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Can the external hard drive that I am using for Time Machine have old versions on it from a previous iMac

Can the external hard drive I am using for Time Machine have previous backups from my previous iMac?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Aug 26, 2021 10:25 AM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

Hello, dude2020man.


Yes, it's possible that the ehd has old versions of TM backups on it from your previous iMac, if it wasn't erased before you started using it with your new one.


If you open the drive in a Finder window (not really recommended, so don't make changes), normally you should only see one folder "Backups.backupdb", and within that a subfolder named for the Mac being backed up. If there is another Mac subfolder there, it may contain the backups of the old iMac.


Are you having an issue with the TM backup drive?

Posted on Aug 26, 2021 10:38 AM

1 reply
Question marked as Apple recommended

Aug 26, 2021 10:38 AM in response to dude2020man

Hello, dude2020man.


Yes, it's possible that the ehd has old versions of TM backups on it from your previous iMac, if it wasn't erased before you started using it with your new one.


If you open the drive in a Finder window (not really recommended, so don't make changes), normally you should only see one folder "Backups.backupdb", and within that a subfolder named for the Mac being backed up. If there is another Mac subfolder there, it may contain the backups of the old iMac.


Are you having an issue with the TM backup drive?

Can the external hard drive that I am using for Time Machine have old versions on it from a previous iMac

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