Restore WITHOUT Time Machine

[vickyr66]

I recently had my HD die after almost 10 years and took my iMac to my school's IT department (since they fix student computers for free). The HD was replaced and the Mac works fine again, but they saved the backup as a regular folder and dropped it back on the desktop. I have since moved this backup to an external drive. However, the backup is NOT a Time Machine file, just a regular folder. Is it possible to restore my system from this folder?

It would be super nice to have all my apps back (like the Photoshop 6 I bought before the days of stupid CC, Ableton Live with my library, etc.)

 

[chabig]

I recently had my HD die after almost 10 years and took my iMac to my school's IT department (since they fix student computers for free). The HD was replaced and the Mac works fine again, but they saved the backup as a regular folder and dropped it back on the desktop. I have since moved this backup to an external drive. However, the backup is NOT a Time Machine file, just a regular folder. Is it possible to restore my system from this folder?

It would be super nice to have all my apps back (like the Photoshop 6 I bought before the days of stupid CC, Ableton Live with my library, etc.)

They saved what backup? What’s in the folder they delivered? My first instinct is to tell you that unless you had your own separate backup, you’ve lost everything that wasn’t in the cloud. But that depends on your answer to my two questions.

 

[Juicy Box]

I don't think it will work since it is no longer a boot drive, but have you tried the migration assistant?
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The HD was replaced and the Mac works fine again, but they saved the backup as a regular folder and dropped it back on the desktop.

Also, how did you get this back up? Was this made from the failing drive? Do you still have it? If you still have the failing drive, and it was not erased, and it works long enough to get files from it, you might be able to use it to restore all the stuff you are asking for.

You will need a way to connect the failing drive to your Mac, I am sure the IT department can do it with a SATA adapter or an external drive/dock.

Then, you use Apple's Migration Assistant to copy all the stuff you need.

It might be possible to do a clone of your old failing drive, this would make your computer identical to how it was before. But considering it is failing, I wouldn't recommend it, as it puts a lot of stress on the drive, I think the Migration Assistant would be more successful.

 

[vickyr66]

They saved what backup? What’s in the folder they delivered? My first instinct is to tell you that unless you had your own separate backup, you’ve lost everything that wasn’t in the cloud. But that depends on your answer to my two questions.

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They saved what backup? What’s in the folder they delivered? My first instinct is to tell you that unless you had your own separate backup, you’ve lost everything that wasn’t in the cloud. But that depends on your answer to my two questions.

Basically the Users folder (Guest, Shared, and my admin), which has the usual Desktop, Documents, Library, etc. So I can still manually retrieve things like my iTunes library, documents, some photos (although I've been having trouble importing the old library into Photos).
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I don't think it will work since it is no longer a boot drive, but have you tried the migration assistant?
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Also, how did you get this back up? Was this made from the failing drive? Do you still have it? If you still have the failing drive, and it was not erased, and it works long enough to get files from it, you might be able to use it to restore all the stuff you are asking for.
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I tried the Migration Assistant but it wouldn't recognize my external drive as an option (not a problem with the ED because it showed up in Disk Utility/Recovery Mode). I do still have the old drive, which I don't think was /totally/ dead because I could still access recovery mode? Is there a reason the IT peeps wouldn't have done as you suggested (besides it taking extra effort on their part, I mean, they are providing a free service)?

 

[Juicy Box]

I tried the Migration Assistant but it wouldn't recognize my external drive as an option (not a problem with the ED because it showed up in Disk Utility/Recovery Mode).

this is most likely because it is not a boot disk. I never attempted to do a migration with a non-boot disk or TM, and I am not surprised it didn't work.

I do still have the old drive, which I don't think was /totally/ dead because I could still access recovery mode?

Keep it, and use this. I bet you will be able to use the migration assistant if the drive is not too far gone.

Is there a reason the IT peeps wouldn't have done as you suggested

I suspect that they are not too familiar with Macs. I'm not sure if there is a Windows equivalent to this, so what they did might be SOP for most people's boot drive replacement.

Or maybe they did, and the drive was too far gone. Even if this was the case, I'd keep trying.

(besides it taking extra effort on their part, I mean, they are providing a free service)?

this is a good first guess, probably better guess than what I said.

The migration assistant takes a little bit of time, probably even more so with a failing drive. Maybe they didn't want to give it the time or attention that it needed.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Basically the Users folder (Guest, Shared, and my admin), which has the usual Desktop, Documents, Library, etc. So I can still manually retrieve things like my iTunes library, documents, some photos (although I've been having trouble importing the old library into Photos)."

Here's what I'd suggest:
You'll need an EXTERNAL DRIVE large enough to "hold that folder."
Then, do this:
- Copy the folder to the external drive
- Select the icon (icon only) for the ENTIRE external drive by clicking on it ONE time
- Now type "command-i" (eye) to bring up the get info box
- Down at the bottom of get info, there is a lock icon.
- Click the lock and enter your password
- Now, put a checkmark in "ignore ownership for this volume" (sharing and permissions)
- Close get info

WHY you did this:
Now you can copy ANYTHING from your "old" administrative account into the new one, WITHOUT experiencing any "permissions problems".

WHAT TO DO NEXT:
You can "manually copy" stuff from the external drive into your -NEW- home folder (or other locations).
I SUGGEST YOU KEEP HANDWRITTEN NOTES so that you don't lose track of "where you are".

Do you have much in your NEW iTunes?
If not, you -could- just copy the OLD iTunes music folder into your new "Music" folder (replacing the new iTunes Music folder)
Another way might be to tell iTunes to import everything in the old folder.
I'm hardly an "iTunes expert" -- don't use it much.

For Photos -- again, how much is in the "new" "Photos library" vis-a-vis the original one?
If most of your stuff was "in the old one", I'd move the new Photos library OUT OF the "Pictures" folder -- to the desktop might work.
Then, I'd "drag and drop" the OLD Photos folder from the external drive to your NEW "Pictures" folder.
Then, hold down the option key when you open Photos and pick the "replaced" library (yes, I realize it's "in the same place as the other one was" -- do it anyway).
Then -- work on "re-importing" the (formerly new) Photos library on the desktop back into the old one. (sigh, this is confusing!)

For document files, you ought to just be able to "manually copy" them wherever you want.
This might work for some applications, as well.

One last thing:
IF you had had a backup, you wouldn't be in this situation.
I suggest you get an external drive and try either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.
Both are FREE to download and try for 30 days.
SuperDuper will keep doing "a full clone" forever without registering.

Don't let this happen again!