cindyjj
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: restoring macbook

Sorry to seem to ask the same question ten times, but I need to ask again.  I need to give some background so I don't end up with the same issue.

 

My macbook late 2011 was almost full - 485 GB of 500 used.  It also had an issue with the sound which wouldn't repair.  Someone suggested reinstalling the operating system.  It came with Lion, but I had upgraded to Mountain Lion several months ago.  I can't remember how I got Mountain Lion - it seems I probably purchased it, received a code, then downloaded it.  I can't find any of that in my emails or anything.  So, I first did a time machine backup of all 485 GB.  I then  tried to reinstall the operating system and after some glitches, received an error message that my HD was damaged and could not be repaired.  So then I purchased a new HD and just installed it today.  I did command R to get the operating system and Lion was the default OS X.

 

Now, I'm not sure how to get what I need via the time machine backup.  If I do the entire thing, Mountain Lion might install which I do not want in case it is corrupt - it was suggested previously that that could be the problem with the sound. (btw the sound is now repaired with the new HD and Lion installed)  I don't need every single thing from the back up - but I do need my Office programs, all of my documents, iTunes etc.  I just tried to retrieve those from the back up and don't really know how to do it.  Could you tell me the best way to retrieve the files I need step by step.  Like how to I initiate the process and then what?

 

After that, I need to know some possible ways to find Mountain Lion.  When I go to App Store and Purchases, it said no purchases. There's no point purchasing it again if it should be accessible somewhere.

 

Again, sorry to request this information again.  I'm a bit stressed out from various things.  

MacBook Pro, iOS 9

Posted on Jan 23, 2016 6:48 PM

Close
cindyjj

Q: restoring macbook

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Jan 25, 2016 6:48 AM in response to cindyjj
    Community Specialists
    Jan 25, 2016 6:48 AM in response to cindyjj

    Howdy cindyjj,

     

    It sounds like you have Lion installed and want to start recovering your data from your Time Machine backup. First if you wish you can reinstall Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store from your Purchases list. See the "Redownload an app" section in the following article to get that downloaded and installed:

     

    Download your past purchases

     

    The reason that you did not see Mountain Lion after you replaced your hard drive was that the new drive did not have a recovery partition on it, which is typically where the Mac OS gets reinstalled from, so it downloaded Lion from whats called Internet Recovery. Here's some more info on that if you're interested in reading about it:

     

    OS X: About OS X Recovery

     

    Once you installed Lion on the computer the recovery partition was recreated, and now if you wish you can upgrade back to Mountain Lion to get back to where you were. Once that is done you can use the Migration Assistant to move the files and applications you backed up with Time Machine back to the computer with the new hard drive. This article will help you get that done:

     

    Move your content to a new Mac

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities, take care!

  • by cindyjj,

    cindyjj cindyjj Jan 25, 2016 8:52 PM in response to judysings
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 25, 2016 8:52 PM in response to judysings

    It seems that Migration Assistant and/or time machine restore do not actually function as easily as they say.  Several of the apps I want to restore simply won't.  I get error message saying  "The installation is flawed.  Please reinstall" for Office and Dragon Dictate. I suppose this is because the product key does not exist in the new hard drive?  Internet explorer doesn't work either.  Skype worked. So it really isn't as easy as loading everything from the old drive onto the new. 

     

    One thing that is most perplexing is this:  when I select one application in my applications folder to restore - I right click and ALL of the apps try to make their way to my desktop (where I designate them to go for now) with a white circle with line through on top of them.  When I try to cancel this the "stopping" bar continues indefinitely and I have to shut my computer off with the button.  Can you explain this because I will soon need some of those apps and want to restore them individually as I require them.

     

    I'd also like to restore my desktop background and other settings.  Library seems to have restored, but my desktop background did not.

  • by sterling r,

    sterling r sterling r Jan 28, 2016 12:01 PM in response to cindyjj
    Community Specialists
    Jan 28, 2016 12:01 PM in response to cindyjj

    Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issueyou may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources such as AppleCare - Contact Apple Support