I "think" I may know what is wrong, but...

[TanBrae]

I'm going to ask here.

My iMac's hard drive failed. Not being too terribly concerned because we back up to Time Machine, I took it to an Apple Store, and had a new HD installed.

However, me being me, I somehow misplaced my FileVault password. So, no go with trying to recover what was ON the hard drive.

And, then, no go with trying to recover what was/is(?) on the TM. When we finally got into the TM, the volume for my computer shows up, but says it is empty??? WTH??? HOW did that happen? The tech had no idea. I know things were there because I had been in TM just two days prior, and my volume had all my files on it.

Well, back to the external hard drive, which is a 5TB Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive. I (thought I) had cloned the iMac HD onto the external. It shows up, and I can open folders at the "highest level", but, the files IN the folders all have locks on them.

Clicking on Get Info shows that the files are locked and that I have "Read Only" permissions for them.

Is this because of the new iMac hard drive? And, that I changed this "new" computer's name?

How do I change this problem??? It's bad enough that TM "lost" my files, including my bookkeeping files (tax season is coming up!), now I can't access them from the external!

Oh, and just as an aside... I'm not caring much for Sierra. If I wanted an iPhone, I'd have bought one. Bring back Mavericks! (Which I may just do!)

 

[Fishrrman]

I'll offer some advice, which is my opinion only. Take it for what it cost you.

I can't help with your current problems, and I don't think anyone else here, can, either.
If you set a password for filevault and can't remember it, NO ONE can help you.
No password = the data is gone. Forget about it.

That's one of the hazards with using something like filevault. Works great when it works. If something goes wrong, well...?

In the future, I would suggest this:

- If you have trouble remembering passwords, DON'T use filevault and DON'T set a firmware password.
- DON'T rely on Time Machine. The trouble you're having right now is an example as to why one shouldn't put one's faith in it.
- INSTEAD, try either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create bootable cloned backups of your internal drive on a backup drive. Both are "pay-for" utilties, but either can be worth its weight in gold during a "moment of extreme need".

If you had had a bootable cloned backup WITHOUT filevault, and your hard drive failed (as it did above), you would be back-up-and-running now, just as before. You wouldn't have to be posting here.

Go forth, and learn from your past mistakes -- a sadder but wiser young man...

 

[J.Gallardo]

Maybe a hypnotist could help... (?)

I’m really sorry for you; I’m quite scatterbrained, and all these password, code or key thing is driving me crazy.
At the end, we all should have a “code book” in a locked drower.
Perhaps you can retrieve your file’s info in some other way... I hope.
But your case is a good reminder for everyone using passwords kept just in their memory; it isn’t a secure enough place!

(...my condolences...)

 

[BornAgainMac]

Well, once you have that happen once, it likely will never happen again. Using FileVault a second time and forgetting the password will probably not happen again. You can have it under your keyboard, in your phone, under the bed. You will have a system in place to keep that password retrievable.

 

[TanBrae]

I know all that, and likely won't use FileVault again. I KNOW I saved my password, but can't recall where. Extenuating circumstances led me to use FileVault (someone was allowed access to my computer), and I was sure I created a password that I would remember, AND I printed the info.

Any way, I am now able to access all but my .CR2 files, which are Canon's RAW files, and I'm sure that I can fix that by downloading the Canon software.

Thanks for the comments, though. Hard lesson learned, for sure. But, it still doesn't explain why Time Machine lost the files on that volume. My not having access to FileVault's password has nothing to do with that.
[doublepost=1505842374][/doublepost]

Go forth, and learn from your past mistakes -- a sadder but wiser young man...

Well, thanks for thinking that, but, I'm an "old" woman! LMBO!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I (thought I) had cloned the iMac HD onto the external. It shows up, and I can open folders at the "highest level", but, the files IN the folders all have locks on them.
Clicking on Get Info shows that the files are locked and that I have "Read Only" permissions for them.
Is this because of the new iMac hard drive? And, that I changed this "new" computer's name?
How do I change this problem???"

Try this, it -might- help.
Follow these instructions exactly.
Print this out if you need to.

1. Boot up and connect the external drive (the one with locked folders).

2. Let the drive's icon mount on the desktop. DO NOT try to open it.

3. Click ONE time on the drive icon to select it.

4. Type "command-i" (eye). This brings up the drive's "get info" box.

5. At the bottom of the get info box you'll see a small lock icon. Click on it, then enter your administrative password to unlock it.

6. On the bottom left there should be a checkbox "ignore ownership on this volume". If you don't see it, click the tiny "disclosure arrow" in the sharing and permissions area to reveal it.

