MIgration assistant doesn't detect my Time Machine external drive

Question

MIgration assistant doesn't detect my Time Machine external drive

Hello.

I just upgraded to Snow Leopard (cleaning first the Mac HD).
After installing SL, I then used the Migration assistant to restore all my previous files and applications previously backed up with Time Machine.
In the Migration Assistant I selected the Time Machine option, and my surprise was not to find my external hard drive in the hard drives list. The only drive that appeared on the list was the Mac HD.
The external Hard Drive can be selected with the finder but not possible though the Migration assistant.
Note: External HD has 2 partitions, one for Time Machine and other with extra data.
PLease help!!!!

Thanks

Pedro

Macbook 2,0 Hz, 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.6), 80 Gb Hard Disk

Posted on Sep 28, 2009 2:49 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Sep 28, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Pedro Fernandez Diaz-Guevara

is the external drive directly plugged into the computer using USB or firewire? did you back up while it was connected directly or did you do remote backups over network?

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Answer 2

BabsVa

Level 1

0 points

Sep 29, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Pedro Fernandez Diaz-Guevara

I am in the same situation as the OP. My files are on a backup drive that is connected to the computer via USB and it will show up on the desktop yet not through Migration Assistant.

Appreciate any advice.

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Answer 3

Oct 6, 2009 6:37 PM in response to BabsVa

Says answered but no solution here. Any help?

much thanks

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Answer 4

Oct 11, 2009 5:23 AM in response to Rippeddisc

Issue was that the external hd was formatted in a different scheme. Needed to back up to a drive formatted the same way (guid) that the internal hd is in. Lucky I had a spare external floating around.

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Answer 5

E1A1

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2009 11:54 PM in response to Pedro Fernandez Diaz-Guevara

Hi - I am trying to use Migration Assistant on a MacBook Pro to transfer my files from a La Cie external hard drive - which has all my files back up from a 2005 mac book (photos, music etc) The migration assistant does not recognise the LaCie Hard Drive although it is connected to the MacBook via a cable and I can see it on the desk top.

What did the last response mean when the hard drive needed to be formatted a certain way ? Why wouldn't migration assistant just recognise the files directly from an old mac ?

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