Do I want to inherit a Time Machine backup?

I had to have my logic board replaced. Now when I plug in my Time Machine external drive, I'm asked if I want to inherit the backup, which it says is from a different computer. Well....it's not. It's from this computer. So I'm not sure why it's asking this, but there are so many complaints about "inheriting" that I don't know if I want to or not. Should I just erase the back up or should I go ahead and say "Yes" to inheriting the backup?

Well, I don't use Time Machine myself because I prefer to use bootable clones. So, if you feel better starting over and don't need the older backups, then go ahead. Here is some info on Time Machine which may be helpful:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

Similar Messages

I want to use my time machine backup to go back to Snow Leopard

I can't live without having my great old golf game (Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003) readily available, and playable, which I always had on my iMac with Snow Leopard. Since upgrading to Mavericks - and using Parallels with Mac OS X 10.6 Server - I am told there's a color/display problem (something about 16-bit color) and I can't get the game to play even though it's the same computer, only upgraded to Mavericks. Parallels says it's an Apple (Mac OS X Server 10.6) problem but from what I can see the server version of this OS is exactly the same as the non-server version - at least insofar as the display/color/graphics is concerned - and Parallels either doesn't want to help (with an appropriate graphics controller) or can't.... so I'm left with having to go back to Snow Leopard from Mavericks. What a huge disappointment! Can I use - and how do I do it - my Time Machine backup of my Snow Leopard OS, apps, documents, iTunes, etc. to wipe out Mavericks?

Yes, the machine came with Snow Leopard but not sure where the install disc(s) are. Perhaps they got lost in the shuffle as we moved a few months ago. I do have a Snow Leopard install disc - can I use that and if so, is there a different way to do the install than if I was using the original install discs that came with the computer? Maybe I will jsut have to try it and see what comes up....
But for the computer's inability to play the game, I would have stayed with Mavericks. Now I'm installing a trial version of VMware Fusion but probably the results will be the same as for Parallels. I'll report back in a few minutes!

10.5.6 - spotlight wants to index the Time Machine backup

Since I upgraded to 10.5.6, spotlight keeps trying to index the Time Machine backup. It won't let me add it to the privacy list - I get an "unknown error". Any ideas how to stop it doing that?
It seems that while spotlight's trying to index, Time Machine won't go any further than "preparing backup".

Spotlight does often seem to interfere with large TM backups.
Apparently it has to do with Spotlight busily indexing things that TM has just put on the drive, but maybe hasn't completely released or finished with. Exact cause unknown.
But it won't hurt to exclude your TM drive/partition from spotlight -- you'll find several threads in the Time Machine forum where this has helped greatly. After it's done, remove the exclusion if you want. Note that the TM disk may not get indexed until your next restart.
Also, download the +Time Machine Buddy+ widget. It shows the messages from your logs for one TM backup run at a time, in a small window. Then you'll get a bit more info on what it's doing.
If you see a message about a "deep traversal," when nothing seems to be happening, just be patient. This means TM must examine ever file and folder on your system to figure out what needs to be backed-up, so it will be a very lengthy process.

I wanted to trash a time machine backup but got stuck !

Hi i wanted to put my original 1tb My Passport time machine backup drive to an alternative use, it was nearly full up as it was !, i got the very large file in my Trash Can, this was my first mistake !, I then tried to Empty my TRASH which took simply hours, nearly days as it happens, my second mistake !, When Empty Trash had finished, it wasnt EMPTY !!!!!
It has a few LOCKED files that are named BOOT.EFI that i cannot delete !!.
Can someone Please advise
PS. i now know i should have simply Re-Formatted the drive !!!!. that WAS my biggest MISTAKE !!
Tim

Well Done tbirdvet
Thanks i didnt know that option was there
Tim

New mac does not inherit old time machine backups

I used Setup Assistant to move files from my Time Machine backup to a new Mac. However, when I started Time Machine on the new Mac, it started creating an entirely new backup rather than inheriting the old one. Any help?

Because Time Machine said the Oldest Backup was "none" and the Newest Backup was "none". Also, the initial backup size was far too big for any changes to files I might have made. I also checked the data folder on the Time Capsule, and a new backup file was being created.

