Unable to load time machine backup after changing OS on 27in iMac late 2013

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Unable to load time machine backup after changing OS on 27in iMac late 2013

I have a 27in iMac late 2013 that I was running os 10.11using a WD mycloud hard drive for Time Machine backups. I upgraded to OS 10.15 Catalina for new software to work, but unfortunately some other software I wanted to use did not. So I made a bootable install drive for 10.14 Mojave to downgrade to the older OS. After I did the downgrade install, I am unable to see the time machine backups either on my wd mycloud hard drive or as an option to restore from on start up or in the finder app. There is an older MacBook Pro time machine backup that shows up on my hard drive but not the iMac backup. Is there any hope for recovering my backup?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Mar 30, 2020 8:51 PM

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Answer 1

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Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Mar 31, 2020 11:45 AM in response to chance501

The only other help I have for you:

If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support

If this doesn't help, then I suggest you call Apple Support.

Contacting Apple Customer and Support Service

Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.
Primary support help at Contact Support.
To contact product and tech support: Contacting Apple for support and service including international calling numbers.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Mar 30, 2020 9:03 PM in response to chance501

Your old backup was under 10.11. Time Machine has changed quite a bit since then including a change in the folder name. You should restore your old Time Machine backup, then upgrade it to Mojave using the bootable flash drive installer.

Have you tried using Migration Assistant to transfer your Home folder from the Time Machine backup drive?

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Answer 3

chance501 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 30, 2020 9:12 PM in response to Kappy

Currently, my iMac is on 10.15 Catalina and I cannot see or find any of my iMac Time Machine backups. The first time I upgraded to 10.15 I could still see the backups going back months, but after I downgraded using the Mojave bootable flash drive installer, the Time Machine backups don't show up.

I am not familiar with Migration Assistant.

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Answer 4

chance501 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 30, 2020 9:13 PM in response to Kappy

Actually, I tried the migration assistant, but it did not show me my Time Machine backups.

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Unable to load time machine backup after changing OS on 27in iMac late 2013

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