Using Time Machine to migrate to a new iMac, can I keep my old backups?

I've done a lot of searching on this and I'm having trouble finding an answer. I just got a new iMac to replace my existing one. I know the process of migrating either Mac-to-Mac or from my TM backup is straightforward and fairly simple. I'm just trying to figure out if, after migrating all my data to my new Mac, what will happen to my Time Machine disk. Will it want to re-baseline the new Mac and erase my historic backup data? Or will I still have access to the older incremental backups?
Thanks,
Matt

Matt in VA wrote:
I'm just trying to figure out if, after migrating all my data to my new Mac, what will happen to my Time Machine disk.
If you use either Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to transfer your stuff, you'll be offered a choice. See #B5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
You might also want to see How do I set up a new Mac from my old Mac or its backups?

Similar Messages

Using time capsule to migrate to a new macbook

i just purchased a new macbook (see specs below). i used time capsule to backup my old macbook which i am now selling. two questions... can i use time machine in migration assist to transfer all the info from my old mac to my new one? if so how? thanks for any help you can give me.

Yes. Or you can simply connect the two computers via Firewire cable and boot your old computer into Target Disk Mode. Use Migration Assistant to transfer your files.
Note that your old username/account name and the one on the new machine cannot be the same if you plan to migrate the entire Home folder.
Also note that the new machine will have Leopard, not Tiger. Do not attempt to migrate the operating system. Restrict your transfers to the Home folder and third-party applications.

I have a new macbook pro and want to transfer my Mail autofill from my old mac. Never used Time Machine or Migration Assistant -- looks complicated. Any easy way to do this?

I have a new macbook pro and want to transfer my Mail autofill from my old mac. Never used Time Machine or Migration Assistant -- looks complicated. Any easy way to do this?

caitlinfromcambridge wrote:
Thanks -- I would like to try this. I do not know how to reach hard drive from old mac to new. Can you help me with this?
There are two ways - you can boot your old Mac in Target Mode (reboot your Mac, and as soon as you hear the startup chime hold down the T key on the keyboard until you see the yellow/orange Firewire logo on screen). You can then use a FireWire cable to connect your new mac to your old one. The old Mac hard drive will appear on your new Mac as if it is an external hard drive.
Details on Target Disk Mode: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
If you don't have a firewire cable but you do have a home network (i.e. both computers can access the Internet at the same time), you can share the hard drive on your old Mac and then connect to it on your new Mac.
Good article on sharing your hard drive: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1549
Finally, if the above doesn't thrill you, you can hook an external drive to your old Mac, copy the mail folder over to it, then connect the external drive to your new Mac and copy it over. It's two steps, but if you don't have a firewire cable and aren't comfortable with sharing over a network it will work just as well - you just have to wait for the mail folder to copy twice instead of once.
If you get stuck post back!

Can I Use Time Machine Restore Files to a New Computer?

I use Time Machine to backup my data to an external drive. Let's say that my computer crashes and I buy a new computer with Leopard installed.
Two Questions:
If I plug my Time Machine drive into the new computer, will I be able to recreate the old files and settings? Or does Time Machine only work to restore information on a specific computer?
If Time Machine WILL restore the documents onto a new computer, what happens if the first computer is Power PC and the new one is Intel?
Thanks!
Message was edited by: Dan D\'Errico

