migration Assistant with Time Machine or Super Duper data

Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer? I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini? And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose? The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

KevinD wrote:
Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer?
yes to both.
I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini?
none.
And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose?
makes no difference.
The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

Relocating music files after using migration assistant and time machine

Hello
I recently purchased an i7 MBP because my previous 15 in was stolen. Luckily I had a time machine backup of the old machine - my previous MBP was the Intel 2 Core Duo model just before the refresh to the i5/i7s
So far what I did is ran migration assistant to bring my files over
Everything seems to be fine, except when I got to iTunes much of my music is listed but I get the exclamation mark symbol next to most of the music and movies and apps
I am trying to figure out how to fix this and relocate my files
I know I could access my time machine backup by browsing other time machine disks, but I can't browse the music folder in a previous backup because I don't have the permisson to access it
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Victor:
If you correctly transferred your music files the problem is with your iTunes Library file.
Open iTunes and quickly press the option key. A window will show to ask you to select the library file. Browse for it and it should fix the problem.

Migration Assistant versus Time Machine back-up

I'm trying to migrate a Time Machine back-up from my recently stolen 2010 MacBook Pro (running OSX 10.6.7) to my old (2008) MacBook Pro, running on OSX 10.5.8.
However, Migration Assistant on my 2008 MB Pro does not detect the backup folder/file on my external HD, even though Finder does.
I've tried by making a new temp Admin User with a different name as the User on my back-up, but no luck.
Even though it is only temporary, for two months or so, I'd still like to migrate. Anyone?

Where is Pondini...

Cloning VS Migration Assistant VS Time Machine restore

Dec 2006 MBP, disk has never been defragged or re-formatted from day 1, so it's pretty cluttered up.
New HDD coming in today, what do you think is the best way to transfer my system, apps and files to the new drive in a clean way?
(running OS X 10.5.8 now, think I want to do an upgrade to OS X 10.6 while I'm at it...
Should I do that before/after transfer? How does that affect Migration Assistant or Time Machine?)

My preference would be to make a bootable clone on my internal on an external. The clone will allow extraction of users, files, apps, and data at the end of an erase and install. Also, if your Sno install goes bad, then you can clone back to your internal to get back where you started. My preference for installing Sno is an erase and install.
Upgrading ought to be pretty much as good as, as good as, or better than (depends on who you talk to) erasing and installing, and having done so everything still should be in place except for archived incompatible programs after the install. Having a bootable clone is just as important in the case of upgrade as in the case of erase and install.
You bootcamp partition won't be affected under either install method. But, keep in mind that if you want to change its size, then erasing and installing will give you the opportunity to do so. No migrating needed for the Boot Camp partition.
Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)

Migration assistant versus time machine

I am about to get a new mac, is there a reason to prefer migration assistant or Time Machine
to transfer the data from the old to the new? Will any method allow my computer to recognize
the time machine data as its own? Thanks

Jhalev wrote:
I am about to get a new mac, is there a reason to prefer migration assistant or Time Machine
to transfer the data from the old to the new?
Your best bet is to use +Setup Assistant+ (when your shiny new Mac first starts up), per the link supplied by Baltwo. You can transfer from your old Mac, or it's backups. It's probably best to do it directly from your old Mac, but if it doesn't have a FireWire port, or isn't available, and your backups are on a external HD, you can use that instead.
Will any method allow my computer to recognize the time machine data as its own? Thanks
Not exactly. Time Machine will do a new, full backup of your new Mac. But you will get a prompt about whether you want to "reuse" the backups. See #B5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum), for details.

Can I use a mountain lion time machine back up on new mavericks macs?

My macbook retina was stolen at my school. I was wondering because I used time machine having mountain lion, does it affect anything when if i purchase a mavericks macbook pro? the just announced one. I have all my pictures (iphoto) in that last back up. Can i use a mountain lion time machine back up on new mavericks macs? My macbook retina was stolen on August 16? So I don't know if there was an update on my mac that might affect it in any way...

It's ok you can use your ML TM to transfer your account. iPhoto library and other things will be upgraded when you open the apps.
At the end of the Apple article it says:
Migrating a Time Machine backup to a new Mac
When you get a new Mac, you can transfer all of your applications, files, settings, and other information from a Time Machine backup you've already made. When you start up your new Mac for the first time, the Setup Assistant asks you if you would like to restore from backup. If you've already set up your new Mac, you can use theMigration Assistant (located in Applications/Utilities) to do the same thing.
After Migration Assistant completes the transfer and you select your existing Time Machine backup drive, you will be prompted with "Inherit Backup History". Once selected you will be able to continue to use your existing Time Machine backup on your new Mac.

I can't migrate from a time machine Back up. I select my TC and it says "some backups can't be opened." My HD failed and I'm Trying to get everything back... Can anyone make a suggestion?

