How to retrieve files in Time Machine for a failed external drive

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Level 1

4 points

How to retrieve files in Time Machine for a failed external drive

Hey everyone,

I'm a fairly new MAC user. I have (had) all my music on an external hard drive and was backing that up along with my iMac's hard drive thru Time Machine. Well my external hard drive failed. I bought a new one, and I want to get all the music that hopefully was backed up with Time Machine to move to new drive but can't seem to find it. I'm sure I am missing something, but it seems that since my old mounted external drive is no longer mounted Time Machine doesn't allow me to find the files that were backed up on th failed drive.

Please help, b/c I have over 40 GB of music I don't want to lose.

Thanks,
Mike

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 15, 2009 5:51 AM

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Answer 1

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Matt Clifton

Level 7

29,975 points

Jan 15, 2009 6:21 AM in response to mrm312

Hi Mike

Is the new drive a) formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and b) named exactly the same as the old drive? If the drive is called something different, TM won't pick it up.

Matt

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Answer 2

mrm312 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2009 6:27 AM in response to Matt Clifton

Hey Matt, to be honest I haven't set up the new drive yet I was just trying to find the files from the old failed drive first through Time machine. Assuming based on your response, I can't do this?

So if I name the new drive same as the old, I should be able to get to the files on Time Machine?

Also, yes the new drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I learned that lesson with the first external HD.

Thanks for your help...
Mike

Message was edited by: mrm312

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Answer 3

Jan 15, 2009 6:37 AM in response to mrm312

Right - the TM window will only show you files that belong to the volumes that you have attached right now - so, your internal drive will show up, but until you re-attach the new drive (with the old name), TM won't display its files. It's one of the limitations of the Time Machine interface.

Matt

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Answer 4

mrm312 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2009 7:04 AM in response to Matt Clifton

OK...easy enough. Agreed that is a pretty big limitation. Will try when i get home from work.

Thanks Matt!

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Answer 5

mrm312 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Thanks Matt that did the trick. Appreciate your help with this.

Mike

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