How To Use Migration Assistant and Not Restore Previously Corrupted OS

[0388279]

Hi All,

Today I restored my late 2013 rMBP to factory state to eliminate a sleep/wake issue that was believed to be related to a corrupted operating system. Now that I have restored to factory state my sleep/wake issues have gone away.

I want to restore my MBP from a time machine back-up but not bring back the corrupted portion of the operating system. It looks like I have 4 options to choose from:

1) Applications
2) Looks like a user profile
3) Other files and folders
4) Computer and network settings

I would like to do this one time and not have to start over again. Which of the above do I select or not select so I do not bring back the corrupted portions of the OS?

Cheers,

Don Barar

 

[Weaselboy]

If you had corruption issues, using Migration Assistant at all risks importing the problem back onto the machine. The safest route here would be to create your account on the new install then manually move the data you want in from the TM backup.

 

[0388279]

Hi WB,

Which is exactly what happened. I used Migration Assistant and selected to restore applications, user account, and other data. I chose not to select computer and network settings hoping to avoid the corrupted portions of the operating system. That did not work. I got my problem back.

So the question is what can I manually bring back and not end up with a corrupted OS. Can I bring back Applications safely? What about my user account? Other Data?

Or, am I just stuck bringing only back only the files and having to set up all the applications again from scratch.

Don

 

[h9826790]

Most likely the problematic files hidden inside your user account. So, I also suggest you open a new account and then manual recovery the data from TM backup.

 

[Weaselboy]

Hi WB,

Which is exactly what happened. I used Migration Assistant and selected to restore applications, user account, and other data. I chose not to select computer and network settings hoping to avoid the corrupted portions of the operating system. That did not work. I got my problem back.

So the question is what can I manually bring back and not end up with a corrupted OS. Can I bring back Applications safely? What about my user account? Other Data?

Or, am I just stuck bringing only back only the files and having to set up all the applications again from scratch.

Don

Most likely the problematic files hidden inside your user account. So, I also suggest you open a new account and then manual recovery the data from TM backup.

Yep... h9826790 is right on target here. Do a clean install then make a new account (it can be the same name if you want). Then yes you can manually drag apps and data like documents and music etc back in.

This will not work with some apps. Some apps are fully "self contained" and just moving it in will work. Other have installers that install support files needed for the app and you will need to rerun the installer to get the app back up and working.

The key is not to import the user account. Just make a new account and only bring in data and apps.

 

[0388279]

Hi WB,

Thank you for the advice. Today I went to the Apple store seeking assistance with restoring from a Time Machine back-up and not corrupting the OS. It turns out that by not selecting to restore "Other Data" and "Other Data" in the User account I was able to get back proper wake-up behavior. By not restoring the "Other Data" and "Other Data" in the User profile I lost the keychain. We restored the keychain manually and since that time I have had normal operation of the computer.

I appears as though the corrupted files are in either "Other Data" or "Other Data" in the User Account. Just wish I knew which file became corrupted.

Thanks to all who replied. I hope that those who are still suffering from this issue will be able to use my experience to help them solve their issue with delayed wake-up immediately following the computer going to sleep.

Cheers,

Don Barar