Data Missing after a Restore from a recent back up

tks, let me retry…I will go slower, I should know, everything must be done exactly as stated with computers..

Linc, all worked and seem to complete normal. So, assuming permissions are back were they were. After the restart, I'm still missing my data. The system is back to April 19 after the recovery procedure from the Silver screen and spinning gear(original problem) but I continue to miss all. I did another Recovery to 3/23/15 the last known full back up but my data does not reload, only my wifes. I think we are getting closer as the permissions issue could explain some things. I do remember trying to look at some folders and I couldn't see them because they were locked/blocked. Is this the reason it won't restore that data?

What's next? …..tks again…jerry

Tks Linc, must be late where yur at. To answer your question, I referenced that in a previous reply. I put the "Macintosh HD" in the folder after one of the numerous Restore functions asked me where to put it after restoring and had defaulted to the Documents folder. I didn't know what to do with it that's why I had mentioned it, so I let it there. Never had attempted a Recovery before so not familiar with what to expect and whats normal or not. So, I think it's an attempted restored image for lack of a better description. So, I'm assuming it shouldn't be there and should be trashed too?? As for the InstallMac, I suspected something might be going on…so it's in the trash now and emptied.

Linc, tks for hanging in there.

1. I enter Time Machine and click on my backup drive(Finder view) with numerous backups. I select the backup from 3/23 in Time Machine view. However the "Restore" button on lower right does not become selectable(stays grey). I have to "right click my mouse" on folder 3/23(or almost any older one) and a small window comes up that has an option to "restore to 3/23/15". I select that and it appears to go into a restore mode "copying 37GB"(full backup I think), it states 3 hours left but never goes that long, maybe 30 minutes. Seems unusual? I get back to a normal sign-in window. My account(Kings2) is very basic and generic with maybe a few apps installed by me, but no data. My sign password is good, my account "jerry's" is there, but again no data, no email activated, no preferences, etc. My wife's is normal going back to 3/23/15 and expected. She has her pics, docs, email, screensaver, etc. It appears like what you said, my folders, permissions, etc are not accessible or do not exist. Time Machine seems to have worked all along and has created numerous backups. Unless didn't something set up right, but it seems pretty automatic.

2. An observation that may be important is when I'm doing step 1 above, I have drilled down into the backup 3/23 folder(or any). I see several folders including "users". When I click that folder, I see several folders including my wife's folder "Pat's" but not mine(Kings2). Significant? In hers, I see Pics, docs, etc but locked with a "red minus" Normal I think.

3. Prior to posting my question on this forum, I used a trial Data Recovery software. It seemed to identify my Pics, bookmarks, docs, etc. that were there in numerous folders but it wouldn't allow me to recover until I activated the software for $100, but no guarantee.

So, I went this route with forum for now. So, I have the expectation that my files might be out there since I've seen some evidence but have not been able to verify the following:

1. Are the backups good and do they in fact have "my" data? Why would they have my wife's but not mine if not good? Or just my data missing or hidden?

2. Is my HDD OK, since this whole thing started with a "startup" issue that led to this Recovery issue. Malware?

3. Did I have a virus/malware destroy my data or hiding it and can't restore or just never had good back-ups? This is first time I've attempted to recover from those backups.

Should I move-on and try to recover what I can by individual folders? If so, How can I do that and where could that data be if still really out there?

Any advise would be appreciated…tks..jerry

p.s. - Just a thought….any tools that would allow you to remotely connect and look at it?

I just tried to restore an individual folder like "address book" with Time machine. In this case, it does allow me to select it from the Finder view in Time Machine, Restore button(bottom right) does become active. Then it acts like it going to restore and in some cases ask me I want it replaced or copied, and then I get the following error:

“Address Book” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by Mac OS X. Maybe a normal procedural problem, don't know if normal or not or part of the same issue.

Found Home folder, went into Time Machine. It will only let me select recent backups(today, yesterday) but none from those i believe have my data(late March and before). The Restore button on bottom right of Time machine does not become active. I tried "right-click" to bring up alternate menu, but no option either to restore.

Linc, the first 2 paragraphs of instructions worked as written but when I got to the "Go to Folder" window, it came up but it did not react to the "/2" or anything, it did not prefill anything. I tried inputting manually but not sure that's correct(March 3, 2015 or 03/23/15?). When I did finally get to the right Library/pics folder by clicking on each folder and drilling down I believe, I did not see any of my data, only generic Apple pics. At the bottom of the Time Machine screen, I saw the correct date and time(March 23, 2015). Again, I see a Users folder for wife but not me(Kings2 or Jerry's). Where did I go wrong?

While on March 23, 2015 snapshot, I enter the following manually and it works up to the Users folder…."/Macintosh HD/Users/Kings" if I add "Library" at the end,..."/Macintosh HD/Users/Kings/Library", it does not work/find. I can only go as far as the Users Folder, and mine is not listed.

Well, all though I'm a novice, I don't recall doing anything that would change or disrupt Time Machine as I understand it. I thought it was pretty automatic if turned on and it has been for over 2 years! So, how can I have 2 years of bad backups. Strange that only my data in my folders is missing. I'm not looking for blame, just trying to understand this so it won't happen again, especially if it's anything I've done. We have a very good Dealer here in Tucson I hear, so I will try them.

Just one last question, you suspected a bad HDD at one time, do we think thats' ok or still not verified to be good?? This all started from trying to recover from a startup issue with a Silver screen and a spinning wheel that wouldn't quit.

I thank you very much Linc for your efforts and all the time! It was sincerely appreciated….Jerry