My Mackbook pro has had a major repair. Also software was causing the MacBook to crash so OS was reinstalled. I am attempting to retrieve back up files from my passbook for mac saved using Time Machine. I am being asked for the address of a file server or Time Machine backup. I don’t know this. How do I find this to progress and connect the Passport drive?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.7
Problem:
The machine you have now, with new mainboard and new MacOS, never existed before, and the backups you have are for a "different" machine (according to Time machine accounting.)
Solution:
Hold the Option key while you click the Time Machine Icon in the MenuBar and choose "Browse other Backups".
You will likely find the backups for your "old" machine and can "inherit older backups" and keep going.
If you are attempting to restore from backups, connect you passport drive and navigate to it, and select it as the source and tell time machine to use it and if given a choice, YES, "inherit older backups"
if not seen as Time machine destination drive, see the next post.
Problem:
The machine you have now, with new mainboard and new MacOS, never existed before, and the backups you have are for a "different" machine (according to Time machine accounting.)
Solution:
Hold the Option key while you click the Time Machine Icon in the MenuBar and choose "Browse other Backups".
You will likely find the backups for your "old" machine and can "inherit older backups" and keep going.
If you are attempting to restore from backups, connect you passport drive and navigate to it, and select it as the source and tell time machine to use it and if given a choice, YES, "inherit older backups"
if not seen as Time machine destination drive, see the next post.
Drives like the MyBook came with software, and the manufacturer suggested you install that software.
What that software does is to "spare you the annoyance of having to re-initialize the drive" from its factory set Windows New Technology File System (NTFS, the W is silent because there are no other Operating Systems) or similar unusual (on a Mac) format. Instead, the software they provided would simulate a MacOS drive inside an NTFS file for your Mac.
The downside of using the manufacturer's software is that if the manufacturer's software is not loaded, the Macintosh Volume may not be readable, or may not be writable. This means that in startup manager, Installer, and in Recovery such as after a data loss, the Macintosh Volume may not be visible.
The standard advice given here to all users, including novice users, is to discard the manufacturers software and NEVER use it. "Best Practice" is to erase the physical device when new, using only MacOS Disk Utility, and create the fundamental data structures needed for consistent, reliable use by MacOS.
File server or Time Machine backup address required.
