Can I restore Time Machine backup to another iMac 2019?

Be aware, Time Machine Backup Utility Only Backups the User Account and Nothing More

TM Backup Does Not contain a Full Working Copy of the Operating System - Full Stop

Somewhere around macOS 10.14 Mojave and Older versions - Yes TM Backup could contain a Full and working Copy of the Operating System

So the wording and expectation about " What is my first time is using TM to clone another other working system install over to another machine " are mis-informed

Yes CCC and SuperDuper can clone

Though and for CCC specifically >>

https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-us/articles/20686422131479-Creating-legacy-bootable-copies-of-macOS

Copying Apple's system is an Apple-proprietary endeavor; we can only offer "best effort" support for making an external bootable device on macOS. We present this functionality in support of making ad hoc bootable copies of the system that you will use immediately (e.g. when migrating to a different disk on an Intel Mac, or for testing purposes). External boot is not a reliable partner in a back up and recovery strategy. We do not recommend that you rely on it for that purpose.

-g wrote:

>>Your best option might be to take this to an Apple Authorized Service Provider

you're serious on that or tongue in cheek )i suspect(

I was serious, just suggesting something that worked for me. Independent repair shops will let you talk to the technician and one even let me into the room where the work was being done. They can diagnose things much faster (often) because they have access to software and hardware tools that I don't have. I don't specialize in hardware repairs, they do. They also have good sources for obsolete parts that may be way better than eBay, which is always a gamble. They also offer some sort of guarantee on their work. It's a matter of how much time one has to address these things oneself versus farm it out to someone who does it for a living and spend one's time on other things. You sound fairly familiar with doing surgery on Macs yourself, whereas I am not.

now sending the main board out to repair shop would be viable -- except I can get another 2019 21.5 i7 32GB ram Fusion for less than that repair cost -- and I can part the faulty machine out for more than I just paid for it

in fact I just bought a second one from my eBay seller to start over since I've had a lot of Macs disassembled and never damaged any hardware -- my odds are good I can get my i7 Mac and get it upgraded to 64GB RAM and NVMe and SATA SSD because I like the footprint of the smaller screen beside my 27"

As I said above, it comes to how much time you have and whether it makes more sense to pay someone to do something for you.

now the Migration Assistant comment is understood

I guess we could try cloning a non-bootable backup to our internal, then reinstalling the OS on top of that...?

Both CCC and SuperDuper recommend something similar: namely, install from the Apple servers a fresh MacOS on the drive which is being used to clone all the user files to. One can indeed use CCC and SuperDuper to make a BOOTABLE (internal or external) clone of your drive/system, but while a cloned external drive will boot, it isn't a fully capable MacOS system because one cannot apply MacOS updates to it; instead one must erase that drive and reinstall the updated MacOS and then reclone all the user files. Both CCC and SuperDuper have extensive discussions about how and why on this topic. It relates to security that is not part of modern MacOS like Sequoia.

By the way, Migration Assistant works fine with "clone" type backups as well as with Time Machine type backups.

I don't know how this is progress -- if your paycheck is on the line -- and your drive corrupts or fails -- you are left with TimeMachine -- which really isn't going to be a simple RESTORE/ BACK TO WORK process

Apple provides step by step instructions for this: (1) namely erase/format the drive (or replace it), install a clean MacOS, then (2) use Migration Assistant to bring over all user files and set up from a backup (Time Machine or "clone"). Once you have done this once or twice, it becomes fairly routine and seamless.

Time Machine may be a good BACKUP but not for a complete restore of the working system like I am used to

That isn't possible anymore due to security features of the MacOS that Apple adheres to. But you can accomplish it with the two step process described above. Since the operating system is now in a sealed volume that is read-only to the user (admin, root, any user) and can only be modified by Apple's servers, there is rarely any need to erase or reinstall the MacOS on that sealed volume.

it's like you need two machines these days or you will have to explain to your client why your computer is "down" (lamest excuse ever, right up there with dead batteries on the job)...

If you are using a 2019 Mac for mission critical things for clients, you need to have a good recovery strategy. Having multiple backups and a good plan to recover are essential. 2019 Macs are considered "vintage" and a 6-year old Mac is likely past its anticipated lifespan. I still have 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2019 Macs that are my personal devices and that I still use but I expect they could fail at any time. My employer mandates replacement of all PCs and Macs after 3 years.

When Apple introduced in macOS Catalina and above the Macintosh HD and the Macintosh HD Data which is presented as a single drive to the user, that ended

The Macintosh HD was marked as Read Only

Starting in macOS 11 the Operating itself is in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that only Apple is able to open, modify and or update

Then they Apple will re seal it

So ends the TM Backup Cloning the entire system

-g wrote:

looking for if it is possible to restore Timemachine backup to a different iMac 2019 from another machine's timemachine backup

I'm impressed at your abilities to upgrade an iMac 2019. Something I would not try to undertake myself!

The normal way to do this is Migration Assistant. Without Migration Assistant you may encounter permissions or security impediments.

What is my first time is using TM to clone another other working system install over to another machine -- i never had a problem using Carbon Copy Clone but read it may not be 100% on Sequoia

I believe Carbon Copy Cloner and SUperDuper (both cloning apps) are totally Sequoia compatible.

I have no use for Migration Assistant (bad memories of that) -- that will cause me to immediately switch approaches if it is required

No harm in trying Migration Assistant, bad memories or not. I have used Migration Assistant maybe two dozen times on a variety of Macs over the years and never encountered any issues. Except sometimes having to reinstall a printer/scanner driver or re-enter a user activation code for an application. Several years ago we needed a short support call to Adobe to complete the migration for various Adobe Lightroom presets.

Both apps have a legacy cloning method, at least CCC does. Though just read might be a problem on Apple Silicon.

Sequoia 15.2 and Carbon copy cloner - Apple Community

-g wrote:

i reinstalled Sequoia from scratch

just got this i7 32GB ram fusion machine off ebay -- it looked like I was the first one to open it, including intact tamper indicators -- had power before the take apart -- a solid machine

Except as many others have reported in Apple Discussions ... computers sold on eBay often have something wrong with them. Which may be why they are offered on eBay? Keep in mind some issues show as "intermittent," that is, they don't show up until some time of what appears to be normal operation.

Fusion drives also have a troubled track record, hence they are no longer offered by Apple.

TB was tight when I first inserted TB cable after the reassembly - I forced it a small bit because it looked aligned inside and out -- it went in and didn't work ... anyone know what kind of repair this might be outside of warranty...2019 21.5 i7 "Thunderbolt 3 ports no power"

Your best option might be to take this to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, these are independent shops but are Apple certified. Because they are independent, they often are willing to work on and repair older Macs that Apple Stores won't take in for repair (yours is too old). They will provide an estimate after diagnosing the problem.

-g wrote:

2019 has to become the preferred classic model that will last a lot of us a long time

macOS Sequoia is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

This link lists Mac computers that can run Sequoia. The 2019 iMac is at the bottom of the list. In other words, when a new MacOS comes out in later in 2025, there is a decent chance that the 2019 iMac won't able to run it. We'll see. I am watching this carefully as I have a 2019 MacBook Pro 16-inch, but at least with the MacBook Pros the 2018 models can run Sequoia, so those may have more time.

Once your model has been sunset for the latest MacOS, one becomes restricted bit by bit in what one can do. I think I mentioned earlier, I have 2010, 2013, 2015 Macs that are still running so I know what happens as their MacOS becomes sunset.