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[birdmantd]

The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

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I have been running an M1 iMac with a 4TB external SSD being used as direct access storage, and I use Time Machine to back up that external SSD to two external 5TB HDDs once a month. I don’t even backup the Mac’s internal SSD, just the external SSD where I keep all my data.

I am switching now to a 16″ MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) and am wondering

Is it possible for my MB Pro to pick up where my iMac left off with the TM backups? Or do I need to wipe the two HDD backup drives and re-initiate the TM backups of the 4TB SSD through TM on the new MacBook? It would stink if every time you bought a new Mac, you had re-do several TBs of backups like this.

Thread modified by moderator to remove irrelevant/SPAM information

• This topic was modified 9 months ago by birdmantd.

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This may work

In reply to The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

Make a backup of your old Mac, just the Mac, nothing external.
Setup up your new Mac and when it asks if you want to restore from somewhere, answer yes and plug in the newly created TM backup.
Once restored, I believe all the preferences that you had on the original machine, were transferred to the new machine, including TM information.

Reply To: The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

In reply to The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

When you switch to a new MacBook Pro and want to continue using your existing Time Machine backups from your previous iMac, you have a couple of options:

Transfer the backups manually: You can manually copy the existing Time Machine backups from your external 5TB HDDs to your new MacBook Pro. Connect the HDDs to the MacBook Pro and copy the backup files to the appropriate location. However, this method requires some technical knowledge and can be a bit complex.

Start fresh with Time Machine: If you prefer a simpler approach, you can wipe the two HDD backup drives and initiate new Time Machine backups using your new MacBook Pro. This method ensures compatibility and a clean start for your backups on the new system. While it may take some time to back up several TBs of data again, it provides a fresh and organized backup environment.

Regardless of the method you choose, it’s always a good practice to verify that your backups are working correctly after the transition. Make sure to check that your new MacBook Pro recognizes the backup drives and starts backing up your data as intended.

[marrydaniel967]

Reply To: The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

In reply to The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

When switching to a new MacBook Pro, it is possible to continue using the Time Machine backups from your previous iMac. You do not necessarily need to wipe the two HDD backup drives and re-initiate the backups. Simply connect the external SSD and the two HDDs to your new MacBook Pro, and Time Machine should recognize the existing backups. This way, you can pick up where you left off without having to redo several terabytes of backups.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by marrydaniel967.
• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by mrmacfixit. Reason: removed unwanted link

[david.johnn254]

Reply To: The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

In reply to The Main Time Machine Backups of External Drives When Changing Macs

Time Machine Backups for External Drives When Changing Macs

Hey there!

When it comes to transitioning between Macs and preserving Time Machine backups for external drives, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Here’s what you need to know:

Consistent Drive Formatting: Ensure that the external drive used for Time Machine backups is formatted in a compatible format, such as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This will help ensure seamless compatibility between different Mac systems.

Migration Assistant: Apple’s Migration Assistant tool can be a helpful ally during the transition process. It allows you to transfer your data, including Time Machine backups, from the old Mac to the new one. This way, you can retain your existing backups and continue where you left off.

Reconnecting External Drive: Once you’ve set up your new Mac, reconnect the external drive used for Time Machine backups. Open Time Machine preferences and select the external drive as the backup destination. Time Machine will recognize the existing backups and continue backing up your data without starting from scratch.

Verification and Testing: After reconnecting the external drive, it’s a good idea to verify that Time Machine recognizes the previous backups correctly. You can do this by opening the Time Machine app and browsing through your backup history to ensure all the necessary data is present.

Remember, it’s always a prudent step to have an additional backup of your important data in case of any unexpected issues during the transition. So, double-check your backup before initiating the switch.

I hope these pointers help you successfully transfer your Time Machine backups from one Mac to another. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!

• This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by david.johnn254.

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