Time Machine Drive back up vs Disk Image file & new OS X?

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Art2Arch Author

Level 1

8 points

Time Machine Drive back up vs Disk Image file & new OS X?

When I update to macOS Catalina from macOS Yosemite I need to insure a few things:

I have software on my iMac that will not work if I update beyond Yosemite OS X.
I have used Time Machine hard drive to back up my iMac multiple times.
Once I upgrade to Catalina, may I use a Disk Image of macOS Yosemite to open that software?'
Will Time Machine suffice to go backwards in time to when macOS Yosemite was installed before Catalina? Can I do this & then open software on Yosemite?

Confused & nervous before updating to Catalina...Please advise. Thanks!

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X 10.10

Posted on May 2, 2020 8:36 PM

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Answer 1

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Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

May 2, 2020 8:44 PM in response to Art2Arch

If you have important software that will not run under Catalina and cannot be upgraded to do so, then you should NOT upgrade.

In order to be able to return to Yosemite, then you must use a new drive to backup via Time Machine once you upgrade to Catalina. The two versions are not compatible nor are their backups. If you do upgrade to Catalina, then you need to perform a current backup of your system, and remove the backup drive. Use a fresh drive to do Time Machine backups under Catalina. You will be able to restore your Yosemite system, if needed, onto an external drive from which you can separately boot from Yosemite.

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Answer 2

Art2Arch Author

Level 1

8 points

May 2, 2020 8:55 PM in response to Kappy

The software is ArchiCAD 15 with multiple 3D *** project files. If I update to Catalina I may upgrade to ArchiCAD 21 for compatibility. ArchiCAD 21 SAYS you can "update" AC15 projects to AC21, but......what if does not work or messes up the original AC15 files? I want a fail safe way to go backwards, when & if I need it, plus my AC15 files remain in original intack condition too.

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Time Machine Drive back up vs Disk Image file & new OS X?

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