HT3275 "The external disk must be erased before it can be used for Time Machine backups because it has an incompatible filesystem." What if I don't want to erase the disk?

I'm trying to use Time Machine on my Macbook (which is a year old) to back up onto a 1Tb external hard drive. I have 860 Gb free on the hard drive. But for some reason Time machine presents me with the statement above. How can I back-up my laptop without clearing out the data I already have on the hard drive?

Time Machine must back up to a hard drive that has been formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Your drive is likely formatted in FAT 32.
If you want to use the drive for Time Machine backups, you will have to erase it and reformat using Disk Utility on your Mac.
First, move the files that you do not want to lose to another temporary location and test to make sure they are OK.
Second, erase the drive that you want to use for Time Machine backups and format it for Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Third, move the files back to the hard drive. Test to make sure they are OK. When you are sure that the files are safe, you can erase them from their former "temporary" location. (Although I do wonder how you are backing up these files).
Time Machine will not touch the other files that you have on the hard drive.

HT201250 How can I migrate a Time Machine backup from an external hard drive to a new TimeCapsuls?

I just got a 2TB Time Capsule. I want to migrate my time machine backups on an external hard drive to the new Time Capsule. I have about 430Gb of files to back up; I don't want to wait 7-8 days for the backup, unless I have to. I am using OS 10.7.5 (forget which cat that is). I have mounted the TC drive as 10.0.1.1; I tried to drag and drop from old to "data" on TC, but I get the error "The volume is the wrong format for a backup." Any ideas how I can move my old files to the new, and bypass creating a brand new backup file?
Thanks.

Rather than do that, which means starting over from scratch, losing all your edits, organisation and so on, why not simply use iPhoto Library Manager to revert the Library to the older version? Easier, less destructive.
The instructions on that are here
If you really want to start over: you can access the Originals folder simply by going to your Pictures Folder and finding the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.

Time Machine backup to a HD on another Mac on my network?

_The short story_:
I want my MacBook Pro Time Machine backup drive to be one connected to my G5. The MacBook and G5 are connected via my wired network. I have file sharing turned on and can access it, with read and write permissions, but Time Machine can't find it. How do I browse for it and select it?
_The Long story_:
I was out of town for 8 months, during which time I bought a MacBook Pro (OS 10.6.2). I also purchased an OWC 1.5TB HD which I connected directly to the MacBook via Firewire 800 and used it for Time Machine backups. Cake.
Now I am home, where my trusty old G5 resides. The G5 is at OS 10.5.8. The MacBook and G5 are both on my wired network.
I connected the new OWC 1.5TB drive to the G5 via Firewire 800. I can see this drive from my MacBook via file sharing, can read and write to it, etc, but when I go to "Select Backup Disk" in Time Machine on the MacBook, no drives show up. If I right-click on the Time Machine icon and select "Browse Other Time Machine Disks", there is nothing there either.
Essentially, I just need to find that same drive which is now connected to another networked Mac.
The only user account I have on each machine is just a single Admin account. Does it have something to do with creating a new account on the G5?
Since the drive in question is connected to the G5, it seems like the G5 is the gateway (for lack of a better term) for my MacBook to get to that drive. I just don't know how to make that happen, since when browsing in Time Machine for backup drives, you can't select a networked computer and then drill down to a specific drive.

I was hoping to find a way to automatically mount the OWC drive on the desktop of my MacBook, so on the MacBook I selected "Go" in Finder and chose "Connect to Server". I selected my G5 and was then able to drill down to the OWC drive. That brought up a Finder window that allowed me to access everything on the G5. I guess that is just basic file sharing via my network.
I had a feeling that would allow Time Machine on the MacBook to use that drive, and it did. However, when I selected "Back Up Now", it appears to create a new backup, not just the usual incremental backup that you get after the first time you use Time Machine.
I am closer, but clearly don't have the full solution. I was hoping Time Machine would see that drive as the same one it had been using (since it is), but obviously it wants to start a backup from scratch, so to speak.
Ideas?