7. Put a checkmark into this box, then close the get info box.

8. NOW try accessing those folders you couldn't get to before. Any better?

This -might- help, but then again, I'm not sure about the fact that this is a copy of a volume that was filevault-protected.

ALSO important to know:
IF you are now able to get into those folders, be aware that you CANNOT COPY the "first level" of subfolders in your home folder (on the external drive) to your home folder (on your internal drive).
These are the folders named "Documents", "Music", "Movies", "Pictures", etc. These folders are "more than just folders" (I think they're "symbolic links").

HOWEVER -- you CAN copy things that ARE INSIDE those folders (including nested folders).
That means you can open the Pictures folder, select stuff inside, and then copy that to your new home folder.

 

[TanBrae]

OP wrote:
"I (thought I) had cloned the iMac HD onto the external. It shows up, and I can open folders at the "highest level", but, the files IN the folders all have locks on them.
Clicking on Get Info shows that the files are locked and that I have "Read Only" permissions for them.
Is this because of the new iMac hard drive? And, that I changed this "new" computer's name?
How do I change this problem???"

Try this, it -might- help.
Follow these instructions exactly.
Print this out if you need to.

1. Boot up and connect the external drive (the one with locked folders).

2. Let the drive's icon mount on the desktop. DO NOT try to open it.

3. Click ONE time on the drive icon to select it.

4. Type "command-i" (eye). This brings up the drive's "get info" box.

5. At the bottom of the get info box you'll see a small lock icon. Click on it, then enter your administrative password to unlock it.

6. On the bottom left there should be a checkbox "ignore ownership on this volume". If you don't see it, click the tiny "disclosure arrow" in the sharing and permissions area to reveal it.

7. Put a checkmark into this box, then close the get info box.

8. NOW try accessing those folders you couldn't get to before. Any better?

This -might- help, but then again, I'm not sure about the fact that this is a copy of a volume that was filevault-protected.

ALSO important to know:
IF you are now able to get into those folders, be aware that you CANNOT COPY the "first level" of subfolders in your home folder (on the external drive) to your home folder (on your internal drive).
These are the folders named "Documents", "Music", "Movies", "Pictures", etc. These folders are "more than just folders" (I think they're "symbolic links").

HOWEVER -- you CAN copy things that ARE INSIDE those folders (including nested folders).
That means you can open the Pictures folder, select stuff inside, and then copy that to your new home folder.

Tried that. There is no lock icon, and under Sharing & Permissions: it says "You can only read".

When things go wrong, they go REALLY wrong! LOL

 

[hfg]

Sorry I can't help you access your file ...

However, for next time, write down your encryption password (and your hardware lock password if you set it), and tape that paper inside the shipping box you have stored away (you do keep your boxes, don't you?). That way if you forget it, or you go to sell the computer, etc. ... you, or someone else will have the necessary passwords to restore the computer to a "new" state.

As for Sharing and Permissions ... add yourself as administrator to the list if necessary and select "read & write" permissions.

Good luck ...

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Tried that. There is no lock icon, and under Sharing & Permissions: it says "You can only read"."

Well, are you able to open these files?
Even if you can't copy them?

Does this work?
1. Open one of these files
2. Choose "save as" from the file menu
3. Save a copy to somewhere else
???

 

[TanBrae]

Sorry I can't help you access your file ...

However, for next time, write down your encryption password (and your hardware lock password if you set it), and tape that paper inside the shipping box you have stored away (you do keep your boxes, don't you?). That way if you forget it, or you go to sell the computer, etc. ... you, or someone else will have the necessary passwords to restore the computer to a "new" state.

As for Sharing and Permissions ... add yourself as administrator to the list if necessary and select "read & write" permissions.

Good luck ...

Thanks! I DID write it down, as well as print the password as per FileVault's prompting. I "thought" I would remember it, and I "thought" I hid it in a place I'd remember. Obviously not!

At any rate, I HAD set myself as Administrator, and DID select Read & Write. I do that on all of my computers.
[doublepost=1505952123][/doublepost]

OP wrote:
"Tried that. There is no lock icon, and under Sharing & Permissions: it says "You can only read"."

Well, are you able to open these files?
Even if you can't copy them?

Does this work?
1. Open one of these files
2. Choose "save as" from the file menu
3. Save a copy to somewhere else
???

That didn't work. Tried all that before I came whining here! LOL
[doublepost=1505952241][/doublepost]Hey all! I finally got my files to open! DUH! I had forgotten to add the driver for the Seagate external. For some reason, it must NEED that in order for the files to open. At any rate, once I did that, VOILA!

I have been so on edge about this hard drive failure, I have forgotten to stop and THINK. Thanks for all the responses!