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Level 1

8 points

How to merge two backups into one?

I have two macs [Lion and Mavericks (soon to be High Sierra)] backed up by Time Machine on two different external drives (backups.backupdb/user's mac1 and backups.backupdb/user's mac2). One of these drives is large enough to hold the contents of both (4x if need be).

How can I merge these backups into one? Or in other words, copy Backups.backupdb/mac1 to the larger disk already containing backups.backupdb/user's mac2 so both would be under the same backups.backupdb roof?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Sep 6, 2021 10:51 AM

Top-ranking reply

a brody

Level 10

84,005 points

Posted on Sep 7, 2021 1:08 PM

It is not technically possible to Merge two OS backups into one. The library files for different iApps may be different structure for iTunes and iPhoto, and system settings from an older system should not be installed on top of an older one.

That said, you could given sufficient space run Migration Assistant on each backup, only naming the user from one OS differently than the one from other OS. Then use the Users -> Shared folder as a common point move data between users.

Then you can import documents that were stored on one backup into the other. Just remember to name your users Maverick 10.9 and and Lion 10.7 to ensure you don't confuse which release you are moving your backup from and to.

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How to merge two backups into one?

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