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gorilly

macrumors member
Original poster
May 30, 2008
32
0
London, UK
Hi

I've never used time machine before.

I want to start using it to beck up my mbp.

I'd like to know if time machine can be used in disaster situations....

For example if my mbp was stolen and i bought another one - could i restore it via time machine...

How limited to hardware changes is time machine? So for example if my mbp was stolen and i got an imac or mac pro, will it restore?

no idea how it works so these questions might be silly but just wanted to check if i needed a ghosting program aswell as time machine...

cheers

mike
 
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I don't think you would have a problem. You may have to install some of your software but other than that your personal files/data should come back just fine.
 
Time Machine backs up the whole system, so all your files and the drivers. if you get a new Mac a restore wouldnt work as each Mac has a tailored install with the appropriate drivers.

say your Mac got stolen and you got a new one from your insurance with the exact specs you could then restore from your Time Machine backup. but dont quote me on this one as im not 100% sure.

its basically an incremental backup for files and you can restore everything on a new hard drive if your hard drive dies.
 
if you want a really good backup that will hardware-independent, made a clone of your harddrive using Carbon Copy Cloner. The clone can be restored to a new harddrive regardless of what computer it's in. Time Machine is really best for individual files, not the entire system.
 
if you want a really good backup that will hardware-independent, made a clone of your harddrive using Carbon Copy Cloner. The clone can be restored to a new harddrive regardless of what computer it's in. Time Machine is really best for individual files, not the entire system.

so you are able to restore files from one mac to another with time machine... i assumed it needed the SAME mac to restore... more like a restore / VSS with windows xp.

thanks, ill check out carbon copy too
 
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