How do I migrate multiple sparsebundles from my old time capsule to my new time capsule?

Question

How do I migrate multiple sparsebundles from my old time capsule to my new time capsule?

My old 1tb time capsule died on me last week. I bought a new 2tb model. I have put the old disk in an enclosure and I can access the data on it.

The old time capsule was used to backup three Mac's. How do I migrate the three sparebundles to the new time capsule? I want to keep all the backup histories.

I found lots of sites with tips but they all assume that the old TC was used to backup only one Mac.

I run Lion on my main Mac and all time machines were configured to backup via wireless.

Posted on Jul 31, 2011 12:15 AM

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Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 31, 2011 2:23 AM in response to TheDutchMan_2

How can I copy my TM backups to a different location?

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Answer 2

Jul 31, 2011 3:30 AM in response to Jolly Giant

I have tried option nr 2 but when I connect Time Machine to the new Time Caspulse there is no history. Mind you, it days 'sparsebundle' on that site and I am trying to migrate all three.

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Answer 3

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 31, 2011 3:40 AM in response to TheDutchMan_2

TheDutchMan_2 wrote:

I have tried option nr 2 but when I connect Time Machine to the new Time Caspulse there is no history.

what history ? did you follow the instructions exactly ?

Mind you, it days 'sparsebundle' on that site and I am trying to migrate all three.

migrate them one by one.

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Answer 4

Jul 31, 2011 4:04 AM in response to Jolly Giant

The history in the backup files. I want to keep 2 years worth of backup history.

As far as I can see, for option #2 its just copy the files from the old folder (the 1Tb disk) to the same location on the 2Tb Time Capsule.

The only step by step example is to increase the size of the sparse bundles once they are in the new location.

So... - deep breath - I am willing to start from scratch. I have removed the three sparsebundles from the new location. What do I do now?

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Answer 5

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 31, 2011 4:26 AM in response to TheDutchMan_2

TheDutchMan_2 wrote:

What do I do now?

to start a new set of backups, go system preferences > time machine > select disk and select the new TC.

Apple recommends you use an ethernet cable between TC and computer for the initial backup. once that's completed, the wire can go as subsequent backups will be incremental.

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Answer 6

Jul 31, 2011 4:38 AM in response to Jolly Giant

But then I will loose 2 years worth of backup information. 😟

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Answer 7

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 31, 2011 4:43 AM in response to TheDutchMan_2

sorry, i thought you meant you were willing to start from scratch. are you sure you need two years worth of backups ?

well, since you "put the old disk in an enclosure", a different method would apply. read the green box in the user tip above.

so, you would have to use option 3.

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Answer 8

Jul 31, 2011 5:04 AM in response to Jolly Giant

Thank you for the tip.

First I am trying the solution prosoped in this thread. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2595634?start=0&tstart=0

If that does not work then I can try option nr 3.

To bad Apple did not anticipate users wanting/needing to upgrade to a bigger time caspule and build and upgrade ultility. :-(

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Answer 9

Jul 31, 2011 5:10 AM in response to TheDutchMan_2

Lol Now I realise that option 3 is the same as in the other thread. Well it gives me a little more confidence. I will give a status update once copying is complete, e.g. tomorrow.

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Answer 10

Aug 2, 2011 11:53 PM in response to Jolly Giant

It worked. Kinda. I think.

I did the steps outlined in option 3. It took 2,5 days to do it (maybe because I had already switched to wireless).

Once the copy of the files was complete I actived time machine and selected the new time capsule as my backup. It said there was no backup history. But then it started backuping. Instead of the full disk (as I thought it would do, as it said there was no backup history) it only did about 35Gb. Which was what I had expected. I had just upgraded to Lion. After that backup it immediatly started again and did a backup of 40 Mb. (Why ???).

After that was done I started time machine and all the old backups were there (eg 2010) as a test I restored a file from Jan 2010. And it worked.

So now the other two sparsebundles to do.

@Jolly Giant: Thank you for the help and advice.

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