Dan D'Errico wrote:
I use Time Machine to backup my data to an external drive. Let's say that my computer crashes and I buy a new computer with Leopard installed.
Two Questions:
If I plug my Time Machine drive into the new computer, will I be able to recreate the old files and settings?
Yes - see my comments below regarding "Migrating User Data From One Mac to Another".
Or does Time Machine only work to restore information on a specific computer?
No
If Time Machine WILL restore the documents onto a new computer, what happens if the first computer is Power PC and the new one is Intel?
Then you should choose to Migrate your personal data over but NOT Applications. They may likely not be compatible with the new system.
*_Migrating User Data From One Mac to Another_*
*Firewire Disk Mode*
If you have a FireWire cable, you can connect one Mac to the other via FireWire Disk Mode. Then use Migration Assistant to transfer all of your files and applications over from the older Mac. It should result in a virtually identical setup as your previous Mac. Follow the instructions in this KB article:
“How to use FireWire target disk mode”
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
*Using Time Machine Before Initial Launch of New Mac*
Before starting the new Mac for the first time, attach the hard disk that contains the Time Machine backups from the old Mac.
Start the new Mac and begin the setup process. At some point it will ask you if you would like to Migrate/Import user data from another computer or a Time Machine backup disk. Follow the prompts and select the date of the backup you would like to restore your user data from. Once the migration is complete use Disk Utility to repair any permissions issues.
*Using Time Machine After Initial Launch of New Mac*
If you have already created a User Account on the new Mac using a DIFFERENT Username and Password from the old Mac, then do the following:
Attach the hard disk containing the previous Macs' Time Machine backups to the new computer.
Go to Applications --> Utilities --> and launch Migration Assistant.
At the welcome dialogue click "Continue." You may be required to enter your Admin password.
For Migration Method chose "From a Time Machine backup or other disk".
Select the hard disk containing the previous Time Machine backups. (Give Migration Assistant some time as it scans the disk for eligible data to migrate.)
Now select which User Accounts you would like to migrate over.
However, if you have already created a User Account on the new Mac using the SAME Username and Password as the old Mac, then you will need to do this:
Create a new User Admin Account on the new Mac with a completely unique name.
Now, delete the first User Account you created on the new Mac - The one that is identical to the old Mac. (Of course, backup any important files that were created using the new User Account before deleting it.)
Finally, use Migration Assistant as described above to move the old User Account data over from the Time Machine backups.
*Full Backup After Restore*
Bear in mind that in all cases Time Machine will perform a full backup after a full restore. This is normal. Time Machine will resume incremental backups after the full backup has completed. To view previous backups, Control-click or right-click the Time Machine icon in your Dock or Option-click the Time Machine menu extra and Choose "Browse Other Time Machine Disks," then select your previous backup volume. You will enter Time Machine and be able to browse your previous back ups and restore files. (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1338)
Let us know if this was helpful.
Cheers!

HT201250 I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

Use Migration Assistant on your new Mac:
Click Continue:
On the next screen, choose your Time Machine backup disk.
Don't bother to migrate Applications unless you know they will work on your new Mac. For example, PowerPC applications won't work. Just migrate your user account which will copy all your photos, music, movies, and other documents.
Note: you will not be able to migrate the information to same account in which you are already logged in. Migration Assistant will tell you that and recommend what to do. It can migrate the information to a new account, but you will have to give it a name you might want to change later. One way around this is to create a temporary account, log in to it, and run Migration Assistant which will replace your normal account. Then, log out of the temporary account, log in to your usual one, verify everyting works as you expect, and delete the temporary one.
All this can be avoided when you set up a brand new Mac by running Setup Assistant which essentially does the same thing to create your new account, but most people are too excited to do that and elect to migrate later.

I ran out of space on my time machine because I bought a new I MAC to replace the old one. So I copied the old one on the new one and in addition to that I own a macbook. So what should I do erase the old IMAC on my Time capsule ? Shall I reset it?

I ran out of space on my time machine because I bought a new I MAC to replace the old one. So I copied the old one on the new one and in addition to that I own a macbook. So what should I do erase the old IMAC on my Time capsule ? Shall I reset it?

Go to the airport utility and erase the TC disk.. a quick erase is fine and takes less than 1min usually.
A one pass erase takes several hours depending on how big the hard disk is.. but is somewhat safer in that it tests the drive condition. I normally don't bother for a TM backup.
When you start over you should be able to fit both backups on the TC.. assuming the disk is 2x larger at least than the space used on both the MB and the iMac.
If not you can also add a USB drive to the TC, and use that for one of the computers.
The slowest one is best.. as USB is slow.. but fast enough for wireless you won't notice much.

HT203177 I have not backed up my computer using Time Machine since before I updated to Mavericks. It has been "preparing backup" for a half hour at least and shows no indication of how long this may take. Is something wrong?

I have not backed up my computer using Time Machine since before I updated to Mavericks. It has been "preparing backup" for a half hour at least and shows no indication of how long this may take. Is something wrong?

No. TM has to look through your entire drive contents and copy them all. This will take some time.
Once the first backup is made, then subsequent backup will be much quicker, depending on how much data has changed since the last one.

I backup to an external hdd with Time Machine, when it ran out of space it did not delete old backups, now my internal hdd says its full when before it had heaps of space. I have searched for extra files but cant find any. Can anyone help, please.

