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I recently bought a MacBook Pro and want to convert my latest TM backup from my old iMac to my Macbook Pro. I plugged in my imac's Time Machine to the MBP.. When I COM-R and do a Restore it shows my latest backup is Nov 18,2012!! Today is January 12, 2012.Why wont it show the latest backup?? I know my TM backs up daily?!?
OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)
For all things TM... See Pondini's excellent information here...
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
In particular... FAQs and Troubleshooting...
Perhaps... Would you like to inherit (or re-use) the Backup . . .?
What specifically do you want to do -- transfer all the data from the old machine, or just certain files?
I currnently have an iMac
I just bought a Macbook Pro.
(both running Mt Lion)
I want the Macbook Pro to mirror the iMac so I can wipe the iMac drive and sell it.
Ive used Time Machine before (when I got the iMac last year) to transfer (mirror) my old iMac to my new.
Thought it'd be jsut as easy to do from iMac to MBP, but not so much.
When I say mirror.. i Mean look EXACTLY like my iMac. Same Dock Apps, same Desktop iCons, same Wallpaper.. SAME EVERYTHING.. I've done it before..
However, when I run the MBP in Restore Mode and try it doens't see any backups when I have the Time Machine Disk that Ive been using on my iMac for a year. It says "No OS X system backups were found"
Ive also tried Migration Assistant.
When it asks me starts searching for the drive (Time Machine drive), and yes its plugged in.. the status wheel just keeps turning and turning.. (which to me means it can't find it)
Im so frigging confused.. Ive done this twice before SEEMLESSLY, and it worked perfect..
This time.. for some reason it's telling me I have no Backups.. but when I reconnct the TM disc to the iMac that its been backing up.. I have Backups. I don't get why the MBP isnt reading it in Restore mode or Migration Asst.
On the iMac, enter Time Machine and look at your most recent snapshot. Does it include the System and Applications folders at the top level of the startup volume?
Not sure what you mean. I entered Time Machine and it shows the Finder window (with windows behind it)
I see a Applications Folder.. but not a system Folder.. is that what you mean??
Yes, that's what I mean. Is there no System folder in any of the snapshots?
No.
When I enter TM. The Finder Folder appears. My Home folder is highlighted.
The Folders in the window are shown alphabetically.
Adobe, Applications, Desktop, Docuements, Dowloads, etc..
No System Folder
nor on the Left Side Bar.
Listed is my home folder.
Applications
Library
Destop.. etc.. no System Folder there either.
Select the icon of the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) in the sidebar of a Finder window. Open it. Inside you should see folder named "Applications" and "System". Now enter Time Machine. Are those folders also in the snapshots?
Wierd. Ok They are both there. When I enter TM they are therem but only in the "Now" Snapshot. As soon as I start clicking the arrow to start seeing backups.. they are gone. So it looks like the TM is not backing up those folders?
That's right, and that's also why you (fortunately) can't see the snapshots in Recovery view. I say fortunately, because if you had done a full-system restore, you'd be unable to boot the new machine.
This simple procedure will clear your Time Machine settings, including your exclusion list. If you have a long exclusion list that can't be recreated easily, you may prefer a more complicated procedure that preserves the exclusion list. In that case, ask for instructions. Otherwise, do as follows.
Triple-click the line below to select it:
Thanks!!
but before I do this procedure, can I ask what an exlusion list is?
you mentioned, "If you have a long exclusion list that can't be recreated easily, you may prefer a more complicated procedure that preserves the exclusion list. In that case, ask for instructions. "
I dont know what that is, so I dont know if I should do the insructions you gave me..
thanks for your help! this has been great!!!
It's the list of files you want to exclude from being backed up. If you don't know what it is, you haven't excluded any files, at least not intentionally.
"seems" to be working.. REbooted and reset the TM Prefs.
It's doing a long back up of several Gigs...
I wonder how it got like that??
Anyway.. Ill let you know when it's done backing up and I do a Migration.
(should I do a Restore from disk, or use Migration?)
should I do a Restore from disk, or use Migration?
Ideally, neither. You should use Setup Assistant, which runs automatically the first time you boot the new machine. If you've already booted it and set up an account, it's too late to do that, unless you erase everything and start over. The alternative is to use Migration Assistant, but then you'll get another account in addition to the one you already have. All your files will be in that account. You can keep both, if you wish, and use the first account only for administrative tasks such as installing software. Otherwise you'll have to copy the files from one account to the other.
Machines been booted.
When I say Restore, I mean reboot with CMD-R and it lets you use a backup..
Unless, I erase everything and start over.. I can do that.. how would I do that?
Time Machine not showing Latest backup in Restore.
