Can I restore

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Level 1

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Can I restore

I'm thinking of buying a new Mac, and since I've been keeping up with regular Time Machine backups, I thought that maybe I can start my new Mac up with my Time Machine backups. Can I use a Time Machine backup to transfer all of my files and applications to a new Mac? To clarify, I want a 1:1 copy running on my new Mac.

Thanks!

Macbook 13.3! 1st Gen, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 13, 2010 6:55 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Mar 13, 2010 7:41 PM in response to kaahmfish

Select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "time machine." You will find several articles on how to use Time Machine to do full system restores. See also:

Mac 101- Time Machine;
Mac OS X v10.6- Issues after restoring a Mac from a Time Machine backup made with a different Mac ("…;
User Tips for Time Machine.

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Answer 2

Mar 13, 2010 7:44 PM in response to kaahmfish

kaahmfish wrote:
maybe I can start my new Mac up with my Time Machine backups.

Kappy's suggestion should work, but I think it would be faster to put your old Mac into "target disk mode", connect the two Macs with a FireWire cable (assuming you're not planning to buy a new "white" MacBook, which has no FireWire port), and use Migration Assistant to copy your files and settings over.

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Answer 3

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 13, 2010 9:38 PM in response to kaahmfish

Your best bet is to use +Setup Assistant+ to "transfer" everything from either your old Mac or it's backups. See #19 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum, for detailed instructions and a link to a demonstration.

The +Migration Assistant+ app mentioned by Mr. Boyd is similar, but +Setup Assistant+ is a bit simpler.

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