I backup to an external hdd with Time Machine, when it ran out of space it did not delete old backups, now my internal hdd says its full when before it had heaps of space. I have searched for extra files but cant find any. Can anyone help, please.

First, empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. Then reboot. That will temporarily free up some space.
To locate large files, you can use Spotlight as described here. That method may not find large folders that contain a lot of small files.
You can also use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper (ODS) to explore your volume and find out what's taking up the space. You can delete files with it, but don't do that unless you're sure that you know what you're deleting and that all data is safely backed up. That means you have multiple backups, not just one.
Proceed further only if the problem hasn't been solved.
ODS can't see the whole filesystem when you run it just by double-clicking; it only sees files that you have permission to read. To see everything, you have to run it as root.
Back up all data now.
Install ODS in the Applications folder as usual.
Triple-click the line of text below to select it, then copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C):sudo /Applications/OmniDiskSweeper.app/Contents/MacOS/OmniDiskSweeper
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
I don't recommend that you make a habit of doing this. Don't delete anything while running ODS as root. If something needs to be deleted, make sure you know what it is and how it got there, and then delete it by other, safer, means.
When you're done with ODS, quit it and also quit Terminal.

New iMac can't find the old iMac via Ethernet

I just bought a new 27" iMac and I am trying to migrate data from my old iMac.
I have the two machines hooked together via Ethernet and have Etherenet turned on in the source iMac but the new iMac can't find the old iMac. The pinwheel keeps spinning with no success. What should I do here?

Gramps wrote:
What FireWire?
There is no FireWire port on the new machine so this is a non-starter.
Unfortunately you didn't read my post very thoroughly. You are correct, the new iMacs do not include FW however your old Mac probably does. For just that reason and more Apple makes a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter which you can use if you opt to use FW Target Disk Mode. You can find the adapter by going to your Apple online store or Amazon carries it to. Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thunderbolt-to-FireWire-Adapter/dp/B008RXYOKY/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366831510&sr=8-1&keywords=thunderbolt+to+firewire+cable
However as I mentioned use TM or a bootable clone with Migration Assistant. If your old Mac was using any verison of OS X from Leopard (10.5.x) on at the very least you should have a Time Machine backup!
Also use Pondiini's guide as AnaMusic suggests, it's THE GUIDE for using Migration Assistant and Setup Assistant. He has also created excellent guides for Time Machine too.

Using Time Machine to transfer files to new Mac

I plan on upgrading to an iMac. Can I use Time Machine carry my fies an programs over to the new machine?

What if you won't have both computers at the same time. In my situation I'm selling my machine and using the money to purchase a new machine. If I backup with time machine and then run migration assistant on the new machine can't I copy everything over to the new computer with time machine?

