Q: iCal data lost after MobileMe to iCloud transfer
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Oct 12, 2011 7:02 PMby Rod_V,The same EXACT same problem here as DJ begining with the duplicates in iCal. Had both MobileMe calendars and iCloud calendars after the successful transfer. Deleted the MobileMe calendars (aparently this was a mistake) and the iCloud calendars disappeared also shortly after. Restored from my iCal backup but after a moment (as soon as it syncs) it reverts back to no data.
I recall in MobileMe Sync there was a setting for forcing one way sync but I can find no such setting in iCloud.
I haven't found a solution yet.
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Oct 13, 2011 1:04 AMby DJ1511,The issue with the backup I had was that it was an "archived" export so I found that when I tried to import it back into iCal, it would bring the old MobileMe settings with it, which would then get overwritten by the iCloud settings and wipe the cal.
This is essentially what I did:
1. Disconnect from Internet (so iCloud cannot interfere)
2. Import archived backup into iCal (thus re-creating your diary as it was)
3. Export each calendar individually (file-export-export = .ics file for each calendar)
4. Re-connect to the Internet and on iCal app, ensure the account sync creates an iCloud ID within iCal settings (if not, delete the account and using your apple ID, create a "clean startup")
5. Ensure any iCloud calendars are deleted (minimum of 1 must remain so I created "temp").
6. Create new calendar names which match your previously used ones ("work", "personal" etc).
7. Check that the newly created calendars appear across all iCloud devices.
8. (Within iCal) Select file-import and choose your .ics file back up, it will ask you which calendar you want to use, pick the category ("work", "personal" etc) to which the back up applied.
9. Repeat step 8 for as many calendars as you have.
10. After syncing, all devices and the cloud should be showing sync'd calendars.
Good luck
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Oct 13, 2011 6:58 AMby Jigmelingpa,The same thing happened to me, although the only "backup" I have is are the iCal events on my iPhone 3G, which luckily is still running iOS4. Is there any way for me to get the iCal data from my iPhone into iCloud? I shudder to think that I almost lost everything.
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Oct 13, 2011 10:30 AMby Rod_V,Thanks DJ. Looks like we solved the problem basically the same way. I should have checked back here though because your step-by-step instructions are great and could have saved me (and possibly will save others) some valuable time.
For the benefit of others: I was getting hung up between steps 6 and 7. Even though I was deleting my calendars out of iCloud (keeping one dummy/temp calendar of course) I was trying to keep my reminders in place since they sync with some other programs I am using. The problem was they had the same names as my calendars so it was preventing me from creating new calendars in iCloud with those names. I ended up having to delete the reminders also. Once I did that I was all set.
One other note is that if you are like me with very heavily populated calendars, it could take quite a while for all the calendars to sync from iCal to iCloud so be patient.
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Oct 13, 2011 1:21 PMby Jeff Mark,My experience is more similar to this, tho not identical. I didn't have the duplication issue, but no events were displayed on my iMac's copy of iCal. I took a look at my account in Preferences; I clicked "edit account" just to see what happened, and got an error message about a server connection. I looked at some other things, then looked at Prefs again, and my account entry had disappeared! I tried to re-add it, but got an error that "the account alreadsy exists".
This seems to be connected to the general failures that plagued iCloud Mail this morning. That seems to have cleared up, I expect this one will as well, eventually.
It's worth noting that my iCloud calendar is OK, and iCal on my MacBook is OK, as is my iPod Touch. (It, however, is a 2G and thus still on 4.2.1, and presumably MobileMe.) So the data is there, I don't think I need to go through DJ1511's somewhat scary workaround. I just need to get it to sync with my iMac. I've tried unchecking-rechecking Calendar in my iCloud prefs and restarting. So far no change.
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Oct 13, 2011 6:48 PMby lewis.divers,I ran into the duplicates too. Deleted them and now no calendar left after refreshing. Does anyone have a way to restore? So far I am thinking iCloud is an epic fail if it kills everything you have. Oh yeah, I did not back up iCal before converting since everything was on MobileMe before, and nothing shows in any Library files under Lion and Time Capsule
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Oct 15, 2011 5:44 AMby bonzabuy,For the hidden library thing in Lion I found this:
terminal command:
chflags nohidden ~/Library/http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/22/access-user-library-folder-in-os-x-lion/
But essentially if you just search for "Calendars" in time machine you will be presented with the ical calendar files. Unfortunately if you are connected the internet iCLoud will delete them again(and again and again) though.
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Oct 16, 2011 1:35 PMby mac dave,FWIW, I did exactly what I was supposed to do which was export a back up first before the upgrade. So I should be able to just open that, and problem solved right? Wrong. I can't beleive this. I have turned off syncing calendars on my phone to save my data from being wiped every where.
The sad thing is that all my addresses were deleted in the change to MobileMe. This is second time Apple has botched the transistion for me. Doesn't instill a deep trust of Apple online services.
