Use time machine to move to new computer?

My macbook has been having problems, so I need to back it up onto an external hard drive before I send it in to be fixed (because the data will be erased). Can I use time machine to back it up? Will that transfer it to the new computer? Or am I better off going through EVERYTHING and dragging what I want into the hard drive?
Also, another question. Is there a way to backup iPhoto while keeping the "Events" in tact?

By far the easiest way to make a Backup, is to use something like
SuperDuper http://www.shirt-pocket.com/
or CCC http://www.bombich.com/
And of course there is Time Machine
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
You may also find this link, by Pondini, of Interest...
Time Machine vs. Clones and Archives

Similar Messages

I have to turn in my old computer before receiving new one. can I back up using time machine then restore to new computer/

I have to turn in my old computer before receiving my new one. Can I restore a backup from time machine to my new computer?

Yep.

HT1338 Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

If you look at the User Tips tab, you will find a write up on just this subject:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4053
The subject of buying/selling a Mac is quite complicated. Here is a guide to the steps involved. It is from the Seller's point of view, but easily read the other way too:
SELLING A MAC A
Internet Recovery, and Transferability of OS & iLife Apps
Selling an Old Mac:
• When selling an old Mac, the only OS that is legally transferable is the one that came preinstalled when the Mac was new. Selling a Mac with an upgraded OS isn't doing the new owner any favors. Attempting to do so will only result in headaches since the upgraded OS can't be registered by the new owner. If a clean install becomes necessary, they won't be able to do so and will be forced to install the original OS via Internet Recovery. Best to simply erase the drive and revert back to the original OS prior to selling any Mac.
• Additionally, upgrading the OS on a Mac you intend to sell means that you are leaving personally identifiable information on the Mac since the only way to upgrade the OS involves using your own AppleID to download the upgrade from the App Store. So there will be traces of your info and user account left behind. Again, best to erase the drive and revert to the original OS via Internet Recovery.
Internet Recovery:
• In the event that the OS has been upgraded to a newer version (i.e. Lion to Mountain Lion), Internet Recovery will offer the version of the OS that originally came with the Mac. So while booting to the Recovery Disk will show Mountain Lion as available for reinstall since that is the current version running, Internet Recovery, on the other hand, will only show Lion available since that was the OS shipped with that particular Mac.
• Though the Mac came with a particular version of Mac OS X, it appears that, when Internet Recovery is invoked, the most recent update of that version may be applied. (i.e. if the Mac originally came with 10.7.3, Internet Recovery may install a more recent update like 10.7.5)
iLife Apps:
• When the App Store is launched for the first time it will report that the iLife apps are available for the user to Accept under the Purchases section. The user will be required to enter their AppleID during the Acceptance process. From that point on the iLife apps will be tied to the AppleID used to Accept them. The user will be allowed to download the apps to other Macs they own if they wish using the same AppleID used to Accept them.
• Once Accepted on the new Mac, the iLife apps can not be transferred to any future owner when the Mac is sold. Attempting to use an AppleID after the apps have already been accepted using a different AppleID will result in the App Store reporting "These apps were already assigned to another Apple ID".
• It appears, however, that the iLife Apps do not automatically go to the first owner of the Mac. It's quite possible that the original owner, either by choice or neglect, never Accepted the iLife apps in the App Store. As a result, a future owner of the Mac may be able to successfully Accept the apps and retain them for themselves using their own AppleID. Bottom Line: Whoever Accepts the iLife apps first gets to keep them.
SELLING A MAC B
Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
Step One - Back up your data:
A. If you have any Virtual PCs shut them down. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
B. Clone to an external drive using using Carbon Copy Cloner.
1. Open Carbon Copy Cloner.
2. Select the Source volume from the Select a source drop down menu on the left side.
3. Select the Destination volume from the Select a destination drop down menu on the right
side.
4. Click on the Clone button. If you are prompted about creating a clone of the Recovery HD be
sure to opt for that.
Destination means a freshly erased external backup drive. Source means the internal
startup drive.
Step Two - Prepare the machine for the new buyer:
1. De-authorize the computer in iTunes! De-authorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
2, Remove any Open Firmware passwords or Firmware passwords.
3. Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
4. Turn off File Vault, if enabled.
5. Disable iCloud, if enabled: See.What to do with iCloud before selling your computer
Step Three - Install a fresh OS:
A. Snow Leopard and earlier versions of OS X
1. Insert the original OS X install CD/DVD that came with your computer.
2. Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
3. Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu; repartition and reformat the internal hard drive.
Optionally, click on the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
4. Install OS X.
5. Upon completion DO NOT restart the computer.
6. Shutdown the computer.
B. Lion and Mountain Lion (if pre-installed on the computer at purchase*)
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because
it is three times faster than wireless.
1. Restart the computer while holding down the COMMAND and R keys until the Mac OS X
Utilities window appears.
2. Select Disk Utility from the Mac OS X Utilities window and click on the Continue button.
3. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the left side list. Click
on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
4. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on the Security button
and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
5. Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
6. Quit DU and return to the Mac OS X Utilities window.
7. Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
8. Upon completion shutdown the computer.
*If your computer came with Lion or Mountain Lion pre-installed then you are entitled to transfer your license once. If you purchased Lion or Mountain Lion from the App Store then you cannot transfer your license to another party. In the case of the latter you should install the original version of OS X that came with your computer. You need to repartition the hard drive as well as reformat it; this will assure that the Recovery HD partition is removed. See Step Three above. You may verify these requirements by reviewing your OS X Software License.

