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restore backup from time machine

C

calabi

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 28, 2007
159
3
hi there, i've been backing up time machine for a while now but never done a restore, just wanted some advice!

my laptop has just gone away for repair, when it is back, it will almost certainly have a new hard disk and fresh install of leopard.

i have only been backing up my /home/user directory and wanted to know if when i restore from the migration assistant will it restore all my itunes settings? or will this be a bit of a problem?
 
calabi said:
hi there, i've been backing up time machine for a while now but never done a restore, just wanted some advice!

my laptop has just gone away for repair, when it is back, it will almost certainly have a new hard disk and fresh install of leopard.

i have only been backing up my /home/user directory and wanted to know if when i restore from the migration assistant will it restore all my itunes settings? or will this be a bit of a problem?
Click to expand...

Boot your laptop from the Leopard install DVD then from the drop down menu select restore from time machine, chose the backup you want and your mac is the same as it was before.

It worked for me once with no problems or lose of anything at all.
 
do i do this even if i was only backing up my /home/user directory?
 
im not sure as ive never done a Time Machine restore but i think restoring a backup from the Install DVD is for a FULL system backup. as the OP is only backing up his/her home directory with Time Machine he/she should restore the Time Machine backup using Migration Assistant in Setup Assistant just after the intro movie plays.
 
Once you've formatted, and set up everything as brand new, will Time Machine allow you to simply drag and drop from the backup hdd? or will folder access be restricted?
 
shiunn said:
Once you've formatted, and set up everything as brand new, will Time Machine allow you to simply drag and drop from the backup hdd? or will folder access be restricted?
Click to expand...

not sure… you can try it if you want! but i would rather do it via the way that Apple intended… that is using the Install Disc or Migration Assistant.
 
I see...
It's just me being overly cautious. I don't know why I have this feeling it's 'cleaner' to copy and paste...
But...I'll stick to migration. thanks!
 
These instructions are from OS X Help.
Recovering your entire system
If you’ve used Time Machine to back up your computer, you can recover your system’s contents if your system or startup disk becomes damaged.

To recover your entire system:


Connect your Time Machine backup disk to your computer.

If you’re restoring your system because of a problem with your startup disk, make sure the disk has been repaired or replaced.


Insert your Mac OS X Install disk, and double-click the Install Mac OS X icon.


In the Installer, choose Utilities > Restore System from Backup.


In the Restore Your System dialog, click Continue.


Select your Time Machine backup volume.


Select the Time Machine backup you want to restore.


Follow the onscreen instructions.
Click to expand...
 
i know i should try it before i ask, but is it possible to only restore certain files? afterall, i like to start afresh after a new install, so I only need my document folders, photos, music, desktop. I dont want the settings to be carried over...
 
if you have backed up your files to a networked external drive can you still restore alongside the osx disk??
 
I recently reinstalled Leopard (erase and install) on my wife's PowerBook and used Migration Assistant to restore her home directory (which is all I had Time Machine backing up) and all her iTunes content and settings were intact.
 
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