Using old Time Machine with a new Mac -- Hints?

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Using old Time Machine with a new Mac -- Hints?

I am running macOS 10.12.5 (Sierra) on my existing Mac with a Time Machine containing 2+ years of backups. I am acquiring a new Mac and intend to set it up using the existing Time Machine. I then intend to set the existing Time Machine aside (for later) and set up a brand new Time Machine (new external drive) to use with the new Mac. What should I then expect if I have to use the old (existing) Time Machine to locate and restore an older file -- one that was not included in the initial setup of the new Mac? When I eject the new TM and connect the old (existing), will the new Mac simply say something like "I see you have connected an older Time Machine; would you like for me to use it also?"

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.5), Airport 7.6.7

Posted on Jul 4, 2017 11:01 AM

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Answer 1

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Tesserax

Level 10

148,483 points

Jul 4, 2017 12:09 PM in response to BPWMorro

Files on a disk with Time Machine backups cannot be accessed by another Mac using the Time Machine (TM) application. However, data can be accessed and transferred using three other options:

Migration Assistant on the new Mac.
Finder > Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant
By inheriting the old Mac's TM backups.
macOS Sierra: If you want a new Mac to "inherit" your backup history - Apple Support
If the backups were to a Time Capsule or other network drive, by directly accessing the individual backup files.

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Answer 2

Jul 4, 2017 11:37 AM in response to BPWMorro

If you import from the Time Machine drive when you set up the new mac it will inherit the Time Machine drive.

You can then set it aside, connect the new drive, do the initial backup and use it normally. Your new mac should have no problem accessing the old drive if you later need it.

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Answer 3

BPWMorro Author

Level 1

103 points

Jul 4, 2017 11:40 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis,

You've confirmed what I expected -- just one of those time when "am I missing something?"

B

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Answer 4

BPWMorro Author

Level 1

103 points

Jul 4, 2017 3:07 PM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax,

Also very helpful; after following your link (and realizing I have a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter) I've decided to just connect the two and use Migration Assistant that way.

B

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