Problem using time machine from migrated MacBook Pro

I upgraded from a 2.66Gig 15 inch dual core to a 2.2GHz 15 inch quad core (MacBook Pro 8,2) - I used setup assistant to transfer files and settings form the old mac to the new one over ethernet - Everything (apps, documents, preferences) transferred fine and the new mac is a clone of the other except for being able to use time machine. On running for the first time I get an error dialog "Time machine could not complete the backup. The backup disk image "Volumes/backups/restOfPath.sparsebundle" could not be accessed(error-1).
I tried a full reset of TM (deselecting the backup drive, turning off, deleting the preferences .plist and rebooting), with the same result. The image that is created is 1.6TB (on a 1 TB Iomega Home Storage drive). The image of my old time machine reflects the drive size -I don't know if this is a problem, both images are twice the size of the respective mac's inbuilt drives).
I looked at the troubleshooting tips and installed TM buddy - the log from the new mac shows this:
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://Ray%[email protected]/backups
Mounted network destination using URL: afp://Ray%[email protected]/backups
Warning: Destination /Volumes/backups does not support TM Lock Stealing
Warning: Destination /Volumes/backups does not support Server Reply Cache
Error 257 looking up immutability for /Volumes/backups/Ray-Hicks-MacBook-Pro.local_c82a1408b246.sparsebundle/token
Error writing Time Machine Information file: /Volumes/backups/Ray-Hicks-MacBook-Pro.local_c82a1408b246.sparsebundle/com.appl e.TimeMachine.MachineID.plist
Running backup verification
Failed to attach to image: /Volumes/backups/Ray-Hicks-MacBook-Pro.local_c82a1408b246.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 107
Backup verification incomplete!
Failed to attach to image: /Volumes/backups/Ray-Hicks-MacBook-Pro.local_c82a1408b246.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 107
Mount failed... waiting 60 seconds and trying again.
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
The original mac can still use it's backup on the same disc - it gives the same warnings about Lock Stealing and Server Reply Cache, I'll append a report from TM Buddy below this one.
I'd appreciate any help that people can provide - I'm using the same username and password connecting to the backup disc from either mac so I'm presuming it's not an access privilege thing (but if it is I may need an idiots guide to changing these:))
Cheers
TM Buddy log from old MacBook follows:
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://Ray%[email protected]/backups
Mounted network destination using URL: afp://Ray%[email protected]/backups
Warning: Destination /Volumes/backups does not support TM Lock Stealing
Warning: Destination /Volumes/backups does not support Server Reply Cache
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Disk image /Volumes/backups/Ray-Hickss-MacBook-Pro.local_109add54a619.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb
No pre-backup thinning needed: 803.6 MB requested (including padding), 748.74 GB available
Copied 358 files (2.8 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
No pre-backup thinning needed: 800.4 MB requested (including padding), 748.74 GB available
Copied 31 files (15 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Starting post-backup thinning
No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Backup completed successfully.
Ejected Time Machine disk image.
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Message was edited by: RayHicks

Sorry - I totally missed this longer post you made - here are the answers to the best of my knowledge - I seem to have answered a couple accidentally in my next post, but didn't directly address what you'd asked - sorry about that I just totally missed your post before reposting an update to (what I thought was) my one-man thread!
{quote:title=Pondini wrote:}
When you set up Time Machine on that NAS, do you create the sparse bundle manually, or does the NAS do it? Is there a setting on the NAS to limit the size? (One of the disadvantages to using a 3rd-party NAS is, few folks here, or with Apple, know much about how that particular NAS interacts with OSX).
{quote}
It seems that the NAS does it automatically, sometimes wrongly (it puts the wrong MAC in occasionally, and it appends .local after the username (not sure of the relevance of this, but in the manual setup that got me limping along in the later post, it doesn't mention the .local bit and I didn't use it (maybe this is why the access is through ip address now?)
Those seem to mean your NAS isn't fully compatible with Snow Leopard. See if there's a software/firmware update for it.
I'm using the latest firmware, and it works with the other mac also running 10 6.6
also throwing the same warning but with no apparent problem (yet:P)
I'd appreciate any help that people can provide - I'm using the same username and password connecting to the backup disc from either mac so I'm presuming it's not an access privilege thing (but if it is I may need an idiots guide to changing these:))
That would be on the NAS, not OSX, so you'd need their instructions or help.
Indeed it was (fix seems to be to manually install a newly created sparsebundle)
You might try repairing the sparse bundle. Follow the instructions for a Time Capsule in #A5 of [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).
Thanks - I tried that I think ( I read though most of your site and tried many things:)), but with no joy - thanks for taking the time to provide this useful resource.
On a Time Capsule or AirDisk, where Time Machine creates the sparse bundle, it's actual size starts out at just a few hundred MBs (the directory structure, etc.), then grows as backups are added. It's maximum size is set at the size of the volume it's on.
That seems to be the way with this too (the actual size is a few hundred megs - though disc utility reports it to be 1.5TB which is twice the size of the Mac disc)
Thanks again for your time and input,
Ray

Use Time Machine for transferring data to new drive

2008 pre-unibody 17" 250GB MacBook Pro4,1 - 2GB RAM, 10.6.8, 2.5ghz
How can I use Time Machine to transfer data to hybrid 1TB Seagate SSD?

Hi V.K., was just reading your instructions for jumper25 about transferring all info to a new HD and had a question. I am in the same situation where i have bought a new 320Gb to replace the OEM 120Gb in my MBP. Everything is very straight forward from what you have posted but i only have the original Tiger 10.4.9 install DVD and I am running Leopard 10.5.5. Will I be able to use my Tiger install disk and then use my TM back up even though it Leopard? Or will I need a Leopard install disk to complete? Also is there another way around this problem if i can not use the Tiger disk such as mirroring the 120Gb disk on to my 320Gb?
Thanks in advance for your time and expertise.
P.