Searching time machine backup on different computer

I have 3 computers backed up by time machine onto one hard drive. How do I search time machine for a backup of a computer I am not currently using? I did use the control key and was prompted for which disk to search,and clicked on that, but then it just switches me back and only shows the backups of the same computer I am using at the moment. I want to search a time machine backup of a computer that is no longer functional.

This was actually solved in the 10.7.1 or 10.7.2 update.

Resume Time Machine Backup On New MBP (props available)

Hello Officials,
I do not mean to scare away answers, but I am an experienced Mac boy, and would be forever honored with help on (this now) complicated issue below:
Info:
My old MBP had a couple of logic board replacements, now I have the new MBP. I want to perform a clean install, and thus don't want to restore from my full time machine backup (3.3TB of data). I did use Migration-sh't-Assitant for my apps, (and proper delete process for ones I didn't want) but want further options. My main problem is that I would like to go back to having my old version of Mail (with mailbox's and rss) and my old +Address Book+. (I am aware of the longer steps to get these two to work) _As well as_, I want to resume my Time Machine backups from my old backups.
Goal:
Continue using my old Time Machine backups for my new computer. Without 'Browse Other..'.
*You Should Know -That I Know*
I can hold option for a different Time Machine, it is a terrible way to operate the machine and its files.
It is a challenge due to the MAC address.
I can just re-sync Mail with all my other accounts, but I have a lot. I don't want to do that.
Address Book, even on my 'Browse other time machine disks' this is quite funky. Open to suggestions.
I already moved the backup onto a new drive. This is different.
Link
An interesting terminal walkthrough. Unfortunately is dated and filled with errors:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20080128003716101
I have been looking into this for hours, I'm interested in what there is.
_*+THIS IS POSSIBLE TO DO+*_
I sincerely thank you for your time, you are truly kind-
~Dylan Jones
Message was edited by: thedylanjones

thedylanjones wrote:
Hello Officials,
Hi, and welcome to the forums.
But there are no "officials" here; this is a user-to-user forum. We're all users, just like you.
I want to perform a clean install, and thus don't want to restore from my full time machine backup (3.3TB of data). I did use Migration-sh't-Assitant for my apps, (and proper delete process for ones I didn't want) but want further options. My main problem is that I would like to go back to having my old version of Mail (with mailbox's and rss) and my old +Address Book+. (I am aware of the longer steps to get these two to work)
Not sure what you mean here. Do you mean the old versions of the Mail and Address book apps, or the old data? What version of OSX is on each Mac?
An interesting terminal walkthrough. Unfortunately is dated and filled with errors:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20080128003716101
That's outdated (2008), and not needed on Snow Leopard. When the first backup of your new Mac starts, you should get an option to "re-use" the backups. See #B5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum). But note that however you answer that, Time Machine will do a new, full backup of the new Mac.

Cannot transfer Time Machine backups from one external drive to another

Since I bought my 13 inch MacBook Pro in September 2014 I've been keeping Time Machine backups on an external 1TB Lacie Rugged. This is partitioned into three and one of the partitions contains my iPhoto library.
Last weekend I left my MBP disconnected from the power source but with the external hard drive still plugged in. Long story short - the battery level fell below the minimum needed to operate so it turned itself off and 'disconnected' the external hard drive. This resulted in a corrupted iPhoto library which is no longer accessible.
In order to restore my iPhoto Library from another backup I needed to buy a second external hard drive. Yesterday I bought a 2TB Lacie Rugged which I've now partitioned into 5.
I want to move my Time Machine backups from the 1TB Lacie Rugged to a partition on the 2TB Lacie Rugged (to take advantage of the new Lacie's Thunderbolt connection).
I read the Apple article -
HT202380: Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the current backup drive to a new backup drive
and followed the instructions precisely. About 2 hours into the transfer I came back to my MacBook Pro and saw a message saying that it was not possible to complete the transfer because I did not have the correct permissions. The only option was to click the OK button which stopped the transfer.
Can anyone advise what I should do next?
Cheers
Tricia

