igroucho
Level 1 (4 points)
iPhone

Q: Re-associate new mac with Time Machine backup

I have got a new MacBook and I want to load it with a TM backup residing on a USB drive. I know this cannot be done unless hacking the terminal because TM associates the backup between MAC addresses. I have searched the web where I have learnt this fact and how to go about fixing it but I cannot get the commands to work for me. Can someone tell me what I do wrong?

My new computers name as in Sharing prefs is MyMacbook.

Putting this name into the line:

$ xattr -p com.apple.backupd.BackupMachineAddress MyMac

gives me "No such file" !!

PLEASE help!

(this has taken a good part of my last 2 days and why there aint a simple procedure to fix this provided by Apple is beyond me as this scenario cannot be rare?)

macbook, PM dual G5 2.0 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 7:48 AM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (207,995 points)
Applications
A:

If you're running 10.6, I don't know of any other way to continue using a backup set on a new Mac. You have to run Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. The easiest thing to do is to start over.

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 4:26 PM

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igroucho

Q: Re-associate new mac with Time Machine backup

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 4, 2012 9:00 AM in response to igroucho
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 4, 2012 9:00 AM in response to igroucho

    Time Machine - Troubleshooting B5. Would you like to inherit (or re-use) the backup . . . ?

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 4, 2012 12:09 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 4, 2012 12:09 PM in response to Linc Davis

    That looks easy enough problem is I don't get to these options. I've tried both Migration & Set up A but in both cases I will first land at a window asking if I want to transfer information from a Mac, PS, TM backup copy etc which is what I choose. Via an authorization window next up will be 2 choices of which I pick "From a TM security  copy etc"  whereby I get to a window showing me drives on my network but NOT the drive connected to the USB-port on which I have my TM backup (or the one backup I want to transfer info from). This drive has been checked and passed both by TechTools Pro 6.04 and DU and it shows on my desktop. So what gives and how do I get to those options showed on the referred webpage?

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 4, 2012 12:48 PM in response to igroucho
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 4, 2012 12:48 PM in response to igroucho

    First, the prompt to reuse or inherit the old backup set appears only when you make the first backup after migrating. You haven't gotten there yet.

     

    Is the volume you want to restore from selectable as a backup destination?

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 4, 2012 1:26 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 4, 2012 1:26 PM in response to Linc Davis

    yes

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 4, 2012 1:34 PM in response to igroucho
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 4, 2012 1:34 PM in response to igroucho

    Please refer to this page and indicate where things go wrong:

     

    Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC Using Setup Assistant on Lion

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 4, 2012 4:18 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 4, 2012 4:18 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I am willing to start all over if that's the best option. My old mac was set up in 3 user accounts, my own "admin" account and one for my lady + a guest ahccount. If I'm understanding these instructions right my safest way would be the set up option instead of later the Migration Assistent way. The downside will be a backup of ALL system files etc so it will

    be no clean slate as far as system concerned. But the mac will look pretty much as before?

    So wiping the drive, install Snow Leopard from the dvd coming with the MB, trying to restore from TM backup using Set up assistent and go further with Lion.

    I will look through the instructions and have them at hand to follow them letter by letter. I will let you know how it went. Thanks really much so far....

     

    Or do you have a different proposal?

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 4, 2012 4:26 PM in response to igroucho
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 4, 2012 4:26 PM in response to igroucho

    If you're running 10.6, I don't know of any other way to continue using a backup set on a new Mac. You have to run Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. The easiest thing to do is to start over.

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 4, 2012 11:23 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 4, 2012 11:23 PM in response to Linc Davis

    As of now I'm runnin Lion but I've got there installing SL from the discs coming with the machine, upgrading to 10.6.6 to open up App store to get wheäre I am now.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 5, 2012 7:22 AM in response to igroucho
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 5, 2012 7:22 AM in response to igroucho

    It's possible in Lion to force a backup set to be inherited by a new machine, but I don't see the point. You can still access the old snapshots if necessary, and you won't be saving any disk space, because the first backup will copy all files anyway.