HT201250 when restoring a time machine backup to a new computer, does it affect the new operating system on the new computer

when restoring a time machine backup to a new computer, does it affect the new operating system on the new computer?

That depends on how you do it.
By far the best, easiest, most reliable method is to use Setup Assistant when your shiny new Mac first starts up, to transfer your apps, users, data, etc. That doesn't disturb either the OS or basic Apple apps that came with the new Mac. See Using Setup Assistant on Mountain Lion or Lion.
There is a facility to restore an entire system from Time Machine backups, including the version of OSX on the backup, but that's for use when your internal HD has been erased or replaced only. It's not a good idea to restore the full backup of one Mac to a different one. Depending on the circumstances, the installer may not allow it. Even if it does, the Mac may not start up, or may kernel panic, or not work properly.

If I use time machine to back up my computer do I still need to backup my photos and videos separately?

If I use time machine to back up my computer do I still need to back up my photos and videos or is it already done?
Thx!

Time Machine backs up everything except the things you tell it to skip.
But what happens if there is a problem with your drive AND there is a different problem with Time Machine's drive?

Using Time Machine Backup Drive with NEW Macbook Pro

I just got a new Macbook Pro. I migrated from my old MacBook Pro. Now I want to use my Time Machine Disk with this new machine.
When I connect the external drive, and select back up now, it says there is not enough space (due to the fact this is a new machine and it wants to backup the entire thing)
Also, when I go into the TimeMachine, it doesn't show me anything past today. . . all of my backups are not displayed over the past year. . .
How do I make it so that the external drive displays all my old backups. . . ??
Thank you for your help.

Turn off TM or set the backup drive to null. Rename your computer in Sharing preferences to the same computer name of your old computer. Turn TM back on and reselect the backup drive. TM will behave as you expect. Of course if the file dates on the new machine are all changed since the migration, then TM will correctly assume that they require backing up. You will then find that there will not be sufficient space on the drive for the new backups. If this occurs then you should simply erase the backup drive and start your TM backup anew.

Using Time Machine to restore to new hard drive missing recent backups

On Mac Book Pro 2009 with OS X 10.5.8.
I have been backing up to Time Machine on an external drive since 2009. A few month ago I upgrade to OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
Trying to install a new hard drive and restoring from Time Machine. Just before installing the hard drive I again backed up to Time Machine.
Trying to restore from Time Machine.
Note: this link shows the screen I am on. It isn't from my computer. Just showing for display purpose.
http://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/xlarge/public/field/image/2014 /03/time_machine_select_backup.jpg?itok=G2WbV0Vu
"Select a backup. Select the Time Machine backup you want to restore. Only complete backups of Mac OS X appear in the list"
The problem is, the most recent "complete" restore point in the list is August 2011 (OS X 10.5.8). How can that be? Over the years I have checked Time Machine and I have back ups way past 2011.
What should I do?
Thanks