Hi Eric,
Thank you for your response. I came across another thread yesterday which suggested the Restore via Disk Utility method. It worked for me, too. This was after I had tried following the method suggested in the Apple article above three times but each time the message was the same ....
The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items.
I dare say that Apple would like to have us believe that it's a simple matter of 'drag and drop' but it certainly wasn't for me. From what I've read the permission problem crops up fairly frequently. Before the second and third attempts I had already amended Permissions on the Time Machine backups so that everyone could read and write, so that mustn't have been the problem. I'm the only person who uses my computer so that's not a problem.
The next problem I have is that I decided I would use the Restore route to transfer my SuperDuper clone rather than start from scratch. Unfortunately, the partition size on my original backup disk where SuperDuper clone is is 350GB and the size of the SuperDuper clone partition on my new backup is 300GB.
Of course, Apple says you can resize partitions using Disk Utility. What they don't say is you can downsize partitions but (in my experience and that of many other frustrated users on various forums) you CANNOT upsize using Disk Utility. I have 100GB spare on my external hard drive (from downsizing two partitions by 50GB each) BUT there is no way Disk Utility will let me increase the size of SuperDuper partition to 350GB :-(((
Cheers
Tricia

Using Automator to start Time Machine backup then eject?

I've been fooling around with Automator because I want to create an application so when I mount my Time Machine disk and I run the application, the Time Machine backup with start and once it's finished it will automatically eject the volume.
I used the following shell script to begin the TM backup:
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd-helper &
I used the following Applescript to eject the volumes:
tell application "Finder"
eject (every disk)
end tell
The problem is, when I save it as an application and I run it, I can see TM backup starts but it immediately ejects the disk. What can I add so it will eject the disk AFTER the TM backup has completed?
I have a MBP (late 2011) with OS X 10.7.4

Two comments:
1) Try removing the ampersand ("&") from the end of that command. The ampersand causes the command to continue in the background while the script continues to the next step. You want the script to wait until that command is complete.
2) You posted your question in a section for Apple's Time Capsule Wi-Fi router. Presumably you want support for the Time Machine backup hardware. Such a question should be posted in the section for the OS X version you're running.

Time machine backup failed (no error number)

I recently installed logic studio on my mac and wanted to update my time machine backup. However, when I attempted to do so, I got the following message:
"An error occured while copying files to your backup disk.
The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."
Of course the problem was not temporary (it has been going on for a couple days now) and disk utility did not resolve the issue. I have tried to repair the disk and disk permissions with no avail. Does anyone else have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Alex
Message was edited by: alexdrumz

idk why, but it just started working... maybe it was temporary?..
The only thing I can think of is that I didn't make it run this time it just made a backup like it does every once in a while..

Moving Time Machine backups to a new larger drive?

Just wondering whether using Disk Utility to 'restore' the drive (ie. making a duplicate to a new larger drive) would be 100% functional and compatible with Time Machine?
ie. I want to switch my time machine backups to a larger drive, but I want to take all my existing backup history to the new drive, rather than just doing a fresh backup to the new drive.

bilbo_baggins wrote:
Just wondering whether using Disk Utility to 'restore' the drive (ie. making a duplicate to a new larger drive) would be 100% functional and compatible with Time Machine?
yes, it will work. just turn off TM while you are doing this.
ie. I want to switch my time machine backups to a larger drive, but I want to take all my existing backup history to the new drive, rather than just doing a fresh backup to the new drive.

Moving time machine backups to new external

I want to move my time machine backups from my lacie 600g to my new 1T Seagate. I tried to use disk utility/restore and dragged the image(la cie) from the left to the source pane and dragged the image (Seagate) to the destination and clicked "restore". After 5 minutes of calculating it said 'operation not possible' or some such. What am I doing wrong?
GH

GH wrote:
How do you do that as I am still waiting for the computer to finish preparing to erase.
Do you mean preparing to delete or empty the trash via the Finder? If so, just cancel it (there should be a cancel button or small "X" in a circle icon at the right of the progress bar). That may take a while. If it takes more than a few minutes, you can relaunch the Finder by clicking the Apple icon at the left of your Menubar, selecting +Force Quit+ then Finder and click Relaunch.

Do I want to inherit a Time Machine backup?

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