OCLP and Time Machine

[T140V]

Hello, I am a long time Mac user but not so geeky. I usually just use my Macs as-is.
I ran across an article about how to upgrade an unsupported Mac mine being a 2012 iMac that I recently replaced the solid state hd.
After reading the how to, i figured I would give it a go. I found a splendid YT video by Mr. McIntosh showing clear steps to do the patcher.
I had nothing to lose as my iMac was long for replacement.
Ok, enough about that now my issue.
I have been using Time Machine ever since it was offered way back and planned to restore using it. The video instructions never mentioned when best to start the back up so I did do the restore when asked upon set up. It took a while as expected. Continuing through the set up and continuing to follow Mr. McIntosh's video, when it came to the last stages of rebooting, it got stuck would not continue so I had to power off and start another boot process by holding down the option key. I forget which disc I chose but what ever I tried using only showed me a gray screen with a circle with a slanted slash in the center. I took this as nothing there. I researched this on line and it was suggested wiping the hard drive and starting over which I did. This time I bypassed the restore by Time Machine and all went well.
Then I tried restoring from TM once again and the same damn thing happened. I was disappointed to say the least. So once again I did the wiping and went through the process another time.
It well well and right now feeling like I have a new computer! I was running Catalina and could have went straight to Sequoia but decided not be greedy and settled on Monterey which was labeled as being very stable with no glitches. It's great but my files and stuff are still in my external hd.
So my question is, will restoring clash with what I did with the patcher or should it have nothing to do with restoring? If it should work, what am I doing wrong? Is there another way to restore that will work?
I would appreciate any advice offered.

 

[Barnclos]

I had similar/same problem and, after quite a bit of searching, I found this article.

Restoring Time Machine backup | OpenCore Legacy Patcher

The article suggests two possible methods to overcome the problem. I chose Method 2 and it worked first time.

This method includes reverting some root patches, and one of the effects of this is that the display can be slow and look a little odd. These effects disappear once the TimeMachine restore is complete and the root patches are reinstalled.

Good luck.

p.s. I don’t think it is relevant, but I was installing sequoia on a late 2015 27” iMac.

 

[T140V]

I had similar/same problem and, after quite a bit of searching, I found this article.

Restoring Time Machine backup | OpenCore Legacy Patcher

The article suggests two possible methods to overcome the problem. I chose Method 2 and it worked first time.

This method includes reverting some root patches, and one of the effects of this is that the display can be slow and look a little odd. These effects disappear once the TimeMachine restore is complete and the root patches are reinstalled.

Good luck.

p.s. I don’t think it is relevant, but I was installing sequoia on a late 2015 27” iMac.

Thanks for the assist Barnclos.
Trying to understand which of the two methods is best for me. Based on your options, number two sounds like the one if you’re NOT up and running Monterey after OCLP install and your in the setting up process.
Since I’m up and running after OCLP, sounds like option one is what I should do with patches installed.
If thats right, I have a question for you. What would be those other files other than applications, desktop and documents?
If this is a lame question I apologize as mentioned Im not extremely savvy with this stuff.

 

[Barnclos]

i am not an expert in OCLP or restoring back-ups, so I have just followed instructions. Nonetheless, I’ll give you my opinion (that’s what the interweb is for 😉).

The good news is that you have Monterey running, so you’re almost there.

Full disclosure, method 1 wasn’t a suggestion when I had my problem, so I didn’t have to face a choice. However, I probably would have chosen 2 anyway:
- I don’t know what the ‘other’ files are. There may be nothing in the ‘other’ files that I needed, but to avoid uncertainty I’d have gone for the full restore.
- Reverting the root patches (and reinstalling the after the Time Machine restore) takes less than a minute. It’s not like the OS install and TM restore that take several minutes.

Having said all of the above, you can try Method 1 first. If everything works fine, great. If you find you’re missing some important files, you can switch to method 2 and restore everything.

 

[T140V]

i am not an expert in OCLP or restoring back-ups, so I have just followed instructions. Nonetheless, I’ll give you my opinion (that’s what the interweb is for 😉).

The good news is that you have Monterey running, so you’re almost there.

Full disclosure, method 1 wasn’t a suggestion when I had my problem, so I didn’t have to face a choice. However, I probably would have chosen 2 anyway:
- I don’t know what the ‘other’ files are. There may be nothing in the ‘other’ files that I needed, but to avoid uncertainty I’d have gone for the full restore.
- Reverting the root patches (and reinstalling the after the Time Machine restore) takes less than a minute. It’s not like the OS install and TM restore that take several minutes.

Having said all of the above, you can try Method 1 first. If everything works fine, great. If you find you’re missing some important files, you can switch to method 2 and restore everything.

I’ll give it a go. If it doesn’t work no biggie as I was considering a new Mac before hearing about OCLP.
One last question and I’ll let you go.
The Time Machine back up
that was last updated on 8/8/25 sitting in my external is still good if I restore to a
new Mac right?

 

[Barnclos]

I’ll give it a go. If it doesn’t work no biggie as I was considering a new Mac before hearing about OCLP.
One last question and I’ll let you go.
The Time Machine back up
that was last updated on 8/8/25 sitting in my external is still good if I restore to a
new Mac right?

Yes, TM backup will be good on a new machine.

 

[T140V]

Yes, TM backup will be good on a new machine.

Just wanted to thank you for
your assistance with my issue. The second process where you remove root patches then restore worked out very well. Whats really cool is that OCLP was right there after I restored from Time Machine backup asking if I wanted to reinstall the patches. I didn’t even have to open it! Looks like the old 2012 iMac lives to see other days.

 

[Barnclos]

Just wanted to thank you for
your assistance with my issue. The second process where you remove root patches then restore worked out very well. Whats really cool is that OCLP was right there after I restored from Time Machine backup asking if I wanted to reinstall the patches. I didn’t even have to open it! Looks like the old 2012 iMac lives to see other days.

Great, I’m glad you got things working how you wanted.
I updated my OS (with OCLP) to solve a software problem. It was supposed to be a temporary fix but, 12 months later, I feel no great urgency to get a new Mac.