Time Machine - can't access backups from other iMac

Question

Level 1

7 points

Time Machine - can't access backups from other iMac

Hello,

I have just purchased a late 2015 iMac 27 inch running El Capitan 10.11.1 to initially run next to but eventually replace my late 2009 iMac 27 running Mavericks 10.9.5.

I have been backing up the old iMac to a Western Digital MyCloud NAS via my home ethernet network using Time Machine. After a lot of initial angst, I have now worked out the quirks of Time Machine and the WD device and it has been running happily for the past 6 months.

I have connected the new iMac to the network and the WD device and run my first couple of backups with Time Machine. So far, so good.

I would like to be able to access the Time Machine backup for the old iMac on the new one.

I have followed the procedure outlined elsewhere which is to right click Time Machine to bring up "Browse Other Time Machine Disks...". This brings up the box "Choose Time Machine Disk to Browse" and I can see the old iMac backup listed.

However, when I click on it and click "Use Selected Disk", I see a sort of Time Machine version of the Finder window for my new iMac - but no backup history for either the new or the old iMac.

Can anyone help? Thanks,

Daniel

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 10, 2015 4:10 PM

Reply

Answer 1

CedX

Level 1

9 points

Jan 17, 2017 5:13 AM in response to DonnaR

I was looking for this too and found this thread.

I tried this but it DonnaR's solution but didn't work.

But I realised you need to start from you computer's main HD (Macintosh HD, most probably). That worked for me.

Reply

Answer 2

swaanson

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2017 1:23 AM in response to Dan Freed

You need to browse to the Time Machine backup sparsebundle file and double/right-click Open With-> DiskImageMounter then Time Machine will show you the correct contents or you just browse the mounted Time Machine "disk" for the correct backup date and copy it where ever you wish.

Reply

Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,251 points

Nov 10, 2015 5:30 PM in response to Dan Freed

Inherit a Backup

Inherit a Backup (2)

Reply

Answer 4

DonnaR

Level 2

159 points

Apr 23, 2016 6:47 AM in response to Dan Freed

Before going into Time Machine, open a Finder window and choose "Computer" from the Finder's Go menu.

Being in the "Computer" window is the key to being able to browse a different computer's backup drive. You can also get to the Computer window once within Time Machine, but it's easier to get there beforehand via the Go menu in the Finder.

Then hold the option key and choose "Browse Other Backup Disks".

Hope this helps.

Reply

Answer 5

schafdog

Level 1

4 points

Jul 10, 2016 1:59 PM in response to DonnaR

Still doesn't work for me. My old machine is called "chili" but doesn't show up, after I have selected the chili backup which is a sparse bundle on the machine I am using to browse the back. Does not show up as a disk either.

**** this is frustrating.

Reply

Answer 6

jrp61

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2016 7:18 AM in response to schafdog

I, too, thought this did not work. The front window in the star wars view continued to be that of the current machine. After numerous attempts and being ready to give up, I noticed that all the windows behind the front window were from from the chosen backup from another machine. I moved back one window and was in business! Thanks, DonnaR.

Reply

Answer 7

schafdog

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2016 7:28 AM in response to jrp61

I also managed once, but I am not sure I can repeat it. I think I opened the sparse bundle, and the selected the hard drive. Then it showed the older dates. If I open via TM UI it only shows now.

Reply