Time Machine Help

[swope1221]

Hi guys, I've had both my iMacs for over 2 months now coming over from windows, and the one thing I still haven't figured out is time machine. I have it set up and it's doing all the backups etc. But I'm not sure how to use it like I want.

Example, in windows with system restore, if I installed a program and it boogered something up, I just did a system restore to a point before I installed the program and system restore put everything back the way it was, the whole pc.

What do I in Time Machine to accomplish this? I know I can revert individual files and folders from within the Time Machine app, so would I have to boot into recovery mode and restore the whole machine from there? That seems like overkill, but is that the only way to remove all traces of the program that caused issues?

Thanks for any input.
Eric

 

[Weaselboy]

Example, in windows with system restore, if I installed a program and it boogered something up, I just did a system restore to a point before I installed the program and system restore put everything back the way it was, the whole pc.

What do I in Time Machine to accomplish this?

You can do a full restore to a given date.

Here is a web page that explains how to do a full restore. During the restore you will see a screen like this where you can pick the date you want to restore from. Just pick a date before you installed the software. Of course any data on there after that will not be part of the restore.

 

[Julien]

Also if it is just an App or data file that is "boogered up" you can simple go back in time and retrieve a pre "boogered" copy. This only takes a second to a couple of minutes and almost no downtime. I have never had any problems with the retrieved file.

Remember OS X doesn't have a 'sloppy' registry like Windows. Also for removing any trace of an App you can use an App like AppCleaner. Then go back and retrieve the App in TM.

 

[swope1221]

Guys, thanks for the responses. You both answered my questions. How to restore a full backup and the best way to if it is possible to isolate an app how to do that using app cleaner. I don't want to go off topic here, but what are your opinions on app cleaner? I know a lot of Mac people swear off of 3rd party cleaners and such, but I have also heard good things of app cleaner.

 

[MCSN]

Also in your menu, if you choose to show time machine in your menu, that is...

If you go to the menu, choose enter time machine, you will go in there and there's a list of dates you can go back to, and you can search around the window for files, and go and restore individual files. which is quite nice.

If you are new to time machine, search around in the forums here for tricks. Like using the Time Capsule as a network drive as well as a backup. Or clicking your backup and searching files from the past, off the mounted temp drive, is a genius solution I've used many a cold dark wee hours of the am fix.

 

[Julien]

...I know a lot of Mac people swear off of 3rd party cleaners and such, but I have also heard good things of app cleaner....

I think you are confusing an App remover (because of the App I recommended name) from system cleaners/tuneup Apps. The App remover I recommended is named AppCleaner. It is just for removing an App and all files associated with it. System wide cleaner/tuneup Apps is a whole other thing.

http://appcleaner.en.softonic.com/mac