Time Machine Help PLEASE!

[ash0770]

I have a Late 2011 Macbook Pro with the latest software update installed.

I'm not very knowledgable about Time Machine, I have a 1TB external hard drive that I do a full backup on once a week and that's it.

I started having a problem with my hard drive and was told by an Apple Genius guy that I should NOT restore my whole system, because that would carry on the system file problem he said I had, but just my personal data and I CAN'T figure out how to do that through Time Machine. I'm worried I'll exclude something I should have or include the system files that I actually do need to exclude.

I can't use Migration Assistant for a whole other reason (every time I try to use it, it immediately logs out my computer. I've tried about 10 times to use it, and always get the same result) so I'm stuck with Time Machine.

My insurance expired (of course) so I can't go back to the Apple store help.

I was hoping (praying, begging) someone can give me simple instructions on what to EXCLUDE from my Time Machine backup if all i want to carry over are my Applications, Music, Documents, Downloads, Movies, and Pictures.

I'm sorry if this is a really dumb request. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sky Blue]

just restore the files you want through the time machine interface (Documents, Music etc.).

 

[bingeciren]

It is normal for the Migration Assistant to log you out. This is how it works, nothing is wrong with that, and I suggest you to use the migration assistant with your Time Capsule Backup to selectively retrieve data.

Connect your Backup disk and start the Migration Assistant. The greeting screen will tell you that "All other apps will quit when you click Continue", (see the attachment). I assume, this is what you mean by getting logged out every time you run the Migration Assistant.

Once you click Continue, it will close all applications and ask you to select your source to migrate from. You will have 3 choices. Select the first one: "From a Mac, Time Machine Backup, or Startup Disk".

You will eventually arrive at the "Select the Information to Transfer" screen. De-select everything here and under your own account, select only the items you wish to transfer.

Depending on the amount of data to transfer, this could take some time but eventually you will get what you want.

However, as Sky Blue suggested, you can use the time machine interface to restore just the files you want if you find the Migration Assistant too convoluted.

 

[Altemose]

I have a Late 2011 Macbook Pro with the latest software update installed.

I'm not very knowledgable about Time Machine, I have a 1TB external hard drive that I do a full backup on once a week and that's it.

I started having a problem with my hard drive and was told by an Apple Genius guy that I should NOT restore my whole system, because that would carry on the system file problem he said I had, but just my personal data and I CAN'T figure out how to do that through Time Machine. I'm worried I'll exclude something I should have or include the system files that I actually do need to exclude.

I can't use Migration Assistant for a whole other reason (every time I try to use it, it immediately logs out my computer. I've tried about 10 times to use it, and always get the same result) so I'm stuck with Time Machine.

My insurance expired (of course) so I can't go back to the Apple store help.

I was hoping (praying, begging) someone can give me simple instructions on what to EXCLUDE from my Time Machine backup if all i want to carry over are my Applications, Music, Documents, Downloads, Movies, and Pictures.

I'm sorry if this is a really dumb request. Thanks in advance.

You want the system files. It isn't that much extra space on the backup drive at all, can do a full system restore to an identical state if the hard drive ever fails, etc. Needless to say, you want system files and just let Time Machine do its job.

As for Migration Assistant, what are you trying to do? Migration Assistant is NOT a backup program, but rather a transferring program.