LaCie Ext HD files can't transfer to OSX Lion

Well, I just know that the version of Backup Assistant is older because it was installed on the external LaCie drive a few years ago, and when I went to download another copy for the new iMac, it had OS 10.8 or higher requirements. So I just took for granted that the copy from the old system was an older version, since it was not using Lion.
I can't restore because the message says that there is nothing to restore. I tried synchronizing the iMac with the LaCie, which took 2 days and finally stopped due to excessive read errors, but I didn't know what else to try.

If I physically copy over 1.6 million files, how do I know where they all go? I guess that's why we had a restore program in the first place.

Thanks

You would put them where you found them. You would have folders and copy these back to where you found them.

No one I know has more than a few folders so it's a simple task.

Since both are apples why not use the old target mode?
Bob

I'm sorry, I don't know what that is. I will mention that the old iMac HD crashed, and even after 35 attempts, it won't boot, otherwise I would have just gone Mac to Mac...

next step is to remove the hard drive from the old iMac and put it in an external enclosure.

From there you drag and drop the folders you require, ONLY stuff from your Home folder, into the corresponding places on your new machine.
Taking care NOT to move any Applications (Programs)

You will find external USB enclosures at many places on the internet, Macsales.com is one of them

P

That removes old target mode and I wonder too if you tried to backup more than your files. Most folk try to backup more than their stuff.

I see someone broached the subject of what is backup. One lone copy in some proprietary system has caused so much grief that you have to wonder why folk continue to take that trip to the tar pit.

That is, simply syncing files is safer (non-proprietary) and we can sync it to a second place for safety.
Bob

what exactly were you backing up?
If you told Intego to back up the entire drive, then the majority of those 1.6 million files will have nothing to do with anything on your new machine as it has a completely different OS installed.

Question: Were those files on the LaCie drive the ONLY copies or are the originals still on the old computer?
If the answer is "the originals are still on the old computer" then connect the two computers together with a length of ethernet cable and fire up Migration Assistant on the new Mac.

That way you can copy everything that is on the old one to the new one and MA will put it all in the correct place.

However, if the answer is that the files on the LaCie are the only copies of the files, then you did NOT have any form of backup at all.

P

The files are a "full system backup" copy on the LaCie from the old Mac. We will try to boot it up and use the migration assistant, If that old Mac will boot up, that would be awesome. But after 35 attempts, there's a switch in that sealed internal HD that is failing. We shall see.

Again, the new Mac CAN see the LaCie external HD and all of the files. But the OS Lion-compatible Intego Backup Assistant on the new Mac cannot see the LaCie when I try to "restore". I'm thinking backward compatibility issues, but I cannot confirm that.

I don't understand why something as simple as restoring files from a full backup to a new Mac should be so difficult. Applecare, of course, sent us to Intego, since Time Machine won't do anything, and third party software is involved.

The syncing didn't work after 3 days of running between the external HD and new Mac. It just stopped after many errors noted. Not sure why.

Thanks everyone. I think the best thing for me to do is to try to get that old machine to boot, then use Migration Assistant. Everything on the old Mac is identical to what is on the external LaCie.

backing up the entire disk is really a waste of time, unless it is a bootable clone, because in the event of a catastrophic failure of the computer you still have to install a working operating system on the new machine before you can even attempt to restore from a backup.

Removing the HD from the old Mac, you have not mentioned what type of Mac it is, is your best option here, given that the thing will not boot.
Unless it is a HD failure, all that data is still sitting comfortably on the HD, just waiting to be recovered.

There are plenty of tutorials on the internet explaining how to open even the most impossible looking Mac.

Of course, you must continue to hound Intego for a solution

P

I mentioned it at the beginning of the thread. Yes, since no one can tell me why the Intego Backup Assistant won't work with this simple swapping of computers (iMac to iMac), I guess that is my last resort.

All of the files were backed up because there were 2 different OS, and my engineer friend whose computer we are discussing wanted it that way. I guess he knew better why than I do.

Thanks again for your help.

You see why I don't care for proprietary backup software now. I don't mind if the result is something I can break into or use directly but over time, with issues like you have here you can see why I ditched most backup apps.
Bob

missed the i in iMac

Retires gracefully, looking for the lens cleaner


P

of them and he is not sure what should move.


He's getting there though

P

Yes, I manually moved them. Albeit sad that we weren't able to be certain that every file (carried over 2 older Macs, through 4 OS's) has been placed in the proper location, it's workable.

Macs aren't a headache, third party software and its tech support call center and site ARE.

Will use Time Machine moving forward. That way, this won't happen 5 years from now when we migrate on to the next Mac (which will probably have an invisibility cloak built into the new OS - Ha).

Thanks everyone. You all are very helpful indeed.

Tim McD

Are you sure it isn't still in the box?
They are very difficult to find.


(which will probably have an invisibility cloak built into the new OS - Ha).


P