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nstarksen88

Q: Problems With Migration Assistant & Time Capsule

I recently purchased a new Macbook Pro and have been having tons of trouble getting my backups.  Let me tell you the order of events.

 

I plugged in my Time Capsule via Ethernet and turned on the brand new computer.  Using Set-Up Assistant I selected "from another Disk" (or whatever it says), and my Time Capsule was listed.  I then selected it and clicked continue.  It got stuck on the next page saying "looking for other computers" with a spinning wheel.  I tried this repeatedly by turning off the computer, reinstalling the OS, with no luck.  So I decided to just boot it with a new user.

 

After booting the computer as a new user, I opened Migration Assistant hoping to get it to work that way.  I went through all of the neccesary steps, it again listed my Time Capsule, but when I click continue, the only thing that happens is the "continue" button goes from blue to grey.  I let this sit overnight, and...nothing.

 

I rebooted the computer in Recovery and chose to open from a Time Machine Backup.  This was the most promising, I got a list of backups.  The problem was that it only shows complete backups, so the most recent was in February.  So it is missing 3 months of information.  But I decided to boot this one because at least it is something.

 

I then went back to migration assistant, with no luck.

 

I then used Disk Utility to repair the Time Machine drive.  And it told me that the drive appears to be ok.

 

So I went back to migration assistant to try again, and of course no luck.  I read that some people were able to just click the grey continue and it worked, not for me, I tried that as well.

 

The other odd thing is that I am able to open the sparsebundle and get to all of the files.  So I know that there is nothing wrong with the backups.

 

Any thoughts on what is going wrong here?

MacBook Pro, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Jun 2, 2013 3:14 PM

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Q: Problems With Migration Assistant & Time Capsule

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  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 3, 2013 3:56 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 3, 2013 3:56 PM in response to nstarksen88

    Ah, well, in that case, while I'm thinking about it, here's the scoop on what I'd like you to do to file a bug report. 

    All on the old Mac, of course.

     

     

    RUN THE DIAGNOSTICS


    Turn Time Machine OFF, but keep the TC selected as the backup destination. 

     

    Connect to the TC, but obviously don't do any backups.

     

    Copy and paste this into Terminal:

     

         sudo tmdiagnose -f ~/Desktop

     

    and press Return. You'll be prompted for your Admin password (which won't be displayed).  Press Return again.

     

    You'll see an explanatory note, then press Return again to actually run the command.

     

    That will run a whole series of commands, and take a few minutes.  Here's a sample of the beginning of what you'll see:

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-03 at 6.39.47 PM.png

     

    When it's done, it will put a zip file on your Desktop containing all the output.  Keep it somewhere safe so you can attach it to the bug report.

     

    Also please copy or move the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file from /Library/Preferences somewhere safe, too.  There's a copy in the diagnostic package for Apple, but I'd like you to email the copy to me so I can take a look, too.

     

     

    TO FILE THE BUG REPORT

     

    See the green box in Reporting a Problem to Apple.

     

    Be as clear and concise as possible:  the main thing is, while you never excluded anything via the Preferences Window, TM did not back up System or Library.    The diagnostic package doesn't seem to show that, so please include a screenshot of the backups in question via the Finder, illustrating which folders were, and were not, backed-up.

     

    Also attach the diagnostic report, of course.

     

    You probably won't hear back from them for a few weeks or months, but you might get a request for more info.  Eventually you should get some sort of answer, but maybe just that they're closing your report because they've already identified the problem and are working on it.  They won't tell you when it's fixed, though. 

     

     

    ALSO . . .

     

    Please send the preferences file above to me, at the address on my Contact page.  I'd like to take a look at it, too.

     

    Message was edited by: Pondini

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 3, 2013 5:06 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 3, 2013 5:06 PM in response to Pondini

    P.S.:  when you file the Bug Report, please send me the number.

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 4, 2013 12:34 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 4, 2013 12:34 PM in response to nstarksen88

    PPS:  On your Bug Report, be sure to make it clear that once you replaced the preferences file, the folders were backed-up. 

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 5, 2013 8:03 AM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 5, 2013 8:03 AM in response to nstarksen88

    PPPS:  Also please include the link to our main discussion:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5080333 in your Bug Report.

     

    That's where I'm posting our findings.

     

    Thanks!

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 8:30 AM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:30 AM in response to Pondini

    Ok, so I got my old computer back and swapped over all of the applications, setting, etc.  That worked perfect.

     

    Then I plugged into the Time Capsule to transfer over the user home folder.  When I did, I was given this message.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 8.15.15 AM.png

     

    I hit "Authenticate" because I didn't want to cancel.  It then took a few minutes a "prepare."  Once it did, I was given this message

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 8.27.53 AM.png

     

    I just hit continue.  After about 30 of 120 Gigs, I get this message.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 8.13.58 AM.png

     

    Any thoughts?  The only other alternative is to try it as a root user because roots can make changes to users.  But I am not sure if this will work, or if there is a better alternative.

