Need help answering whether to 'claim backups' on my just restored MBPro.

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Need help answering whether to 'claim backups' on my just restored MBPro.

My MBPro 16/2021 16 GB Ventura 13.5 was just rebuilt after water damage. Apple rep said to restore from iCloud. I encountered problems with that process so just restored from Time Machine BU (external disk (ED) this morning on my own. As of a year ago I have two back-ups on my ED and I do not know why. When asked to choose which one to use - I chose the one with the most recent BU date (one week ago instead of one year ago.). My computer did restore - seems good but I have not yet responded to the following dialogue boxes. Would appreciate some help on how to respond. I do not have a 'previous computer' - it is the same computer that was rebuilt. Can I delete that other back up on the same external disk? (The back up with the recent date is named Backup LYN's MacBook Pro (2)

Posted on Aug 8, 2023 3:06 PM

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Answer 1

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John Galt

Level 10

146,006 points

Aug 8, 2023 3:23 PM in response to younsmima

Claim Existing Backups is the correct choice.

Apple rep said to restore from iCloud.

That wouldn't make any sense. iCloud Backup is for iPhones and iPads. There is no Mac equivalent.

The reason TM thinks your Mac is a "different" Mac is due to having it serviced for water damage. TM is very conservative in that regard.

Can I delete that other back up on the same external disk?

Not without erasing the backup disk, which you might want to consider at some future date. Among other reasons, one and only one backup does not comprise a robust backup strategy. For now just let TM work.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

146,006 points

Aug 8, 2023 3:29 PM in response to John Galt

Can I delete that other back up on the same external disk?

Not without erasing the backup disk, ...

Upon reflection I may have inadvertently caused some needless concern with that comment. Choosing Claim Existing Backups should obviate that concern. In other words no "other backup" should remain on that disk, so there will be no need to erase it. To be certain it might help if you were to post a screenshot of that backup disk's contents at some point, after it completes a few more incremental backups.

Still, it's a very good idea to have more than just one backup disk.

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Answer 3

younsmima Author

Level 1

13 points

Aug 8, 2023 4:14 PM in response to John Galt

Thank you so much for your feedback. Before I read your response, I had a notice that the disk was 'not ejected properly.' (it was still plugged in???) Regardless, I went to eject it and ended up reading the contents of the two files on the disk . The more currently dated file had about 8-10 backups including the one today - starting February 2023. The 'other' file on the disk had about 10 backups that were from September 2022 thru Jan 2023. I did delete all the backups from that older file..but left the file itself there. I will definitely follow your advice in having more than one back-up disk - I had thought that was a service of having an iCloud account. Again, thank you for responding.

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Need help answering whether to 'claim backups' on my just restored MBPro.

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