Can't see TimeMachine restore interface

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Can't see TimeMachine restore interface

Hi, I'm a pretty new iMac user, running OS X Lion, and try to backup to a Stora NAS with Time Machine. Have (as so many others) struggled to get it to work, now it seems OK, I have a full backup, and two incrementals have run OK.

But the restore GUI! I did have it up and working some time during all my backup tries. But now I can't get it to display. I press the "Go into Time Machine" from the TM symbol on the menu bar. I get the connect to disk progess bar, and it seems to succeed, because I see an icon on my desktop "TimeMachine backups" and in Finder I get the Time Machine entry under Devices.

But how do I get nice GUI to be able to browse back in time and restore? When I saw it before, I can't even remember what I did to get there, it just appeared... But not now...

I've googled, and not found much on this, I have even tried rebooting ;-)

Any help?

Rgds

Hans

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 4:59 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Apr 13, 2012 1:10 PM in response to edthwes

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

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Answer 2

edthwes Author

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Apr 13, 2012 2:27 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks, but no beef..

Yes, been there, done that... The only part I find there is:

Or, open a Finder window to the appropriate place (a particular folder, your home folder, your internal HD, your Computer, etc.), and Enter Time Machine by clicking the Time Machine icon in your Dock, or select Enter Time Machine from the TM icon in your menubar. The first display is titled Today (Now) at the bottom, and shows the current contents of the folder, drive, or whole system that was selected in the Finder window when you started.

OK, but I never get the "first display" mentioned. That's why I ask... I never get to the restore GUI. I perfectly know what it looks like, I did get it previously, and I can see it in the help pages, but I just can't get it to show on my iMac.

That's why I ask here! Does anyone recognize this strange situation?

/Hans

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Answer 3

baltwo

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62,362 points

Apr 13, 2012 2:34 PM in response to edthwes

Ah! The proverbial missing information. Can't help, since I don't use TM. You'll just have to wait for a TM maven to pass by.

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Answer 4

edthwes Author

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Apr 15, 2012 10:51 PM in response to baltwo

Maybe someone who uses TM can describe in exact detail what is supposed to happen after clicking "Enter Time Machine"?

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Answer 5

edthwes Author

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May 15, 2012 12:13 PM in response to edthwes

This really feels absurd... I've managed to get my iMac to backup regularly with TimeMachine to my Stora NAS... not easy, it's been many problems, but now it seems to be doing OK every hour. Yesterday it wanted to do a new full backup - estimated at 2 days long! So I used a 25 meter cable to hook up and get a better throughput thatn my measly WiFi.

But what good is all this when there is no way to restore?

Is there any way to get official support from Apple? Even if I have to pay for it?

/H

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

May 15, 2012 12:24 PM in response to edthwes

Contact Apple Service, iMac Service or Apple's Express Lane. Do note that if you have AppleCare's protection plan and you're within 50 miles (80 KM) of an Apple repair station, you're eligible for onsite repair since yours is a desktop machine.

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Answer 7

edthwes Author

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May 15, 2012 12:43 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks, the Express lane is not available in Sweden, but I found a phone number. My 3-month warranty is expired, but I'll try giving them a call anyway tomorrow, to see what they can do for me!

/H

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

May 15, 2012 1:27 PM in response to edthwes

Since Sweden wasn't mentioned on your profile page, didn't know that's where you're located. BTW, I strongly recommend popping for the AppleCare extended warranty. Well worth it. I've had the display and internal HD replaced on my two-year old 27" iMac. You can get it anytime within the first year of your machine's life.

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Answer 9

edthwes Author

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May 15, 2012 1:59 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks, I'll look into the extension as well!

/H

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Answer 10

Pondini

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May 15, 2012 3:50 PM in response to edthwes

edthwes wrote:

. . .

But how do I get nice GUI to be able to browse back in time and restore? When I saw it before, I can't even remember what I did to get there, it just appeared

Yes, it should. It can take a few moments to mount network backups, especially when connected via WIFI,. When it mounts, the disk image should appear on your desktop and/or Finder sidebar if you have the Finder preferences set to show external disks. You should see the first Today (Now) window shortly afterwards.

If not, try the things in #E4 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

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Answer 11

edthwes Author

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May 16, 2012 1:47 PM in response to Pondini

Hi,

thanks for your reply!

Yes, it takes some time to mount the backup, but after that I see the disk image appear on my desktop and in my Finder window. But after that - noting happens.

I tried to follow all tips in your troubleshooting guide, but no luck. None of them makes any difference...

/H

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Answer 12

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

May 16, 2012 2:02 PM in response to edthwes

Very strange. 😟

If you've been doing this via WIFI, try connecting via an Ethernet cable instead. Not only will that be 2-3 times faster, it will rule out things like a bad wireless connection and interference.

Also, try it with AddressBook or Mail, instead of the Finder. Have one of them frontmost when you Enter Time Machine.

There's special handling for those apps in TM, so if the problem is with the Finder, or the Finder's Time Machine Helper app, those should work. If they do, we'll have narrowed the problem down.

See the yellow and blue boxes in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #15 for samples of what you should see that way.

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Answer 13

edthwes Author

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May 17, 2012 7:42 AM in response to Pondini

Yes, still strange... I just received my Powerline Network adapter, and tested it - the speed was a disappointment, but probably it's more stable than WiFi. I managed to get a full backup through in something like 6-7 hours.

But nither this, not trying to start from Mail or Address Book changes anything. And I might add that in my very first test of Time Machine, I did get the restore GUI (last year). No idea why it stopped. Must be something I've done along the way...

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Answer 14

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

May 17, 2012 8:10 AM in response to edthwes

Try it while connected via an Ethernet cable (without the powerline adapter).

I realize you may have to temporarily move your Mac or NAS to do that, but the results will either implicate or eliminate your connection as the cause. Since you've had so many problems backing-up, it sure sounds like a flaky connection.

The only other things I can think of are long shots:

Are you sure the Stora is actually compatible with Time Machine on Lion? I browsed their website, and didn't see it mentioned -- usually, NASs that support Time Machine say so fairly prominently.

Some sort of mix-up in the interface between OSX and your NAS. That will be a tough one to run down, but you might see if the Stora folks can help.

Something damaged in your installation of OSX. You might want to install the "combo" update, per Installing the ''combo'' update and/or Reinstalling OSX. If that doesn't do it, consider installing a fresh version of Lion (that won't disturb anything else) per the same article.

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Answer 15

edthwes Author

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May 20, 2012 6:08 AM in response to Pondini

OK, I managed to hook up with a long cable instead. But no difference... At first I thought it was slow backing up, but then I realized 3 GB in 10 minutes equals 50 MB/sec which is pretty good I guess...

There's quite a lot of discussions re Stora and TimeMachine, like in

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?t=72560

So at least some people get it to work, an dmy backups seem OK...

I guess I should try to install the combo update... So neither the Combo nor a fresh install affect my applications, like Mail and iPhoto?

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