Time Machine Start Date
I am about to transfer everything from an old (still running, but barely!) 2008 iMac running El Capitan (the latest it will allow me to upgrade to) to a new 2020 iMac. When I look at my Time Machine backups, the earliest one is sometime in 2015. What has become of the backups in Time Machine from 2008 to 2015? Do I even need them to transfer to the new iMac? Frankly, I just need the easiest transfer method for someone who is a writer and who will never understand all my iMac stuff but don't want to lose files and folders and apps (Vellum, Scrivenor, Word) where all my writing resides. Assume, for sake of discussion, that I've done it all wrong for 14 years. My desktop is loaded with Folders (won't do THAT again!) and if I knew how to word this question....help out a sister who should know more but doesn't. Afraid to open new iMac because...then what? LOL...no judgments please if you can restrain yourself. I know I've done it all wrong in the past. New start! New iMac (well relatively new....not the M1, but brand new otherwise. Thanks so much! I really need help!
iMac Line (2012 and Later)