Transferring Time Machine backup files from an external drive to a Time Capsule

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Level 1

8 points

Transferring Time Machine backup files from an external drive to a Time Capsule

I've been using a Western Digital external hard drive to back up my MacBook Pro using Time Machine. I've recently purchased an Airport Time Capsule and wanted to transfer my old Time Machine backups to it but could not figure out how to achieve that. Technical support were helpful but couldn't figure it out. There's a recognised Apple way to transfer backup files from one Time Capsule to another (see How to move Time Machine backups from one AirPort Time Capsule to another - Apple Support) and a way to transfer backup files from one external hard drive to another (Time Machine: How to transfer backups from a current backup drive to a new backup drive - Apple Support), but no recognised Apple way to transfer backup files from an external hard drive to a Time Capsule. However, I did find this article (http://pondini.org/TM/18.html#id18) and I can confirm that the method described in paragraph 3 ("Copy Local backups to be used on a NETWORK") works!! It would make sense for Apple to produce an Apple Support article setting out that method.

Airport Time Capsule 802.11ac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Western Digital external drive

Posted on Aug 16, 2016 9:38 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 16, 2016 11:50 AM in response to Mjbwatson

We have found the Pondini method unreliable. Apple will not recommend a method that leaves many people with a broken backup.

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Answer 2

Mjbwatson Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 16, 2016 12:23 PM in response to LaPastenague

Well, all I can say is that it worked for me.If Apple isn't happy with this method, and given that it can't exactly be a rare event for someone to want to transfer backup files from an external drive to a Time Capsule, isn't it incumbent upon Apple to sort out a recommended way of how to do it? Also, if Apple knows about this issue, I'm not impressed that I was on the telephone to senior support advisers for hours trying to solve my query of how to effect such a transfer and they clearly did not know of any solution, nor that the Pondini method existed or that it was not recommended. If the official Apple line is that there is no recommended solution and that the Pondini method is positively not recommended, why have your support staff not been briefed about, or have access to material on, these two important points?

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Answer 3

Aug 16, 2016 2:07 PM in response to Mjbwatson

why have your support staff

This is a user to user forum.. I don't have any support staff.

You can tell the moment you start reading it, that the pondini method is a fudge. There is no way that Apple will recommend such a thing.

But of more importance Apple made a decision long long ago to make local and network backups different. Therefore the answer you were given is correct.. Apple does not want people moving local backups to Network. (The other way is less of a problem).

When people ask this question as a user to user support forum we point out the Pondini method. And then Recommend that people simply start a new backup. Keep the old backups on the existing disk for a few months until the network backup has sufficient history and time has passed that it is unlikely people will need the files.

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,990 points

Aug 16, 2016 2:26 PM in response to Mjbwatson

why have your support staff not been briefed about, or have access to material on, these two important points?

You do realize that we are all users here on the forum, just like you, correct? No one from Apple is here other than a few monitors who scan the forum for users who use words that they should not. There has never been, nor is there likely to be technical support help from Apple on this forum.

We have no "support staff" other than other users....just like you.....who volunteer to help.

It's great that the Pondini method worked for you. But, at some point, you will likely see this message when you attempt to back up:

The only real question will be "when" this occurs......not "if" it occurs. When you do see this message, it's already too late. If you value your backups on the Time Capsule, back them up on a regular basis so you won't lose them when you do see the message above.

Good luck!

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Answer 5

Mjbwatson Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 16, 2016 2:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Apologies - I was under the misapprehension that Apple reps take part in these discussions. In any event, if the message appears and I click on "Start a new backup", other than losing all previous backups, is that an end to the problem or will that message reoccur?

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Answer 6

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,990 points

Aug 16, 2016 3:02 PM in response to Mjbwatson

That message can occur with any Time Machine backup on any Time Capsule at any time. Most users who own a Time Capsule see this message at least a few times. The longer that you go before you see the message, the more likely that it will appear.

The bottom line......backing up to a Time Capsule is not nearly as reliable as backing up to a USB or FireWire drive connected directly to a Mac.

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