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Level 1

5 points

Restore stickies database from Time Machine

Hello all

I used TM, and cleaned up my laptop, because it was running slow, as in erasing the whole thing. Installed lion and the things I needed, but did not use TM as I did not want to restore my laptop with all the **** I had since before. My plan was to only grab the things i needed, as my old stickies for example. I read many of the threads regarding stickies, like the one with aragorn and rrchampion, but these threads/solutions does not help. Starting to think that the file is gone. I can't simply find the file stickiesdatabase in my library when I enter TM. I've tried to search for it in TM, but it can't find it. I've also tried suggestion with having the library folder open, before I enter TM, but my library folder disappears.

When I am in TM I have these folders: "Macintosh HD" followed by Applications, Library, System, Users. I can't find the file in the first folder of Library, but there is also a folder called Library in System, but it's not there either. And I can't find the folder, Library in my personal folder in Users. I talked to apple support, but it seemed like they didn't even belive that you could restore the single file from stickies, and that I had to restore the whole computer, which I hope you can spare me from, since that was the plan from the beginning. Any suggestion?

Thank you so much in advance.

Regards,

Samuel

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011)

Posted on Jul 11, 2012 12:20 AM

28 replies

Aug 5, 2014 12:36 PM in response to adoavis

Worked perfectly for me. I had some very important stuff in there so thank you for saving it!

Qyzylqum

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2014 10:10 PM in response to MrAhmadRifky

Your suggestion was the best by far. I had that pesky hidden folder open through 10.9 so I had no trouble finding the Stickies data base. I tried to restore it to 10.10 but no luck so just stuck in on the desktop to save for when I call Apple again. 10.10 will not let you keep that library folder open and after reading your solution I opened the hidden library and deleted the new data base and dragged and dropped the old one with all my information that I wanted and there is was now on 10.10. I had to do a complete erase too and the way you suggest is the best I have seen. People who mess around with the Terminal are just asking for trouble. I do terminal commands if there is no other way but in this case there is and it is your way. 5 starts

Mar 31, 2015 9:02 AM in response to hjas1982

perfect! helped a lot! recovered what I needed. thanks!!!

bSAYZ

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2015 8:25 AM in response to APARIKH

Thanks so much😉

Apr 10, 2015 8:54 AM in response to MrAhmadRifky

THANK YOU OH MY GOD!!!!!

I read every website, tried everything to get my stickies backed up and this was the ONLY thing that worked. Thank you so so so so much!!!!!

Apr 17, 2015 10:49 AM in response to hjas1982

Absolutely brilliant guys! Thank you so much, to those who contributed to solving this problem!

I just went through the exact same process as the OP. I backed-up my MBP, completely wiped it, restored from the OS, and only put back the things I needed (Illustrator), in hopes to avoid bringing back the problem I was having back, too. This solution worked flawlessly, even though playing around in Terminal scares the **** out of me. You all rock! Thanks agin for the help!! Three years later, and the process for fixing this is still the same! Booyah!

Apr 27, 2015 1:35 PM in response to hjas1982

This worked for me, needed my stickies back

GRACIAS hjas1982!

Ty Ford1

Level 1

26 points

Jun 9, 2015 6:32 PM in response to MrAhmadRifky

MrAhmadRifky THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Your help got me my stickies back, including the one that had all my login and passwords.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Jul 24, 2015 10:40 AM in response to APARIKH

Thanks so much, this was awesome, tried all the logical fixes and none worked at all in Yosemite, this made it so much easier to find all my stickies and bookmarks plist. As a former genius, older systems allowed this to be so easy but obviously it allowed people to muck about within library folders, I knew where it was but couldn't get access and terminal was not my strong point! Doubt they would have me back..lol! Good job

Aug 26, 2015 3:31 AM in response to APARIKH

Yes, the terminal method worked for me too. I was a bit reluctant but really needed that sticky data. REMEMBER to replace the database when Stickies not running otherwise it won't work. Thanks guys 🙂

Mar 6, 2016 1:22 PM in response to MrAhmadRifky

Awesome. Thanks for the very clear, concise instructions. Worked like charm.

Ron

Jun 20, 2016 8:06 AM in response to hjas1982

This helped me find the Library folder and it did contain the StickiesDatabase file that I needed, and when I put in my new user library it brought back my Stickies. Thanks! I wasn't able to actually open the Library folder (or any hidden folders in my backup, though), so I ended up having to copy and paste the whole folder (17 GB!) just for that file, which was unfortunate, but it worked! (I was afraid to restore the folder and end up replacing important items in my new Library folder, so copying and pasting it worked well) Update: I just figured out that I can open the hidden folders in the backup (and my current hard drive), but have to right click and then click "Open in new tab (or window)"

Oct 24, 2016 11:30 AM in response to MrAhmadRifky

I had to erase my hard disk last Friday and now I realize I can't restore my stickies.I'm desperately trying to restore my stickies from last month but I can't seem to see them even when I try all the steps you mention above. My time machine doesn't show the stickies from last month, it only shows me the stickies from today. How can I access them from TM?

Restore stickies database from Time Machine