can't restore files from time machine

Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine. See the item about restoring backups from a different computer or backup drive: Item 17.

While in Time Machine, press the key combination shift-command-C. The front window will show all mounted volumes. All snapshots should now be accessible. Select the one you want and navigate to the files you want to restore.

I would like to thank Linc Davis for the tip. Now we know why Linc is currently at Level 10.

Hi guys,

I'm very new to all of this. However, i am having the exact same problem as OWRC

I recently wiped my mac thinking that it would be easy to restore via my time machine back up on my time capsule. First of all, i tried to restore via the start up instructions immediately after i'd installed a fresh maverick install. I could select the time capsule, enter the password and then nothing; the continue button was greyed and i couldn't go any further.

I then tried via migration assistant and the same thing.

The issue here is that i'm not looking to restore some selected files via time machine, i want to fully restore all my old files via migration assistant.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

You can full restore all your old files using Time Machine. Migration Assistant is only necessary if you purchased a new Mac and want to transfer all of your data over from another older Mac.

From reading your post, you appear to be trying to transfer all of your old data to a fresh install of Mavericks, in which case Migration Assistant is not much use.

To restore all of the old files stored in your Time Capsules internal storage, you could select them all inside the Time Machine twilight view. Alas, time machine doesn't really offer a clean install option.

Alternatively, you restore all your files using Time Machine inside OSx Recover Mode. This option will restore any corrupt system files or problems in the OSx library. Hence, the main reason some Apple users have relied less on Time Machine (see discussion thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5512355?answerId=23797713022#23797713022).

I personally have no qualms about slectively restoring everything inside Time Machine following a clean install. I performed a clean install some months ago and managed to restore "all my old data", as you are trying to do, from my external disk drive without any problems.

I use Time Machine because it is designed to work seamlessly with Apple's OSx. If you must restore old files using a third party utility App other than TM I recommend Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!

Carbon Copy Cloner: http://www.bombich.com

SuperDuper!: http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/superduperdescription.html

These applications work brilliantly with Migration Assistant.

I'm having an issue with restoring select files from time machine. I am able to view all back ups and individual files, but once time machine is launched I am unable to click on any icons or sidebar items. I am however able to pass up and down the timeline as well as click on the arrows. I used to be able to select a specific item and restore it.

Any solutions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

reply to Linc Davis.

I have the same problem. : ...however they are all "pinked out" and I simply can't see or retrieve any files...

one of my volumes is "pinked out". My iMAC is divided in 3 volumes. The volume with the files i try to recover shows "unmounted" after shift-command-C . The volume is mounted as i'm working on it when not in Time machine mode.

The reason i want to recover these files is that I've lost some data while consolidating 4 hard drives into one (into the volume that shows unmounted, which i have erased almost entirely). Now all the data on this volume is synced with my dropbox pro 1To. My objective is to use it for my work and have it accessible with my office computer.

Regards

Felix