Restore iMessage database from Mavericks to Mt Lion via time machine

Hi,

Mountain Lion and Messages 7.x.x has the Messages folder in ~/Library

This holds the Archive for Saved Chats and the various databases used by the iMessages account to provide "history" to new chats/conversations with old contacts.

In Mavericks and Messages 8 these were split.

As you say the ~/Library/Messages has the data bases in them.

And the Archive is stuck in that path via Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data...

If you moved them do you Own them ?

In the Finder start by using the View Menu > Show Path bar

Navigate to the Archive folder in ~/Library/Messages.

Inside highlight one of the old Dated folders then do a Get Info (CMD+i keys together)

Scroll to the bottom.

It should list your Mac User account's short name with Read and Write Permissions

Highlight this line then use the cogwheel type icon and see if the Make shortname (Me) the Owner is greyed out. If it is your Own the file.

Now back in the Finder window Right click the Messages folder and select the Get Info option

Check you have Read and Write permission here and that you Own it.

Do the same with the Attachments folder and the database items that should also be here.

After moving them you should restart the Messages app so it can "read" that they are there as it were.

9:18 pm Tuesday; February 11, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Hi Ralph,

I'm in the same situation...I have downgraded from Mavericks to ML and can't manage to retrieve the iMessage archive. I have moved archive, attachments folders + database files but no luck. Here's a screenshoot of the folder. Obviously it's iMessage is not loading the old messages although it lets me send new ones...

Any suggestion?

Best Wishes

Alberto

Hi,

That particular chat.db item is only 4 Kb of info.

(Basically is has not chat info in there)

What you appear to have is a files that Messages 7.x.x cannot read (incompatible) at 1.5Mb which looks like it should be lots of Conversations (or very long ones).

I am not sure what the differences are in this case.

I also don't know how you could open them to "copy" some of the info across to the chat.db item.

EDIT.

In Mavericks the TextEdit app can open the chat.db.incompatible (they are not particularly user friendly in this format.).

I can't tell the difference if this and the regular chat.db item also opened with TextEdit.

8:05 pm Thursday; April 3, 2014