Restoring files
Macintosh
OS X v. 10.4

Restoring files on your Macintosh OS X v. 10.4

This document explains how to restore files onto a Macintosh with OS X v.10.4 from your Macintosh OS X backup disks.

The following topics are covered:

Restoring your files

Restoring your bookmarks/favorites

Backing up your settings

Restoring your miscellaneous files or applications

Final check

Restore your files

Important: Your account information must match your previous setup. You must have the same name on your account.

  1. Quit all open applications.
  2. Insert your first back up disk into the appropriate drive.
  3. Double-click on the backup disk icon on your desktop to view the contents of your backup disk.
  4. Copy the files and folders from your backup disk to your Home folder on your hard drive.

    If you backed up your entire Home folder:

If you have backed up multiple user Home folders: You must create an account for each user you would like to restore. Each user's account information must match his/her previous setup.

  1. When you have copied all the files from your backup disk onto your hard drive, close the disk window and eject the disk.
  2. Continue until you have restored all your files.
  3. When you have finished, close all open windows and eject your backup disk.

back to the TOP

Selectively restore your Home Folder

If you selectively backed up your home folder, you will have to replace each folder individually.

  1. Double click on the backup disk icon on your desktop to open your backup disk
  2. From the Go menu, select Home
  3. Open the Documents folder.
  4. Open the Documents folder on you backup disk.
    1. From the File menu, choose Select All...
    2. From the File menu, select Copy.
  5. Select the Documents folder on your computer.
    1. From the File menu, select Paste.
  6. Continue the same process for each folder you backed up until you have restored all files.
  7. When you have finished, close all open windows and eject your backup disk.

back to the TOP

Palm user folder

If you do not use Palm Desktop and do not sync your Palm with your computer, you may skip this section. If you use Palm, you will need to download the Palm Desktop software for OS X from the internet and install it.
  1. The Palm folder is found in your Documents folder and should have been automatically backed up with your Users folder.
  2. If you selectively backed up your Documents folder:
    1. From the Go menu select Home.
    2. Open the Documents folder.
    3. Open the Palm folder.
    4. Open the Users folder.
    5. Double-click the backup disk icon to view the contents of your backup disk.
    6. Drag the folder titled with your username from the backup disk to the Users folder.
  3. If you are concerned about synching, please call the Faculty/Staff HelpDesk at x3333.

back to the TOP

Internet Explorer Favorites

1. Open Internet Explorer. Go to Favorites and choose Organize Favorites.
2. Go to File and choose Import Favorites.
3. Find and select your bookmarks backup and click Open.
4. You have successfully imported your favorites.

back to the TOP

Netscape Bookmarks

1. Open Netscape. Go to Bookmarks and choose Manage Bookmarks.
2. Go to Tools and choose Import.
3. Find and select your bookmarks backup and click Save.
4. You have now successfully imported your bookmarks.

back to the TOP

Safari Bookmarks

1. Open Safari. Go to File and choose Import Bookmarks.
2. Find and select your bookmarks backup and click Import.
3. You have successfully imported your bookmarks.

back to the TOP

Firefox Bookmarks

Note: If you have just installed Firefox for the first time, it will prompt you to import bookmarks from other browsers. Check the boxes that correspond to the browsers on your computer that currently contain bookmarks or favorites that you wish to import to Firefox. If you need to import more bookmarks later or if you have a bookmarks back up from another computer, use the following instructions:

1. Open Firefox. Go to Bookmarks and choose Manage Bookmarks.
2. Go to File and choose Import.
3. Find and select your bookmarks backup and click Save.
4. You have now successfully imported your bookmarks.

back to the TOP

Dreamweaver Configurations

  1. From the Go menu select Applications.
  2. Select the Macromedia Dreamweaver MX folder.
  3. Drag the Configuration folder from your back-up disk to the Dreamweaver MX folder.
  4. Close all open windows.

back to the TOP

FirstClass downloads and saved emails

  1. Double-click the backup disk icon to open it.
  2. Navigate to the folder you saved your downloads and emails.
  3. From the Go menu, select the Home folder
  4. Select the folder you would like to restore your saved downloads and emails.
  5. Drag the folder from your back up disk to the open folder on your computer.

back to the TOP

Word 2004 settings

  1. On your desktop, select the Go menu.
  2. Select Home to open your home folder.
  3. Double click on Library to open the Library folder.
  4. Double click on Preferences to open the Preferences folder.
  5. Double click on Microsoft to open the Microsoft folder.
  6. Scroll down until you find the file com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
    1. Delete com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
    2. From your back up disk, drag the com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist file into the Microsoft folder.
    3. Close the Microsoft folder.
  7. On your desktop, select the Go menu.
  8. Choose Applications.
  9. Double click on Microsoft Office 2004.
  10. Double click on Templates.
    1. Delete the My Templates folder.
    2. Drag the My Templates folder from your backup disk to the Templates folder.
  11. Close Templates.
  12. Close Microsoft Office 2004.

back to the TOP

Excel 2004 settings

  1. On your desktop, select the Go menu.
  2. Select Home to open your home folder.
  3. Double click on Library to open the Library folder.
  4. Double click on Preferences to open the Preferences folder.
  5. Double click on Microsoft to open the Microsoft folder.
    1. Scroll down until you find the file com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist.
    2. Delete the file com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist.
    3. Drag the back up com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist file from your backup disk to the Microsoft folder.
  6. If you have saved toolbars in Excel:
    1. Select Excel Toolbars (10) file and delete it.
    2. Drag the backup Excel Toolbars (10) file from your back up disk to the Microsoft folder.
  7. Close Microsoft.

back to the TOP

Stickies

  1. If Stickies is currently open, go to the Stickies menu and choose Quit Stickies.
  2. Select the Go menu and choose Home.
  3. Double click on Library.
  4. Drag the StickiesDatabase file to the Trash.
  5. Click and drag the StickiesDatabase file from your back up disk to the Library folder.
  6. Close all open windows

back to the TOP

Widgets

  1. From the Desktop, double-click on the Macintosh HD.
  2. Double-click on Library.
  3. Locate the Widgets folder.
  4. Click and drag the Widgets folder from your backup disk to the Library folder.
  5. Close all open windows.

back to the TOP

Verify that your files have been restored

  1. Double-click on the Macintosh HD icon on your desktop.
  2. Open each folder into which you have restored files and check to be sure they are all listed.
  3. Close all open windows.

back to the TOP

Your files have now been restored. You may use your computer as usual.