hassange

Q: How can I retrieve files from an old Time Machine Backup?

I have a few Time Machine backups from older computers, and I'd like to retrieve some files from them. They're sitting on a Time Capsule.

 

What I'm trying to do is Option-click in the Time Machine menu to get the "Browse other backup disks..." option. Without fail, it opens my current drive. Obviously, this is completely useless to me since finder does that already.

 

I've tried this on two different computer with the same result. Both are running Yosemite.

 

Also, I know there is the option to just get the files right from the disk by mounting it, but there are just way too many backups folders. When I open the most recent one, I see just the changes on the most recent backup, not all the files on the disk.

 

How can I get this Time Machine feature to work on my computer?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Time Machine

Posted on Aug 23, 2015 10:23 AM

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Q: How can I retrieve files from an old Time Machine Backup?

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 23, 2015 10:48 AM in response to hassange
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    Aug 23, 2015 10:48 AM in response to hassange

    I have a few Time Machine backups from older computers, and I'd like to retrieve some files from them. They're sitting on a Time Capsule.

     

    What I'm trying to do is Option-click in the Time Machine menu to get the "Browse other backup disks..." option. Without fail, it opens my current drive. Obviously, this is completely useless to me since finder does that already.

    The "Browse Other Time Machine Disks" option will only work if all the backups were made from the same Mac.  If you are trying to "see" backups that have been made from other Macs, then the simplest method is to use Migration Assistant to move over Other Files and Folders.  Once you have moved over the data, you can select the files that you need and delete the data that you do not need.

     

    See this Apple support document for more information on this process.......Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

     

    Migration Assistant.png

     

    While it is possible to to use the Finder to locate files and folders on other backups the process is complex and not easy at all for most users.  That might be why Apple does not really mention this  method in their support materials.

  • by hassange,

    hassange hassange Aug 23, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Aug 23, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Okay so I did that. I selected "Documents and ... something" and I can't find any of the documents I needed. I'm not really sure where it moved them to.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 23, 2015 1:10 PM in response to hassange
    Level 10 (105,055 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 23, 2015 1:10 PM in response to hassange

    Migration Assistant will normally move things to the Documents folder on your Mac.

     

    If you cannot find the files there, try typing in the name of one of the files that you want and use the Finder search function. Just click on the Finder icon (the smiley face on the left side of the dock) and use the search function to locate a file.

  • by DonnaR,

    DonnaR DonnaR Sep 12, 2016 9:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (147 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 12, 2016 9:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    "Browse Other Backup Disks" actually *can* work on another Mac's backups, but it's sort of hidden.

    To do so: Before going into Time Machine, open a Finder window and choose "Computer" from the Finder's Go menu. (That's the key to being able to browse another computer's backup drive: be on the "Computer" window.)

    Then hold the option key and choose "Browse Other Backup Disks".