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User profile for user: Stefano62
Stefano62 Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

time machine backup huge after replacing hard drive

After copying the entire folder Backups.backupdb to a new bigger drive and choosing this drive for Time Machine, TM starts a new backup of about the same size... 700 GB! Why?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Apr 26, 2021 1:22 AM

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,008 points

Posted on Apr 26, 2021 1:40 AM

Hi Stefano62,


You CANNOT just "copy and paste" the backups folder! You need to Restore the old disk to the new disk using Disk Utility's Restore function.


  1. Connect both disks, old and new.
  2. Go to Disk Utility (Finder > Go > Utilities)
  3. In Disk Utility, select “View” > “Show All Devices”.
  4. Select the top level, non indented, NEW external drive in the external section of Disk Utility.
  5. Click Erase
  6. Name: any name you want
  7. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if macOS Catalina or earlier, APFS if Big Sur.
  8. Scheme: GUID
  9. Click Erase
  10. Now, select the disk you JUST erased.
  11. Go to "Edit" (in the top menu bar) --> Restore, select the old disk for the "Restore from".
  12. Let the process start. It will take a long time.


Cheers,


Jack

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,008 points

Apr 26, 2021 1:40 AM in response to Stefano62

Hi Stefano62,


You CANNOT just "copy and paste" the backups folder! You need to Restore the old disk to the new disk using Disk Utility's Restore function.


  1. Connect both disks, old and new.
  2. Go to Disk Utility (Finder > Go > Utilities)
  3. In Disk Utility, select “View” > “Show All Devices”.
  4. Select the top level, non indented, NEW external drive in the external section of Disk Utility.
  5. Click Erase
  6. Name: any name you want
  7. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if macOS Catalina or earlier, APFS if Big Sur.
  8. Scheme: GUID
  9. Click Erase
  10. Now, select the disk you JUST erased.
  11. Go to "Edit" (in the top menu bar) --> Restore, select the old disk for the "Restore from".
  12. Let the process start. It will take a long time.


Cheers,


Jack

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time machine backup huge after replacing hard drive

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