Time Machine 'restores' m1 macOS

Question

Level 1

22 points

Time Machine 'restores' m1 macOS

Hello all,

I have a burning question that could really use some advice/references/resources before SHTF.

Time Machine (TM) changed a lot, to my pea brain, over the years and the last time I tried a ‘system restore’ I ended up restoring nothing from the TM and just reinstalling everything from scratch.

History-I remember, back in the Lion days say, I used to fairly regularly boot into Recovery, plug in my TM, and restore the entire system. But the last time I tried this (with Ventura I think) it no longer worked anything like what I was used to. I’m not even sure all the different things that happened but it was nothing like those Lion days.

What I, trying, to recall about it-I believe the system ‘restored’ the earliest version of Ventura (.0), so I updated to whatever the point was at the time, then I tried to restore from TM but it kept saying something about must use Migration Assistant. So I tried using MA from within the OS on the ‘-Data’ volume and it just kept refusing to restore/migrate any data.

I would like some references from you folks to simplify this process if at all possible for when I need to accomplish this task in the future. Specifically, is there a way to restore not only all user data but system level applications as well (e.g. python, Sonarr, Bazarr, etc.)?

Thank you much!!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Oct 27, 2023 10:06 AM

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Answer 1

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,469 points

Oct 27, 2023 4:21 PM in response to rothnd

With the older OS time machine would include the OS and all your files, apps, etc.. With the later OS time machine no longer has the OS as it only keeps your user data. So when you want to do a complete restore or recovery you will need to first install the latest OS and then use your TM drive to migrate all your user data.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,442 points

Oct 27, 2023 5:11 PM in response to rothnd

So my real question I think is in regards to system level applications. Things like python, php, sonarr, mono,...etc. Are these able to 'migrate' if they're not just in the user account/user level?

The OS is isolated from everything. There is nothing in the System except what Apple puts there. Everything else you install is in the Data volume. If you Migrate apps and settings, those things will be restored. If you just migrate a user, anything in that user will be restored.

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Answer 3

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 27, 2023 10:08 AM in response to rothnd

Just a little update. Had a little time & patience to play today (had, past tense). I took some notes along the way.

Again, this is to 'restore' a 2020 m1 MacBook Air (example) running macOS 14.1. I was setting up new drives today so I made one a tester for this TM stuff before putting it into use.

Notes:

Initialized and Setup new disk for TM (APFS, case sensitive, encrypted)

Ran initial (1) backup of MBA running macOS 14.1

Booted into Recovery Options

(DID NOT ERASE FIRST)

Selected Restore from Time Machine

3 alerts here:

"Restoring will erase the selected destination disk"

- thoughts: 'restoring will erase...' - that is the general idea/goal

"Use Migration Assistant to restore to a new computer"

- if this were a 'new computer' I might be more inclined to do so but since this is a backup of a very much existing computer, why can't it just restore?

"To restore individual files use Time Machine in the Finder"

- sure, if I wanted to restore 'individual files', trying to restore an entire system here.

Restore from… only allows source ".. HD - Data"; Selected it and got a message “You must use Migration Assistant to transfer data from this backup. Reinstall macOS if necessary and then use Migration Assistant to transfer data from your backup. With options to: install macOS or Choose Other Backup

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,442 points

Oct 27, 2023 5:31 PM in response to rothnd

If you restore a user, all of the user account is restored.

If you restore apps, all of the apps with their configuration data is restored.

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Answer 5

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 27, 2023 4:28 PM in response to tbirdvet

Ok. I understand your explanation. I liked it the previous way but... I get it.

So my real question I think is in regards to system level applications. Things like python, php, sonarr, mono,...etc. Are these able to 'migrate' if they're not just in the user account/user level?

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Answer 6

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 27, 2023 5:15 PM in response to Barney-15E

Ah. OK cool. One more ? then. What about all the different ‘Libraries’ data associated with the different level apps and such. For example, preferences, container backups (example like Plex which stores the PMS data in the user library). Stuff like that?

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Answer 7

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 27, 2023 5:32 PM in response to Barney-15E

Fair enough. Thanks.

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Answer 8

MelPark

Level 1

8 points

Nov 24, 2023 1:42 AM in response to rothnd

Seems like you need to install the system that you did the last backup on. The time machine might do the rest. I assume to you know the passwords and user ID that your had.

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Answer 9

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 24, 2023 7:46 AM in response to MelPark

Yep, I got to try it a couple weeks ago. Worked pretty well just a little different. Thanks for the advice!

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