Daniel Greeney wrote:
So I just purchased an internal drive (separate from my system drive) to use as a Time Machine drive, for both of my computers (only one partition). Since they will be backing up every day, I will retain much more recent material in case of drive failure.
Let Time Machine back up every hour, as it's designed. That will protect you best.
My question is this - if I have a drive failure on my current internal system drive, and the internal Time Machine is intact, is it possible for me to take my external bootable backup (say 3 weeks older than Time Machine in how recently it was backed up), make a cone of that on a new internal system drive, and then use Time Machine to restore that drive to what is most current on Time Machine?
Does this question make sense?
The question makes sense until you realize that Time Machine backups contain everything you need (unless you do something silly, like exclude your system files).
Once the new drive is installed and formatted, you can restore your entire system from the TM backups faster than you can copy the clone to the new internal HD. See #14 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum. Note that you use the Snow Leopard Install disc only for the Installer on it; you don't install OSX from it.

If I backed up my files on external portable drive using time machine - I bought a new I-Mac - can I upload my music and photos .

Can I install mympictures and music that were back up using time machine from my McBook into my new i-Mac - the back up is on a portable drive.

Hello:
There should be no problem - although I have never done what you describe. Attach the drive to your new computer. open Time Machine, and retrive what you wish.
Barry

Time Machine recovery on a new computer

I have an old Intel Core Duo Mac Book Pro that was running OS 10.6.8 and a newer iMac running 10.7.4. Both were being backed up using Time Machine onto a Time Capsule. My Mac Book Pro has had some serious problems and I would like to recover the back up from the MacBook Pro onto a Partition on the iMac. The MacBook Pro had a 250GB hard drive (200GB used for OSX). I partitioned the iMac to give a clean 250 GB partition. How do I recover the MacBook Pro Data onto the iMac partition?
Thanks

Pondini has some info..
http://pondini.org/TM/16.html
Read all the links ..or Q14-17 on restore.. there are a number of methods.

Migration: Can I use Time Machine to move apps from MacBookPro to MacPro?

I've outgrown my laptop and have "graduated" to a MacPro <insert big smile>. I know I can use Time Machine to bring everything from an old laptop to a new one, but can I do the same to bring files from the laptop to the MacPro?
Sure would be lot easier than re-installing everything.
I have the original discs for all the important stuff, but wondered if I could bring over those myriad apps that I've downloaded.
The laptop is being "retired" - the screen is getting darker and darker - soon will be unusable...

The first time you boot your new Mac is the best time to migrate everything in "Setup Assistant".
If it's not the first boot, funny things happen. For just the applications I'd use Migration Manager to get them from the TM disk, or from your connected laptop. Since you've already booted up I wouldn't try to migrate in your Home folder that way.
For your own data you can drag to copy, or for application support data here's a user tip for that.
-mj
Message was edited by: macjack

Problems trying to restore Time Machine backup to a new computer

Hi there-
I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro and want to downgrade it from Lion to Snow Leopard. I have Time Machine backups from my slightly older MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard. However, when I attempt to restore from the Snow Leopard backup, I get a message stating I can't restore that backup because it was done on a different computer. Is there a way around this so that I can essentially just overwrite my new computer with my latest backup of the older running Snow Leopard? Thanks in advance-