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 6, 2013 9:17 AM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 9:17 AM in response to nstarksen88

    nstarksen88 wrote:

     

    Ok, so I got my old computer back and swapped over all of the applications, setting, etc.  That worked perfect.

    Yay! 

     

    Then I plugged into the Time Capsule to transfer over the user home folder.  When I did, I was given this message.

    . . .

    I hit "Authenticate" because I didn't want to cancel. 

    Should be ok. 

     

     

    It then took a few minutes a "prepare."  Once it did, I was given this message

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 8.27.53 AM.png

     

    I just hit continue.

    Also should be ok.  I really think it does that so you know the next one may be coming and don't walk away, or panic when you see it. 

     

    After about 30 of 120 Gigs, I get this message.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 8.13.58 AM.png

     

    Any thoughts? 

    Did it leave the 30 GB it copied, or delete it?  If it's there, you might be able to figure out what it choked on, and maybe pick up there and continue.

     

     

    The only other alternative is to try it as a root user because roots can make changes to users.  But I am not sure if this will work, or if there is a better alternative.

    I think I'd see if the 30 GB, if there, tells me anything, but if not, give root a shot.   Not much to lose besides time.  (If there's something screwy with the permissions, you may end up having to reset them to defaults, but that's no big deal.)

     

    Good luck!

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 5:39 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 5:39 PM in response to Pondini

    Alright, it looks like everything is back!!!  Woohoo.  I had to open up all of the application that have information stored so that they could set themselves up properly (mail, iphoto, etc.).  But now that I have done that, everything appears to be back to normal.

     

    Now I will get the Time Machine set back up.  Then work on the bug report.

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 5:41 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 5:41 PM in response to Pondini

    Pondini wrote:

     

    When we're ready (not yet!) and you do the first backup, you should get a prompt asking if you want the new Mac to "inherit" the old backups.  If so, they'll be changed so they look like they were made from the new one, TM will only back up the changes, and everything will be the way it should.

     

    Just to clarify, am I ready to do this yet?  Or is there more I need to do first?

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 6, 2013 5:41 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 5:41 PM in response to nstarksen88

    nstarksen88 wrote:

     

    Alright, it looks like everything is back!!!  Woohoo.

    Terrific! 

     

    Then work on the bug report.

    No great hurry.  You can even take the rest of the day off, if you want. 

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 6, 2013 5:52 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 5:52 PM in response to nstarksen88

    nstarksen88 wrote:

    . . .

    Just to clarify, am I ready to do this yet?  Or is there more I need to do first?

    Since you lost /Library (where the prefs file is), you'll have to set TM up again, of course.

     

    Since you transferred Computer Settings via Migration Assistant, when the first backup gets started (not when you set TM up, oddly enough), you should get the "inherit" prompt. 

     

    If you don't, and it starts backing up the whole drive, you'll have to cancel the backup and do it manually, per #B6.

     

    The "preparing" and backup will take a while, but should only back up what's new or changed since the one you restored; in your case, of course, that's the System, Library, and /private folders, so somewhere in the 10-15 GB range, I'd guess.  

     

    It will seem quite slow, per GB, since it's backing up a gazillion mostly small files.

     

    Keep us posted!

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Pondini

    Pondini wrote:

     

    The "preparing" and backup will take a while, but should only back up what's new or changed since the one you restored; in your case, of course, that's the System, Library, and /private folders, so somewhere in the 10-15 GB range, I'd guess. 

     

    It just finished "setting up" but now it says it is backing up 172 Gigs.  So...the whole drive...

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 6, 2013 8:42 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:42 PM in response to nstarksen88

    I take it no prompt?

     

    Not too surprising, with all the back-and-forth.

     

    Cancel it and do the "inheritbackup" and "associatedisk" manually, per #B6.

     

    Then run another backup and it should behave.

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 8:43 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:43 PM in response to Pondini

    Pondini wrote:

     

    I take it no prompt?

     

    Ohh yeah, I forgot to clarify.  I did ask, and I did inherit.  Which is why I am confused.

  • by Pondini,

    Pondini Pondini Jun 6, 2013 8:46 PM in response to nstarksen88
    Level 8 (38,747 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:46 PM in response to nstarksen88

    Drat. 

     

    Take a look at the messages.  Either filter in Console for backupd, or use the widget in #A1 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting.  There may be a clue . . .

  • by nstarksen88,

    nstarksen88 nstarksen88 Jun 6, 2013 8:49 PM in response to Pondini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 8:49 PM in response to Pondini

    Sorry, can you clarify these.  I downloaded the widget, but it doesn't show anything in the log.  And I'm not sure what you mean by the Console option.

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