     

    What I suggest instead is that you set aside your backup drive for now, and start a new backup set on another drive. You need more than one backup anyway. When you're reasonably sure you'll no longer need the data on the old drive, erase it and start over. Switch between drives periodically.

     

    Remember, Time Machine is not for long-term archiving of data you intend to keep. It gives you a variable window of time during which to restore corrupt or missing data that you might discover on the source volume.

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Feb 5, 2012 4:35 PM in response to igroucho
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Feb 5, 2012 4:35 PM in response to igroucho

    igroucho wrote:

    . . .

    "From a TM security  copy etc" 

    It should be "From Time Machine or other disk."   Do not select "From another Mac."

     

    I get to a window showing me drives on my network but NOT the drive connected to the USB-port on which I have my TM backup

    The display can be a bit misleading.  If it shows a yellow or green icon, and the name of the computer and internal HD that was backed-up (not the disk it's on), those are your backups.

     

    This drive has been checked and passed both by TechTools Pro 6.04 and DU and it shows on my desktop.

    Do you mean Repair Disk (not permissions) via Disk Utility?

     

    Are the backups full backups -- ie, with nothing major, like System files and Applications, excluded?

     

     

     

     

    EDIT:  If you don't get the prompt, you may be able to manually "inherit" the backups, per #B6 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting. 

     

    Message was edited by: Pondini

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 6, 2012 9:27 AM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 6, 2012 9:27 AM in response to Pondini

    Problem fixed sorta. I erased the disk, made a Lion-dvd and installed OS from scratch upon restart I was presented with options among which I choose to continue using old TM backup file. If understood correctly this meant I was cloning the mac just as it was before, although the whole meaning w this adventure was to do a fresh OS-install since the machine was runnin so excruciatingly slow although all kinds of service/repairs (DU volume&disk repair, permissions, TechTool volume repair as well as DiskWarrior disk directory fix - no go (RAM 4gb and 100 gb free on a 500gb drive mind you).

    Even tried reinstalling the system on the old one.

    What I'd like to do is to do a fresh OS install and after this have all my ole settings, files, user accounts from a backup. I guess now I have my old system runnin..?

     

    Anyway thanks for all help, this community is truly great!

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Feb 6, 2012 10:11 AM in response to igroucho
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Feb 6, 2012 10:11 AM in response to igroucho

    igroucho wrote:

     

    Problem fixed sorta. I erased the disk, made a Lion-dvd and installed OS from scratch upon restart I was presented with options among which I choose to continue using old TM backup file. If understood correctly this meant I was cloning the mac just as it was before,

    How did you get your data back on the drive?  If you used Setup Assistant, when it first booted up, and selected From Time Machine or other disk on this screen:

     

    shapeimage_5.png

     

    that copied everything except OSX, so the version you installed is still there.  See Using Setup Assistant on Lion.

    What I'd like to do is to do a fresh OS install and after this have all my ole settings, files, user accounts from a backup.

    It sounds like that's exactly what you did.

     

    If not, please clarify.

  • by igroucho,

    igroucho igroucho Feb 6, 2012 10:54 AM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 6, 2012 10:54 AM in response to Pondini

    I chose "From TM or other disk". I got the impression from the procedure that maybe I just cloned the entire previous setup incl OS but I'm glad now that you say I didn't following thios procedure.

    Everything runs better now though this machine still has only 2 GB RAM - will max out RAM soon. Waiting for OWC shipments ...

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Feb 6, 2012 11:15 AM in response to igroucho
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Feb 6, 2012 11:15 AM in response to igroucho

    igroucho wrote:

    . . .

    Everything runs better now though this machine still has only 2 GB RAM - will max out RAM soon. Waiting for OWC shipments ...

    Yes, doubling the RAM should help . . . 2 GB is the minimum.   If you don't do much, it's acceptable, but anything even medium-duty should be faster.