How to restore Macbook TM backup to a MBA external drive?

Hiya

This must be a somewhat common situation but I couldn't find an answer after some googling.

So my white macbook got stolen. OK, it's all on CCTV, and the police are on it. I have a lovely recent Time Machine full backup. For various reasons, I'm not in a position to buy a new laptop right now.

My partner has an Air (non Thunderbolt). I'm thinking, can I do a full restore from the TM to an EXTERNAL drive linked to the Air?

So in theory the Air would boot from a 500GB external drive, restored from TM, then all 450GB of my email, files, photos, imovie work-in-progress etc will be there.

Then I can do my work, deal with emails etc, have my new work backed up in the right place in the TM etc, when she's not using the Air, and that will keep me going till I sort out a replacement Mac.

How can I do this?

Thanks

RedTomato

OllyW said:

Couldn't you install OS X on the external drive, make it your boot drive then restore from your TM backup using the Migration Assistant?

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Sorry my brain was a bit slow.