Search Time Machine Backups for emails

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Level 1

61 points

Search Time Machine Backups for emails

I have a need to search my archived Backup files for a particular email. This backup is on an external harddrive but not in active use at this time but have connected it to my system for purposes of attempting to locate this email and the possibility of recovering other stored emails with the hope of adding them into my active files.

My present system setup is: Internal HD: OS and active storage, (OS X 10.8.5

External 3T HD: Active ™ Backups,

External 4T HD: archive ™ Backups.

Since I am unsure how Mail stores emails, I do not know what file(s) to look for on the Time Machine Archives OR if there is some way I can use the Time Machine application to access that file.

Is there any way to access this archived files?

PLEASE, do not address anything concerning upgrading to El Capitan.

Sparkgapper

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), DualBoot with El Capitan

Posted on Jun 17, 2016 7:03 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 17, 2016 7:38 AM in response to Sparkgapper

If I need to restore an email via Time Machine,

I open Mail,

go to the folder where I stored the email -

then enter Time Machine and scroll to date(s).

Contents of that folder appear at the top of my window.

Then I click on restore (either the item or the folder)

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Answer 2

Sparkgapper Author

Level 1

61 points

Jun 17, 2016 10:09 AM in response to Sparkleberry

That is only part of the problem, I DO NOT KNOW HOW/WHERE Mail stores emails. Second to that is the OLD (7 year ago) email is in a different save box/folder.

Second, in this sequence of events opening Time Machine opens the present backup and NOT the archive backups, they are on different hard drives.

Sparkgapper

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,341 points

Jun 18, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Sparkgapper

Mail is stored in your user Library. To access the older backups via Time Machine, you will need to make that backup the backup in System Preferences/Time Machine. When done, reset the disk to the current disk.

In Finder hold down the option/alt key while selecting the Go menu item. Select Library/Mail/V-2.

If you want to make your user library permanently visible, run the below command in Applications/Utilities/Terminal.

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

You will need to do that after any updates.

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Answer 4

Sparkgapper Author

Level 1

61 points

Jun 18, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Eric Root

That is only part of the problem, I DO NOT KNOW HOW/WHERE Mail stores emails. Second to that is the OLD (7 year ago) email is in a different save box/folder.

Second, in this sequence of events opening Time Machine opens the present backup and NOT the archive backups, they are on different hard drives.

Sp

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Answer 5

Sparkgapper Author

Level 1

61 points

Jun 18, 2016 4:01 PM in response to Eric Root

Ran into interpretation problems with understanding the exact sequence of events above.

However, it pointed me to something to look into and low and behold found the email but the methodology precluded adding it back into my present mail library but was able to do a >select all > copy > paste (pages document) and at least now have the information I needed.

Marked you as helpful.

TKS

Sparkgapper

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,341 points

Jun 18, 2016 4:20 PM in response to Sparkgapper

You are welcome.

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Answer 7

Sparkgapper Author

Level 1

61 points

Jun 18, 2016 6:46 PM in response to Eric Root

Just for grins, this is how I access the email I wanted:

BateStar Backup 03 double click the back up HD

Backups.backupdb double click folder

BateStar 02 (5) double click folder (backed up HD)

2013-01-11-095349 double click folder - date folder

BateStar03 double click folder - backed up HD name

Users double click folder

user double click folder

Library double click folder

Mail double click folder

Mailboxes double click folder

Saved Emails double click folder

From here it is simply remembering what storage mailboxes were added in this file. I had over a page full with some of them containing another set of storage boxes.

Messages double click folder - this is the physical space where the archived/stored emails are located.

9594.emix double click email - open the email for viewing. Only problem is locating the appropriate email depending on the number of stored emails.

I only had a couple dozen so just double clicked each one until I found the one I wanted.

Sparkgapper

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