miramarbeach

Q: How do I migrate an external USB drive time machine backup to time capsule

Have searched the forums and can not seem to find an answer. Using El Capitan 10.11.6. Want to transfer 4 years of Time Machine backups on an external USB disk to my new Time Capsule. Any ideas would be VERY appreciated.

Posted on Aug 25, 2016 12:34 PM

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Q: How do I migrate an external USB drive time machine backup to time capsule

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  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Aug 25, 2016 1:09 PM in response to miramarbeach
    Level 9 (52,330 points)
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    Aug 25, 2016 1:09 PM in response to miramarbeach

    There is no official method because it does have issues.

     

    There is an unofficial method.

     

    See Q18 here. http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

     

    We recommend people NOT do it. It has not proven long term reliable. Start a new backup on the TC and keep the USB drive as archive. After a few months or a year you will no longer need it.

     

    You need to understand Time Machine backs up in a different way locally cf network. It is fairly easy to move the network backup to local but much harder the other way around.

  • by miramarbeach,

    miramarbeach miramarbeach Aug 25, 2016 1:09 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (33 points)
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    Aug 25, 2016 1:09 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Thanks. After doing some more reading your are correct. I will just keep the external drive if ever needed to find a file and start a new backup on Time Capsule.

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 25, 2016 2:29 PM in response to miramarbeach
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
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    Aug 25, 2016 2:29 PM in response to miramarbeach

    Our recommendation would be to save yourself a lot of time and effort, as well as save a lot of space on the Time Capsule by starting new backups on the Time Capsule and holding onto the USB drive in case you need to go back and grab a file.

     

    After a few months, and you have built up a nice new backup history, you may likely decide that you really don't need all the backups from months and years back.  At that time, erase the USB drive and use it as a spare.

     

    Few of us ever need to go back more than a few weeks to pick up a file that was accidentally deleted by mistake. Yes, it is tough for some users to think about erasing their old backups. In that case, hold onto the drive with the old backups for six months.  If you haven't used it in that time, you never will.  In the meantime, you have saved yourself tons of space for backups on the new Time Capsule.

  • by miramarbeach,

    miramarbeach miramarbeach Aug 25, 2016 2:31 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (33 points)
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    Aug 25, 2016 2:31 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Many thanks. I agree with you and the other person who replied. Much appreciated.