This is the first time I've had to retrieve something from Time Machine and I am finding the directions to do so difficult. See below:

Restore a single file or folder
If you’re just looking for a certain file or folder, start by connecting your drive and launching Time Machine. Choose Enter Time Machine. All of your saved backups will appear in chronological order, and you can use the visual timeline on the right hand side to scroll through your backups to look for specific items or folders. Older dates are indicated in pink, which show data saved on your backup drive, and the most updated data on your Mac is indicated in white (hint: It says “Now” in bold, white letters).

I don't know where to access the actual time machine. I clicked on Time Machine in the finder and just got a little window saying "backups". I click on it but it just goes from folder to folder. When I clicked on the Applications folder in this series, and then Stickies, it said I can't open it because it's in a time machine backup! What? I typed "stickies" into the spotlight within the Finder and three different stickies come up but it's just saying I HAVE Stickies. I want a certain sticky file because I accidentally deleted it.

So, I can't find a way to "Enter the Time Machine" as described above. Feeling pretty silly right now. I need a step by step that I can follow.

Thanks.

Rita

OK, I watched a short video and realized I have to enter time machine from the icon on my toolbar. Duh! I clicked on Time Machine and entered time machine.

I picked a date and chose applications and then stickies.

Then when I clicked on stickies it says "open stickies" but it doesn't open. Now I am literally stuck. I need to get into the stickies folder for some info.

Anyone know how to do this? Thanks. If I figure it out, I'll be back.

Rita

In your menu bar there's an icon that looks like an arrow rotating counterclockwise around clock hands. It's what you're looking for.

In the Finder locate the file you wish to replace with an older version.

Click on the TM Icon in the menu bar and then click on Enter Time Machine.

You'll end up with a smaller window containing the file you selected. On one side of your screen you'll have a column with all the backups and their dates/times.

Choose the one you want.

You'll then see the screen go to the file recorded at that date & time.

Then you can click on Restore, which will be on the bottom of your screen.

The file you need is located in Users/Your Short Name/Library/Application Support/Stickies, Rita. (At least it is in OS X 10.6.8.)

There should be one folder in there that contains a file for each Stickie you had at the time of the backup.

Artie: It's different with Mt. Lion 10.8.2. For one, library is hidden unless you use the option key under "Go". I tried it and it just has a stickie database which isn't helpful. Grrrrr!

Ryck has the correct instructions, and the Stickies database is what you want to recover. The individual sticky notes are NOT saved as individual files rather they are records in the stickiesdatabase. However when you restore the stickiesdatabase you will be offered the option to either replace the current file or save both copies. So you could save both, open the older version (the more recent version is labeled stickiesdatase (original) and access the errant record that way.

OK, I did what you said. I got this message: “Stickies.app” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by Mac OS X."
It looks like it thinks I want to modify the whole app instead of restoring one of my folders. I can't find any individual stickies. Just the app in the finder. Not sure where to go from here.

Rita

Hi:

Doing it Ryck's way I never got to the stickie database. See my answer to him. The database looks like a bunch of gobbledy gook when I do see it.

Rita

That's because you got to the Application itself, not the database created by it. I think you may have gone into the Applications folder, not the Applications Support folder.

I'm not a Stickies user but I did create some just now to see what would be in the Applications Support folder. Before creating a couple of Stickies, I checked the folder and there wasn't any database.

I then created a couple of Stickies. After that, there was a stickies database in the Applications Support folder. As a test I double-clicked on the Stickies database and it opened in TextEdit.

Try again, following the route artie provided:

To be honest, I don't completely understand Artie's instructions. I have to go to the Library from a different route because of Mt. Lion. Also, I didn't see an application support folder at all. I think I'll just let it lie. Thanks for trying to help. I'm becoming way too confused.

Rita

I was able to find an application support file by going into the Finder, clicking on Go in the menu while using the Option key. That led me to the Library which contained the application support folder, but there were no stickies in it.

Rita

I did it. It was just a round about way and I can't even tell you what I did. But I found the stickiedatabase (difficult to read) but found the info I needed. I clicked restore but it didn't restore or even ask if I wanted to replace the old one. Oh well.

I hope i never have to find anything else in the Time Machine as I just don't get it.

Thanks for all your help, everyone.

Rita

Actually Rita, you may glad down the road that you do have Time Machine. It really can be a lifesaver/timesaver and is not that difficult to use.

Your particular retrieval from Time Machine was slightly more complicated because you were looking for a single sticky note, which does not exist; rather, as the help above tells you, the stickies are kept as a collection in a database and the location of that collection was not particularly obvious.

In the future if there is one "normal item" (whatever that may mean :/) ) that you want to retrieve you just go to the place/folder in your computer setup where that item is currently found (or should have been until you deleted it), enter time machine, and go back in time to when the item is present or in the version you want, and Restore it. It really is a smooth process.

Thanks, Ira. I really did want to give up. Hopefully it will be as easy as you say when the time comes.

Rita