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User profile for user: Bernard Piela
Bernard Piela Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

Re-using Time Machine external disk

Hello. If I have an external hard drive used for Time Machine backups, and I use that disk to restore my data onto a new Mac, what are the best practices for potentially using that external disk as my Time Machine backups on the new Mac?


Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?

Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?

The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.


Thanks for the tips!

Posted on Jan 27, 2020 8:37 AM

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,569 points

Posted on Jan 27, 2020 9:00 AM

Bernard Piela wrote:
...
Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?
Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?
The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.

Thanks for the tips!


Depending on the age of the external drive, I would suggest that you replace it with a new one. In my book, if a drive is 5-6 years old or more I begin to consider that it could become a potential problem at any time. You could continue to use it as a backup to the backup... or for just misc storage of non-critical data.

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,569 points

Jan 27, 2020 9:00 AM in response to Bernard Piela

Bernard Piela wrote:
...
Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?
Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?
The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.

Thanks for the tips!


Depending on the age of the external drive, I would suggest that you replace it with a new one. In my book, if a drive is 5-6 years old or more I begin to consider that it could become a potential problem at any time. You could continue to use it as a backup to the backup... or for just misc storage of non-critical data.

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Re-using Time Machine external disk

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