I should say though, I don't know for sure if a complete disk wipe will allow you to boot off the 10.6.3 Snow Leopard disks or not, as I don't fully understand how the firmware works. There are two parts I know of, the hardware firmware and the EFI software firmware.
EFI supposedly has it's own partition on the drive, which should be able to be completly erased.. When I installed rEFIt however (it's a alternate firmware allowing me to boot other operating systems), it required two reboots for it to take hold.
I also should say I've never taken a factory Lion installed machine and put Snow Leopard on it.
So far what I've been able to determine is the firmware is blocking the booting of the 10.6.3 disks (the only retail version there is) so you can't install Snow Leopard, if the firmware can be flashed to a earlier verison the 10.6.3 disks should boot as the hardware drivers for 2011 MBP's reside on the 10.6.3 disks.
But if you have a second Mac, then the target disk mode of the link above should work, you can also create a large HFS+ journaled partition in Disk Utility in Lion and then use Target Disk mode of the other Mac to install Snow Leopard there.
I wish you luck, you might have to visit MacRumors or another Mac site to get further information. The Lion machines are very new, Apple is resisting attempts to downgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard and not many have done it yet.
I bought my machine pre-Lion so I can stick with Snow and avoid the Lion pain, but have it on another older Mac for experimental puposes (quad boot).
I'm pretty sure rEFIt will allow you to boot off the 10.6.3 disks.
I'm sorry if I couldn't have been more help, I'm still learning how to get around this 10.6.3 block myself.
If I had a factory Lion machine, I would most certainly post a blog how to downgrade the SOB to 10.6 somehow.

Using Time machine backup drive on new mac

Hi
I have an external hard drive that has a time machine backup on it. I want to use it on a re-installed mac, the re-installed mac has quite a few new files on it.
Can you just plug it in and copy all the files across to the newly installed Mac and carry on - or is there a danger of anything going missing?
Thanks for your advice.

Turn off TM or set the backup drive to null. Rename your computer in Sharing preferences to the same computer name of your old computer. Turn TM back on and reselect the backup drive. TM will behave as you expect. Of course if the file dates on the new machine are all changed since the migration, then TM will correctly assume that they require backing up. You will then find that there will not be sufficient space on the drive for the new backups. If this occurs then you should simply erase the backup drive and start your TM backup anew.

HT201250 Can I use Time Machine on more than one computer?

I have a new Mac Air and would like to back up to my existing Time Machine which I also use for my older Macbook. Can I use back up both on time machine?
thanks

General rule of thumb is you need a drive about 2-4 times the size of the total amount of data being backed up. See #1.
Time Machine FAQ
I backup 2 computers to the same drive and have never had any problems.

Time Machine failure transfering to new computer

Hello,
I was having a lot of problems with my 2009 Macbook Pro for various reasons that lead to a lot of random restarts and frozen screens, I took it in multiple times and nothing came of it so they gave me a replacement one under Apple Care. So my situation is that I have TimeMachine and had many successful backups before I recieved the new computer, but during the last backup on my old computer it froze up. Now I am trying to get that information from my old computer onto my new one and Time Machine is saying that my backup is damaged.
Is there a way I can get the information that would still be on TimeMachine on to my new computer despite the failed most recent backup?
(Migration Assistance is not showing my prior saves on my timemachine, saying I need to "make sure it is not currently mounted by another machine", which I assume that it would be mounted to my old (now gone) computer.)
So also is there something I need to do to unmount it or how to access it in a way to solve the previous problem.
Thanks for your time

watsonbr wrote:
After logining in the information for my time machine it has all the devices that have been backed up on it,
Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by that. Where are your backups (an external HD, a Time Capsule, a Network Drive, or ??).
And/or, take a look at Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #14 -- can you tell me which window you're seeing that on? Screen title or paragraph number is fine.
when I click on my old back up it says "Cannot be open. If it is a password protected backup you entered the incorrect password. Otherwise the backup may be damaged."
Is that on the same window?
For the migration assistance program the time machine disk does show up under the select you system screen. But then under the same page I click continue and then it only lists my other devices.
Ah, do you mean you've backed-up more than one Mac to the same place, and when you select that line, you see only the others, something like this:
I do not currently have access to my old Mac but I am seeing if I can get it back.
Good. I hope you don't need it.
Please clarify as above where your backups are, if there are multiple Macs there, and whether the backups were made over a network or locally (ie, connected directly to your Mac via USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt). Then we can dig deeper to see if we can find your stuff.

HT5096 Transferred from time machine backup to a new computer and screen went white. What did I do?

Transferred from time machine backup to new Mac desktop and screen went white on me. Did I do something wrong.???

How did you transfer the data?

Use time machine to move to new computer?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for