restore from Time Machine backup

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Level 1

127 points

restore from Time Machine backup

I bought a new 2022 M2 MacBook Air so I wanted to move all my stuff from my old late 2013 Macbook Pro (OS 11.7.1) onto it. I researched it some and had a few possibilities in mind. I ended up doing it but now the Macbook Pro is abit screwed up. I ended up installing from my Time Machine backup onto the Data volume. I want to fix that so that it was like it was before I had to reinstall the OS and ended up like this.

Here’s a pic from Disk Utility that shows what it looks like now:

This is what it used to look like...

My desktop on the Macbook Pro now has two HD icons… Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data

The Macintosh HD one has zero bytes according to Get Info. I would like to throw that out but will wait for your advice and don’t really need to do anything with it right now...

The Macintosh HD - Data one has everything on it...

What is the easiest way to restore it to how it was set up before?

I have my Time Machine backups on an external drive that can connect (were connected) to the MacBook Pro using an old USB connector (USB A?). I don’t have any cables to connect my Air to my MBP. Everything has to be done over my LAN. That has worked fine. I will get a cable at some point… (USB C to Thunderbolt 2.)

When I tried to do this correctly, I went from using Migration Assistant to being required to reinstall the OS which then sent me back to Migration Assistant (which then wanted me to reinstall the OS…) I don’t remember the exact process that I ended up using now although I could go through lots of written notes if needed.

What would you suggest?

Many thanks.

Cheers,

John

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Dec 4, 2022 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 5, 2022 4:45 AM in response to Owl-53

I guess so. I am not sure how to describe it.

On the plus side, it looks like I have fixed it. I used Disk Utility to get rid of the second volume that was mounting on my desktop, that Data-Data volume (by selecting it and using the minus symbol under Volume.) I then went into Recovery Mode, reinstalled Big Sur as that is what it had before this. Then, also in Recovery Mode, used my Time Machine backup (just the latest backup. One time earlier than this I selected all the backups because I didn't know I had to select just one. That caused the process to fail because I didn't have enough room.) The backup went smoothly and now I have my MBP just the way it was before.

Thank you all.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,307 points

Dec 5, 2022 6:43 AM in response to lipwak

The next step is a harsh move but maybe required to get that " Out of the Box " experience on this machine again.

The link below will guide the suer through the various steps to achieve this.

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings

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Answer 3

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,054 points

Dec 4, 2022 4:40 PM in response to lipwak

When the disc is formatted correctly you will have a Macintosh hD and a data directory. You can start in recovery mode, erase and format the disc to APFS, reinstall the OS (Monterey or Ventura depending what it came with then use TM to restore your data.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 4

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 5, 2022 10:47 AM in response to lipwak

I have found a simple workaround... I made an alias of the Mac HD. I then changed the Finder preferences to not show hard disks on the desktop. Now I only have the one icon and my NAS icon is still showing. I might have an external drive connected sometimes so I'm curious if that will show up but there's no need to test that now.

So, that may work for me.

If there is good reason to redo things again I may try that but unless there is something I am forgetting, this new solution may be all I need.

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Answer 5

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,054 points

Dec 10, 2022 6:48 AM in response to lipwak

Using Time Machine you can try to restore your mail boxes:

To restore mailbox:

Open Finder

Click “GO” in top menu bar then click option key

Open mail folder

Open Vx folder (X will be a number, only one exists)

Then find the folders labeled with cryptic titles (at this point you could open TM if you want to go back in time)

Look down through those folders to find a mailbox (note: there may be more than one with same label).

If it contains email you want you can copy to desktop

Go back into mail and import that folder from your desktop

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Answer 6

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 5, 2022 5:34 AM in response to Owl-53

Well, I spoke too soon. I now have a Macintosh HD - Data volume on my desktop. It is 15 gb. Disk Utility shows this:

It appears to be where the operating system is...

Help! What did I do wrong? Given the choice to install the operating system on two volumes, I chose the non-Data one and it ended up on one anyway...

I suppose I could live with this as I have moved on to my new Macbook Air but it would be nice if I could get this back to being normal. Thanks.

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Answer 7

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 5, 2022 10:09 AM in response to Owl-53

Sigh. I thought I had it when it had finished restoring. I didn't see a HD - Data icon on my desktop so I rebooted to see what would happen. On reboot, the HD - Data icon appeared. It has 15 gb according to Get Info. (Just in the System folder. All other folders are empty.) The Macintosh HD icon Get Info has the 347 gb of my data on it as I would expect it to have.

When I erased as per Apple's instructions here (Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support) I was hoping that erasing the volume group would be the key to my success.

I can live with this second unwanted HD icon as I don't really need to use the old Mac anymore but if there is a way to get rid of it, I'm still game. I'm glad my Time Machine backups are holding up...

What do you think?

Thanks very much for your help.

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Answer 8

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 9, 2022 8:04 PM in response to lipwak

I posted a fix but Apple removed it because, as far as I can tell, I included a link to a site they don't like, that had the answer of how to fix the HD-Data icon showing up. I won't post that again but I will say it is fixed, as far as I can tell. I ejected the icon, then used Disk Utility to delete the volume. It hasn't come back on reboot, yet...

Now, my next problem is to get all my mail back. I have nothing in my Inbox, Drafts or Sent mailboxes. All other mail got restored. Any ideas on how to fix that? (I use POP3 with Gmail. Works great...) Thanks.

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Answer 9

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 10, 2022 9:37 AM in response to tbirdvet

I'm not getting a step.

You say to go to Go and then click option. OK.

Open Mail folder.

Where?

I know option clicking Go will allow me to find hidden files when I "go to folder" there. Typing in Mail doesn't find the Mail folder.

I attached my Time Machine drive and tried to go back and it only shows today's backup (which wasn't done today...) Using Migration Assistant I've seen backups for many days so I assume they are still there. They're just not showing up when I enter Time Machine now...

I will look for the Vx folder other ways and try the rest of the steps. I'm sure it can be done.

Thanks.

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Answer 10

lipwak Author

Level 1

127 points

Dec 10, 2022 4:56 PM in response to lipwak

Update: If I enable my main Gmail acount the inbox and drafts appear. Haven't gotten Sent mail to appear but that's ok. I moved all that was in my Inbox to the various folders I have for old mail. I can live with having to enable the account if I need to see what's in the drafts but I probably won't need to.

What's with having to enable the account to see mail that I have received/drafted? (As I say, this is a POP3 account...) I kinda don't want to have it enabled so I don't accidentally download any mail to this old Mac but I guess I can live with this. (Weird that it didn't replenish my sent mail... I have no idea how much was in there at the time I switched over. Not a big deal...)

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