(How) Can I use Existing Time Machine On New Mac Without Erasing Original TM Backups?

Question

Level 1

4 points

(How) Can I use Existing Time Machine On New Mac Without Erasing Original TM Backups?

I just got through doing a clean install from Mavericks to Yosemite and now I'm trying to attach and recognize the original Time Machine Drive (TMD)

I chose to install as a new computer and did not choose a Time Machine backup option because the original TMD was not attached at the time of installation.

Upon arriving at the desktop and connecting my original TMD, I was able to see it in finder but Time Machine did not automatically accept it.

I am able to see the disk in Time Machine but it doesn't tell me that its got data on it .

HERE'S THE ANXIOUS MOMENT: If I select TMD, which is the original, will it overwrite all that orignal information, or will it continue adding to it?

I've read under different parts of the forum that if you go through this process during the original setup and the Time Machine drive is attached to the computer then you will be prompted to inherit the old Time Machine. Since I didn't have the drive attached, I didn't see that.

Now back to desktop and into the Time Machine utility: This option to inherit doesn't seem to exist or is obvious. The only option after selecting the drive in Time Machine is "Use Disk". If I click this, will it erase my original data or will it ask to inherit the drive? It's not very clear what will happen after I click "Use Disk".

Thanks so much to anyone who can help, Jeff

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Jan 5, 2015 6:23 AM

Reply

Answer 1

jeffmaggie Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 5, 2015 9:55 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for the link. I went there but didn't find any information on how to inherit the backup history. The link says "If you’re replacing an old Mac and want the new Mac to use the backups from the old one, click Inherit Backup." At what point in the migration process does it ask "to specify whether you (I) want a new Mac to inherit a backup"? It seems like I got quite a few levels into Migration assistant and the last click that I did not click seemed like it was good to start the process without telling me anything about inheriting anything.

Any suggestions or did I not go far enough?

From Apple Website below

OS X Yosemite: If you want a new Mac to “inherit” your backup history

You can move the backup history from one Mac to another, but after the new Mac “inherits” the backup history, you can’t use the backup history on the original Mac.

You’re asked to specify whether you want a new Mac to inherit a backup if you do any of the following:

Use Migration Assistant to transfer your settings from an old Mac to a new one.
Use Migration Assistant to transfer your settings from a Time Machine backup of an old Mac to a new one.
Clone the disk you use to start your Mac, or physically move it from an old Mac to a new Mac.
Replace your computer’s main board.

If you’re replacing an old Mac and want the new Mac to use the backups from the old one, click Inherit Backup.

If you plan to continue to use your old Mac, click Create New Backup to preserve the backup history and start separate backups for the new Mac.

Connect a new backup disk to your Mac

Transfer your info from a PC

Last Modified: Nov 18, 2014

Reply

Answer 2

Sapote

Level 1

47 points

Oct 28, 2015 10:05 AM in response to leroydouglas

This worked for me; with the Time Machine disk connected to your new Mac start the Time Machine backup. A window should pop up (screen grab below). TM is now in the process of cleaning up old backups, finally.

I was in the same situation as others about this, up all night stressing out over this because TM could not access the 4 years worth of backups after I finished migrating to the new iMac using Setup Assitant to move my User account from the very TM backup disk - connected the whole time. I read this was the way to do it (migrate from TM backup connected to new Mac and then backup afterwards. But since I was never asked if I wanted to "Inherit the Time Machine backup" during this process until I just now after clicking on the TM icon in the Menu bar and selecting "Backup Now", I thought I must have done something wrong. Then I wasn't sure if I should Select Disk>Remove Disk, and/or reselect the disk. I was about to remove disk but did not. I even ejected/re-connected, but no change. I could see it but still no access to it through TM. Figured out by chance - once again. Couldn't someone have just mentioned this simple detail before, somewhere, in all those "Help..." posts, or perhaps clarified in one of the ambiguously written Apple Support docs. I could have slept better last night (4 hrs). Now if I can resolve another post-migrating issue with my On My Mac mail not showing up.

Btw, I do manual backups - reason for TM being "OFF".

Reply

Answer 3

Sapote

Level 1

47 points

Oct 28, 2015 11:08 AM in response to Sapote

%$#@! 10 hrs!!

It is a FW/USB2 G-Drive (connected via FW w/ Thunderbolt>FW adapter) so not slow. Thankfully I was able to pick up the adapter last minute/last night from Apple Store - thank you Apple Store App - Pick Up at Store, otherwise it was ethernet or USB2>Mini cable and both seemed quite slow when Setup Assistant was retrieving user info to migrate.

Reply

Answer 4

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,086 points

Oct 26, 2015 1:16 PM in response to jeffmaggie

jeffmaggie wrote:

...start the process without telling me anything about inheriting anything.

Any suggestions or did I not go far enough?

I believe what I did to inherit old TM backups, after I migrated to a new machine,

was simply the first time I plug my external TM HDD into the new computer, it ask at that point,

"Do You Want to Inherit Old Time Machine Backup"

Reply

Answer 5

Sapote

Level 1

47 points

Oct 28, 2015 10:28 AM in response to Sapote

It's still cleaning up old backups.... There goes 2012. What's it doing?

Another point with keeping TM backup on new Mac was make sure new Mac has same User and Computer Name until after you make a backup with new Mac - which I did. Not an issue since I used Setup Assistant to migrate my user account. It's when you set up the new Mac first and then migrate your original user account over that problems arise, at least that's what I read. makes sense with suer permissions and such, also that unique User ID that is created even if you use the same name and replace.

Reply