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Transfer data to new Time Capsule

Hello,

I'm getting a new Time Capsule, and using my old one to setup my mom's wifi at her house.
But I'd like the transition to the new TC to be as smooth as possible I know I can save the profile from my old TC unit and put it on the new one, but I would also like to know if there is a simple way to transfer all the data (Time Machine backups, Other Storage, etc.) to the new TC.

Thanks !

2007 MBP 4GB Ram, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 2, 2010 6:57 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 2, 2010 7:47 PM

arkling wrote:
Hello,

I'm getting a new Time Capsule, and using my old one to setup my mom's wifi at her house.
But I'd like the transition to the new TC to be as smooth as possible I know I can save the profile from my old TC unit and put it on the new one, but I would also like to know if there is a simple way to transfer all the data (Time Machine backups, Other Storage, etc.) to the new TC.


Possible, yes. Simple, no. 😟

You can "archive" the TC's internal HD to a USB drive connected to it. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1281

But that's a one-way street -- there's no programming in the Time Capsule to go the other way. You'll have to connect the USB drive to your Mac, then copy to the Time Capsule (so connect via Ethernet). Even via Ethernet, that will take a very long time.

Note that keeping other data on the TC, in addition to Time Machine backups, is not a good idea. See #Q3 in [Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time Machine/TimeCapsule.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

A better solution might be to do the "archive," but don't copy it to the new Time Capsule. Instead, connect to it via Ethernet, select it in Time Machine Preferences, and let Time Machine start fresh. That will take a long time, too, but much less than copying the whole old sparse bundle.

Connect the USB drive to the new TC; you can access your "other" data on it, and you can see and restore from the old backups, via the +*Browse . . .+* option. See #17 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum).

Once you're sure you don't need the old backups anymore, delete the sparse bundle (via Ethernet, or connect directly to your Mac).
3 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 2, 2010 7:47 PM in response to arkling

arkling wrote:
Hello,

I'm getting a new Time Capsule, and using my old one to setup my mom's wifi at her house.
But I'd like the transition to the new TC to be as smooth as possible I know I can save the profile from my old TC unit and put it on the new one, but I would also like to know if there is a simple way to transfer all the data (Time Machine backups, Other Storage, etc.) to the new TC.


Possible, yes. Simple, no. 😟

You can "archive" the TC's internal HD to a USB drive connected to it. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1281

But that's a one-way street -- there's no programming in the Time Capsule to go the other way. You'll have to connect the USB drive to your Mac, then copy to the Time Capsule (so connect via Ethernet). Even via Ethernet, that will take a very long time.

Note that keeping other data on the TC, in addition to Time Machine backups, is not a good idea. See #Q3 in [Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time Machine/TimeCapsule.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

A better solution might be to do the "archive," but don't copy it to the new Time Capsule. Instead, connect to it via Ethernet, select it in Time Machine Preferences, and let Time Machine start fresh. That will take a long time, too, but much less than copying the whole old sparse bundle.

Connect the USB drive to the new TC; you can access your "other" data on it, and you can see and restore from the old backups, via the +*Browse . . .+* option. See #17 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum).

Once you're sure you don't need the old backups anymore, delete the sparse bundle (via Ethernet, or connect directly to your Mac).

Nov 4, 2010 1:03 PM in response to Pondini

Thanks for the response, all the extra information, and the links. It's really helpful.
To bad there isn't really a direct migration path (like connecting both TC's directly through ethernet or a USB hub) but that's alright, I think I'll just move the data I have on the TC to an external drive, wipe the TC clean and start new backups on the new TC.

Thanks again
~Ark

Transfer data to new Time Capsule

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