Mac OS X v10.6: Issues after restoring a Mac from a Time Machine backup made with a different Mac ("Restore System From Backup…")

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS installation/setup (any version)

Symptoms

If you use "Restore System From Backup…" to restore a Time Machine backup to a different Mac than the original Mac used for the backup, issues such as these may occur:

  • Graphic anomalies may appear during startup, or may follow the mouse pointer
  • AirPort or Bluetooth may not be available
  • The Mouse System Preference pane may not display the Magic Mouse or its features
  • Brief graphic distortion may appear when shutting down an iMac
  • Other startup issues

Resolution

To resolve this issue, perform a reinstallation of Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, using the Mac OS X v10.6 DVD included with the computer or a Snow Leopard retail DVD.

If your Mac does not have an optical drive, follow the steps in this article.

Additional Information

Tip: If you want to transfer your files to a different Mac, you should use Migration Assistant instead. The Migration Assistant appears when you are first setting up your new Mac or you can find it in the Utilities folder of your Mac.  If you are already affected by the issues noted in this article because "Restore System From Backup" was used instead of Migration Assistant, use the solutions above.

Restoring a Time Machine backup to a different kind of Mac can cause issues because it may install a version of Mac OS X that doesn't contain system files that the Mac needs.

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