Migration Assistant in OSX 10.8.2

now that the Library folder is no longer in the Users folder

Wrong, it's just hidden now. Hold the Option key down while clicking on "Go" in the Finder's Menu bar and you'll see the Library folder.

Sorry, but I don't use Time Machine for backups. I prefer using Carbon Copy Cloner and/or SuperDuper.

Did you try putting your other computer into Firewire target disc mode and then using the other disk option?

I'll put out a call for a TM expert to look in on the thread, no guarantees about when though.

Try making your user library permanently visible, then selecting the user library, and then entering Time Machine. This does work in Mountain Lion.

http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/22/access-user-library-folder-in-os-x-lion/

Works for me.

System files and applications were excluded from the backups. You can't do a full-system restore, nor can you use the Setup or Migration Assistant. You have to reinstall OS X, reinstall all your third-party software, and restore your user files in the time-travel interface.

Merkaba22 wrote:

The wierd thing is that in MA 10.8.2, when you select form a "Mac, PC, Time Machine backup or other disk" and hit "continue", after closing other apps and the next pane appears, the spining gear is present saying its looking for other computers, doesnot give feed back on locating a disk ... fwiw.

There's another window after that one -- where you select either From a Mac or PC or From a Time Machine backup or other disk. Be sure to select Time Machine backup or other disk there.

If it still doesn't see the backups, they may be damaged. Try Repairing them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting. Odd as it seems, if still no help, try Restarting your Mac.

However, there are a number of reports of Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant on Mountain Lion not seeing perfectly good backups. We don't know if Apple has identified a problem or is working on a fix.

It still seems simplest to me to find out how to make the backup's User's > Library folder visible so I can copy back the data, etc. I would love to see this question answered:)

There are several ways. The simplest in this case (but strangest-looking) is to open the Terminal app (in your Applications/Utilities folder), and copy this after the prompt (which includes your system and user names):

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1

Then relaunch the Finder (click the Apple icon in your menubar, select Force Quit, then select Finder and click the Relaunch button. If it doesn't relaunch the same window(s), just click the Finder icon in your Dock as usual.

That will show all hidden files and folders, everywhere, and there are a lot of them, mostly system files. Obviously, don't touch anything else.

To reverse that when done, run the same command again, but replace the ending "1" with a zero, and relaunch the Finder again.

Linc Davis wrote:

System files and applications were excluded from the backups.

We don't know that for sure. There are several reports of perfectly-good backups that neither Setup Assistant nor Migration Assistant recognized.

You can't . . . use the Setup or Migration Assistant.

Yes, you can (assuming the backups are ok, etc). I hadn't tested that in a while, so I just did, by excluding System files. Migration Assistant found the volume and allowed me to select it.

Merkaba22 wrote:

Well, the best solution has bee to go to Terminal and foolow these prompts to show the hiiden Library folder(s) from thebackup and copy back the data:

Show:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

Hide:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder

This has worked well and I am happily using the subject computer once again -- thank you all!

You're welcome.

Merkaba22 wrote:

. . .

This has worked well and I am happily using the subject computer once again -- thank you all!

Great! 🙂

Now, please take a few minutes and tell Apple what's going on, as you're not the first to see this (but most of the rest of us can't make it happen so we can report it).

First, don't make any new backups yet.

if you haven't yet, try Repairing the backups. If Disk Utility says they "appear to be ok," start Migration Assistant and see if the backups appear. If they don't, please report this as a bug to Apple:

Before making any new backups, and with the problem TM drive still connected and selected as the destination in TM Prefs, please copy and run this in Terminal:

sudo tmdiagnose -f ~/Desktop

You'll get a prompt for your Admin password (which won't be displayed as you type it). Press Return. You'll see an explanation. Press Return again.

It will run a whole bunch of steps, taking a few minutes, and leave a file on your desktop, named:

<your computer name>.tmdiagnostic.zip

See the green box in Reporting a Problem to Apple to file a bug report. Be sure to mention that Disk Utility said the backups were ok, but Migration Assistant didn't recognize them at all. Attach the diagnostic file to the bug report.

You probably won't get an answer for quite a while, but it may help Apple find and fix whatever's going wrong.

Thanks!

I hadn't tested that in a while, so I just did, by excluding System files. Migration Assistant found the volume and allowed me to select it.

Did you set the boolean-valued "SkipSystemFiles" key?

Indirectly, yes. Excluding /System brings up this prompt:

Selecting Exclude All System Files sets that value, and shows System Files and Applications on the Prefs > Options window; that's what I did.

As I recall, Apple used to document that excluding system files prevented doing a full system restore, but not using Setup/Migration Assistant, but (naturally) I can't find that any more. 😉