you should be able to. in fact, I think there was a podcast on this very subject (choosing files to restore from a time machine backup).
I think its in the macvisionaries archives by now. -Eric On Jan 24, 2011, at 3:53 PM, Sarah Alawami wrote: > Now if I import fromt he last back up how can I have it not import my for > mail as I literely want to start out clean from there. Can you choose a set > of files you can restore? > > S > On Jan 24, 2011, at 2:04 PM, Eric Oyen wrote: > >> installing without erasing will only overwrite the main system files. your >> personal settings (in /Users/<pathname> ) will not be altered. in fact, they >> might get backed up to a directory called "old-home:. >> >> still, backing up is not a bad idea. you might find the system has >> inconsistent operation unless you erase and reinstall. part of this is from >> settings files in /System and /Library. by erasing, you set the system to >> "factory new". then you can import your /home from time machine and whatever >> apps you want to have. >> >> -Eric >> >> On Jan 24, 2011, at 1:48 PM, Sarah Alawami wrote: >> >>> Well it looks like my OS problem din't go away and I don't want to do it >>> but it looks like i need to reinstall. Well I think I'm doing pretty good >>> after a year of owning this thing. Anyway I don't want to loose anything. I >>> am backed up via time machine and I know how to work the installer but what >>> is the difference between installing with out erasing the disk and >>> installing after formatting the disk? and which is better. Also if I have >>> to format the disk How will I restore from the latest time machine back up >>> using the OS10 disk? >>> >>> Thanks all. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
