How do I prevent this data loss?

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Level 2

191 points

How do I prevent this data loss?

My MacBook Pro’s RAM has failed and Apple are replacing the motherboard. Meanwhile, I’m adding new appointments to Calendar, new contacts to Contacts, and sending and receiving new emails with my iPad and my iPhone. All this is stored at iCloud. I also have my Documents folder on iCloud drive and, as Time Machine refused to back up (“Time Machine couldn’t back up to the disk TM Backup”) for several days before I took the MBP for repair, the TM backup of my Documents folder isn’t up to date either.

So, when I Get my MBP back, I’ll restore from a Time Machine backup that won’t have these latest appointments, contacts, emails and documents. I’m concerned that when I link the computer to my Apple ID, iCloud will assume this missing data has been deleted from the MBP, and will then delete it from the master databases, and it’ll disappear from my other devices as well.

How can I prevent this from happening? How do I get the restored MBP to download the latest version of my iCloud calendars, contacts emails and Documents folder?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro

Posted on May 24, 2022 10:53 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

genieen16

Community Specialist

May 26, 2022 6:54 AM in response to Erroll

Hello Erroll,

When you log into www.icloud.com from another computer, are you able to see your calendars, contacts, and emails there? If so, that means this data has already been synced to the iCloud server. Meaning when you log into your Mac and sign in to iCloud, all that data will come back to your Mac again.

You can view more information on how this works here: Keep your calendars up to date and share them with iCloud - Apple Support. If you need help with the actual setup process, you can look over the steps on this page: Set up iCloud for Calendar on all your devices - Apple Support.

If you have checked all the settings and find that you are missing information from iCloud, you'll want to follow the steps in this guide: If your iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders won’t sync - Apple Support.

We hope this information helps you out.

Kind regards!

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Answer 2

DerekM87

Community Specialist

May 30, 2022 3:05 PM in response to Erroll

Erroll,

Given what you'd be doing is essentially adding a second Mac from your iCloud account standpoint, you'll be able to access the Documents folder of your actual Mac in repair, that data would not be overwritten.

Data created or uploaded from this loaner Mac would go into a subfolder with whatever name you've given the account on the loaner Mac. This distinguishes it from the data on your original device.

Find your Desktop and Documents files on all of your devices

When you add your Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, all of your files move to iCloud and any new files you create are automatically stored in iCloud too. Then you can find your files on all of your devices.

Your files upload to iCloud each time your device connects to the Internet. Depending on your Internet speed, the time it takes for you to see your files on your other devices might vary.

On your Mac

You can find your Desktop and Documents folders in the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you can find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. Look for a folder with the same name as your second Mac. You can also use Spotlight to search for specific file names.

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Cheers!

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Answer 3

Erroll Author

Level 2

191 points

May 30, 2022 2:51 PM in response to genieen16

Thanks for the reply and sorry for the delay. There is a development: Apple doesn’t keep replacement motherboards herein Australia and I need to rent a computer to use while mine is waiting for repair.

I understand that current contacts, mail and appointments should sync to the new computer once I add it to my iCloud account. What I’m not sure about is my Documents folder, which is on iCloud Drive. Does iCloud keep separate Documents folders for each Mac attached to my account, or do all computers share the same Documents folder? I.e. will the Documents folder on this new computer mirror the one that my own computer (the one being repaired) has uploaded to iCloud Drive?

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

Erroll Author

Level 2

191 points

May 30, 2022 3:42 PM in response to DerekM87

Very helpful, thanks! 😊

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