I can't migrate from a time machine Back up. I select my TC and it says "some backups can't be opened. Make sure that all of your network devices are connected and turned on. It appears that some backups are already in use. If you don't see the backup you need, make sure it is not currently mounted by another machine and try again."
My HD failed and i installed a new one... I'm Trying to get everything back... Can anyone make a suggestion?

Read the section E about restore issues.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
But you should be able to mount the sparsebundle and backup the major items if they are not damaged. You might also do a disk verify to see if the corruption can be repaired.
Have a look here also for restore of selected items.
http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

I work with a Mac & I had to restore my computer for my time machine back-up. When I attempt to open/edit a photo with either camera raw or photoshop I get the following error message: Error 150:30 , it also sys that licensing for the product has stopped

I work with a Mac & I had to restore my computer for my time machine back-up. When I attempt to open/edit a photo with either camera raw or photoshop I get the following error message: Error 150:30 , it also sys that licensing for the product has stopped working?

Unfortunately when Adobe products are restored from backup, especial CS4 and especially Mac, it breaks licensing.
There is a python script included in the license recovery kit that should work if you are familiar with Terminal.
If not, you must reinstall your CS4 suite. You don't need to delete your preferences, so it should be the same as before.
Error "Licensing has stopped working" | Mac OS
Gene

What to do AFTER using Migration Assistant??

So I used migration assistant to transfer from my old macbook to the one I got this past summer. To be clear, I used it twice, once to transfer the apps (about 2 months ago) and again to transfer everything else. Now this meant transferring the users so that the music and pictures would go with it (I hope that that was the best way to do that).
Now what do I do? When I transferred the apps they were there all nice and ready to be used. I want my old stuff blended in with my new stuff (pics and music all together from both computers) in itunes and iphoto, but that didn't happen. Also, most of the folders in the old user folder (including music, etc) have a little red symbol that won't let me access them.
Please help! Thanks.

How do I set up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC?
But since you already did it, this Transferring files from one account to another might be better suited for you.
Stefan

Problems with Restoring using Migration Assistant

Hi
I'm trying to restore my files from time machine using Migration Assistant. I keep getting this message which I don't understand. Can anyone advice ? Thanks.
+NTFS-3G could not mount /dev/disk1 at Volumes/Untitled because the following problem occured: Error reading bootsector: Input/Output error. Failed to mount 'dev/rdisk1':Input/output error NTFS is either inconsitent or there is a hardware fault or its a SoftRAID/ FakeRAID hardware. In the first case run chdksk/f on Windows then reboot into Windows. The usage of the /f parameter is very important! f the device is a SoftRAID/ FakeRAID thenfirst activate it and mount a different device under the /dev/mapper/ directory, Ie.g. /dev/mapper/nvidia+eahaabcc1). Please see the 'dmraid' documentation for more details.+
Jojos

I don't do Windoze, but that looks like you've backed-up a virtual machine via Time Machine, and there's a problem with it.
First question: why are you restoring, and why are you using +MIgration Assistant?+
If you want to restore everything from your backups, do a full system restore, per #14 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Most folks exclude those from Time Machine, and back them up separately.
Your best bet is to skip the contents of the folder they're in while running +MIgration Assistant+, then restore everything else in that folder selectively, via the "Star Wars" display. You may or may not be able to restore the vm file(s), but at least you should be able to get everything else that way.

HT5097 How do I find my files after a TC restore using Migration Assistant?

How do I find my TC backup?
My difficulties started with my MacBook Pro going totally dead. Took it to the Apple Store, where they identified a problem with the RAM. They fixed it, and also reinstalled Lion, but without my applications - Pages, iPhoto, my documents etc.
When I got back home, I used Migration Assistant, which I found in Utilities, connected to the Time Capsule with an Ethernet cable, and it said at the end that it had transferred all my info. During the process I had to create another ID. I added a "1" to my old id, of course...easiest thing to do....and then I changed the Login procedure so I could switch to that user ID. I'm not sure that worked, because when my MacBook Pro went to sleep, I found the original icon, rather than the one for the name1 name. So that may be part of the problem, but I don't know.
Anyway, then I entered Time Machine, but all that is there is the last few days/hours of activity.
I don't know much about computers, but I think that the new name1 user ID and the restored data may be linked somewhere and if I could just find it perhaps this would get resolved.
I can see the applications now, but when I look for, for example, Pages documents, there is nothing there. Ditto for iPhoto. For iPhoto I also tried file>import, which brought in some old files from MobileMe, but not the photos I had on my MacBook.
I would prefer not to have the name/name1 and just have everything back as it was, but I don't know how to do that either.
Hope someone can help me! Many thanks!!!

Never mind! I finally figured out - duh - that if I logged out and then logged in under the new name1 ID, I could find everything! HOOORAY!

What's best: restore using migration assistant or time machine back up?

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