Restoring from TimeMachine

Why not just restore the bash_proifile?

I thought there were potential permission issues that could come from that. No?

How do I restore a single file?

This article tells you how to restore a disk or an individual file from a Time Machine backup:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1177

Re restoring hidden files:  http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20062357-285/how-to-access-hidden-files-to-restore-in-time-machine/

Also http://simenhag.blogspot.com/2010/01/restoring-hidden-files-with-time.html

Thanks. But I do not understand why the Restore button's inactive. Do you?

See the post of May 7, 2008 at 5:23 am in this thread:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1263305?start=0&tstart=0

So, it seems the button is greyed out until you select the file to restore. Am I right?

So now I need to find the .bash_profile file. I think it's hidden but expect it's location is the same on my OSX as on yours. Any idea where it is?

I am thinking about just restoring the whole system from the original CD. I have lost days, and also wonder if the corrupted bash_profile could have resulted in other file or programs changing?

I can't restore a hidden file if I can't even find that file's location in the first place.

I can not go down this path with such a critical file as a OSX configuration file. I am new to this. AND I have a complete backup on my TimeMachine. I do not need the added complexity and risk of restoring a single file. Please tell me how to restore my system from TimeMachine. That was my initial request. Please4 do not waste time, help me get back to programming and not fiddling with OSX.

I see the Restore button becomes active once I click on the System folder on the oldest backup (the working one). Do you think bash_profile is contained there?

Or the Users folder?

Thanks.