Migration Assistant v Time Machine

[Soundhound]

I'm having some system problems on my macbook pro so I'm going to do an erase and clean install of Mountain Lion, and will want to be able to keep all my info and apps etc.

It seems like the two different ways to do this are

- Time Machine - make sure Time Machine is up to date, wipe the drive, install OSX and then do a restore with Time Machine.

- Migration Assistant.

How would this work with Migration Assistant? Do I use it to make a clone to another drive, and then use that clone to restore to my laptop drive?

Also, anyone have a preference for one approach or the other?

thanks!

[Weaselboy]

You can use the Time Machine backup as the source of the data for the Migration Assistant.

The problem is what you are describing is not really a clean install. A true clean install means you install the OS on a blank drive then manually reinstall all apps and manually enter all your settings. Importing apps and settings from a Time Machine restore or Migration Assistant just imports back any problem apps or settings you had to begin with.

[gigas65]

Is there actually any difference between this method and the other booting from install DVD and restore everything directly from Time Machine?
Forgive me, but after all these forums i read, i am really not sure if there is actually any difference or any advantage of one method vs the other.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

Is there actually any difference between this method and the other booting from install DVD and restore everything directly from Time Machine?
Forgive me, but after all these forums i read, i am really not sure if there is actually any difference or any advantage of one method vs the other.

If you are having problems you hope to solve by a reinstall, the Migration Assistant (MA) method is more likely to be helpful. If you fresh install then use MA to import, it just imports your personal data and settings... not the actual OS files as they were put there by the new install. Where if you just do a restore every OS file is put right back where is was, so you have accomplished nothing. If you have a corrupted OS file it gets put right back.

[gigas65]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

If you are having problems you hope to solve by a reinstall, the Migration Assistant (MA) method is more likely to be helpful. If you fresh install then use MA to import, it just imports your personal data and settings... not the actual OS files as they were put there by the new install. Where if you just do a restore every OS file is put right back where is was, so you have accomplished nothing. If you have a corrupted OS file it gets put right back.

Thanks for replying.
So you mean i can do a clean install of 10.6.2 (i think that is on the install dvd) and then use the MA to import Applications, Settings and Files?
What about updates to current 10.6.8?
I guess stuff like iPhoto and iTunes files and libraries are also imported through MA?

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

Thanks for replying.
So you mean i can do a clean install of 10.6.2 (i think that is on the install dvd) and then use the MA to import Applications, Settings and Files?
What about updates to current 10.6.8?
I guess stuff like iPhoto and iTunes files and libraries are also imported through MA?

Yes... MA will import all of that. You will have to reapply 10.6.8 though.

[gigas65]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Yes... MA will import all of that. You will have to reapply 10.6.8 though.

So, wouldn't it be exactly the same with restore from Time Machine? If i import everything from TM (Applications, Library, Settings, Users) using MA what would be the difference. I mean, wouldn't i also have imported all possible garbage in my OS?
Thanks again

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

So, wouldn't it be exactly the same with restore from Time Machine? If i import everything from TM (Applications, Library, Settings, Users) using MA what would be the difference. I mean, wouldn't i also have imported all possible garbage in my OS?
Thanks again

No. A "restore" from Time Machine will replace everything on the drive, including the actual files and folders that makeup the OS, with the file and folders on the Time Machine backup. So, for example, if there is a corrupt OS file in the main /System folder, that will be put right back on the HDD by the Time Machine restore.

Whereas, a fresh install followed by a Migration Assist import, does not bring back ANY of the OS files at all. If there was a corrupt file in the /System folder, MA does not bring it back. All MA brings in is settings, apps, and your personal data (photos/docs/etc).

[gigas65]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

All MA brings in is settings, apps, and your personal data (photos/docs/etc).

What about "Library"? Or you include it when you say "Settings" ?

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

What about "Library"? Or you include it when you say "Settings" ?

MA will bring in files from the /Users/Username/Library folder as there are many .plist files in there that contain app settings etc. But the main /Library folder files will not come over other than some systemwide preferences like firewall settings and that sort of thing.

[gigas65]

Thank you for your immediate reply.
But, i made a new user account in my existing system and when i tried to import stuff using MA, it could not "See" my external USB disk that i use for Time Machine!! Any suggestions?

[throAU]

Pretty sure (its been a while) that when you import via a time machine backup you can select to restore documents only rather than documents and applications.


Its been a while though...

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

Thank you for your immediate reply.
But, i made a new user account in my existing system and when i tried to import stuff using MA, it could not "See" my external USB disk that i use for Time Machine!! Any suggestions?

If you start Disk Utility under the new login can you see the Time Machine disk?

Originally Posted by throAU

Pretty sure (its been a while) that when you import via a time machine backup you can select to restore documents only rather than documents and applications.


Its been a while though...

That is correct.

[gigas65]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

If you start Disk Utility under the new login can you see the Time Machine disk?

Yes, and it also appears on Desktop. But MA only finds my Macintosh startup disk.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

Yes, and it also appears on Desktop. But MA only finds my Macintosh startup disk.

I don't understand. You need to login to the new account then launch Migration Assistant from /Applications/Utilities then tell it to import files from the Time Machine disk. If you can see that disk on the desktop, Migration Assist should be able to select it. I don't believe Migration Assist would even show you the very boot disk it is running from as an option. Are you sure you are not mistaking the Time Machine disk as the boot disk in the Migration Assist screen?

[gigas65]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

I don't understand. You need to login to the new account then launch Migration Assistant from /Applications/Utilities then tell it to import files from the Time Machine disk. If you can see that disk on the desktop, Migration Assist should be able to select it. I don't believe Migration Assist would even show you the very boot disk it is running from as an option. Are you sure you are not mistaking the Time Machine disk as the boot disk in the Migration Assist screen?

I do it exactly as you say. I don't think i confuse them, since my startup disk is called "Macintosh" and Time Machine "Backups". Macintosh is appeared and lets me import stuff from other users. No date selection or anything. Could it be the usb connected disk? I mean could it only work with internal partition or disk?

[gigas65]

Dear Weaselboy, i am afraid you are correct!
MA actually displays my Time Machine disk, but with Macintosh name as it is backuped. I noticed the icon and a made a test with a new file to be certain.
I 've just never had used MA before and i thought that would give me the selection of date to import. It seems that it brings everything from the latest backup. Thanks again for your patience, Alex.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by gigas65

Dear Weaselboy, i am afraid you are correct!
MA actually displays my Time Machine disk, but with Macintosh name as it is backuped. I noticed the icon and a made a test with a new file to be certain.
I 've just never had used MA before and i thought that would give me the selection of date to import. It seems that it brings everything from the latest backup. Thanks again for your patience, Alex.

Oh good. Glad it worked out.

[gigas65]

After the hd replacement, fresh 10.6.3 install, import with Migration Assistant, update to 10.6.8, Time Machine does not "see" old backups! It wants to start from scratch, instead of the "changed stuff addition" method. Any help?