Time Machine: Full System Restore On New iMac...

I currently use Time Machine on my 24" iMac with a 500GB external hardrive. If something were to happen to my current iMac (i.e. My kid knocks it off the desk and it breaks), and I was forced to buy a new one, would I be able to use Time Machine to restore the new iMac to the last Back-Up of the old iMac? If so, would it automati ally transfer all of my pictures, movies, music, etc. to the new iMac as well? Thanks for any help y'all can give me on this subject.

J Double DuBB wrote:
I currently use Time Machine on my 24" iMac with a 500GB external hardrive. If something were to happen to my current iMac (i.e. My kid knocks it off the desk and it breaks), and I was forced to buy a new one, would I be able to use Time Machine to restore the new iMac to the last Back-Up of the old iMac?
not using full system restore utility on the leopard install DVD. your current system lacks hardware drivers that would be needed for a newer computer and if you do a full system restore of your current computer onto a newer computer using the restore utility on the leopard DVD it will most likely not even boot.
however, during the original computer setup you'll be given an option to transfer user data, settings and applications from a TM backup of your old computer. that option does not transfer system files but it does transfer everything else including your pictures, movies, music etc.
You can also do the same thing later using Migration Assistant (it's in /Applications/Utilities).

Use Time Machine to Migrate Apps or Re-Install Anew?

I bought a new 15" MacBook Pro a month ago and have used Migration Assistant to move all my files from my external drive, which were backed up from the old computer via Time Machine to this drive. I have been advised that this is a BAD IDEA, and that I should re-install my old software onto the new computer, and only use the migration assistant for moving DOCUMENT files to the new computer. Prior to receiving this advice, I had pro-actively reinstalled my entire Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection to this new computer's application folder, so the entire suite is installed on my new computer. The Creative Suite has now been installed on the new computer, and is also sitting on the new computer via the Migration Assistant process which brought EVERYTHING from the old computer to the new.
Should the Creative Suite Files in the Applications folder, which migrated via Migration Assistant, be REMOVED since they were already reinstalled on this new computer? Does anyone have some advice about this? I had heard that software should always be "REINSTALLED" as oppose to "copied" onto a new computer...
Thanks for any advice!!

wait, i'm not understanding something.
you say that you installed (via install disc) your whole suite AND migrated your apps over, so you have a double installation???
i just wiped out my boot drive and re-installed everything manually (to clean up and prepare for LION upgrade, plus get rid of some apps...migration assistant brings EVERYTHING OVER, which is annoying, so the only way to leave stuff out was to start fresh and only install what i wanted).
the first thing you should do is open up each version of each application to see which ones the licenses are tied to. in some CS installs, you have to de-authorize a version before you can install another version. it's possible that one version will work and the other one won't.
in any case, i think having 2 versions in the app folder doesn't really matter, it just takes up extra space. you only want one version (whichever one works) anyway. in my particular instance, i have a site license, so i can install it wherever without the de-authorization problem.
i've succesffully migrated using migration assistant as well as copied a bootable clone back to my machine. it's definitely cleaner to do a fresh re-install, but i think it might be too late for that since you double-installed.
again, figure out which version works. if they both work, you could probably get rid of either one. all the plists and application support files, plug-ins should be for the migrated version if you accumulated those things over time before you mirated over. just make sure that those are tied to the version that works and get rid of the other.

Using time machine after migration

I have just migrated from an old iMac to a new iMac. The old iMac backed up to a time machine. Can I set up the new iMac to backup to the SAME DATA (as if it were the same computer)? Or must I set up a new back-up? (I have a ton of data so will have to hard wire to do this- a pain- so would rather not if I dont have to).

Michek wrote:
I used this external hard disk to migrate from my older Macbook to the new one.
Exactly how did you do that?
If you used Setup Assistant when the new Mac started up (preferred), or the Migration Assistant app later on, and let it transfer Computer Settings, when the next backup started, you should have been asked if you wanted the new Mac to "inherit" the old Mac's backups. See #B5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting for more explanation and details.
If you did something else, or answered the prompt with Create New Backup, you may be able to do that manually. It's a bit geeky, though. See #B6 in the same link.

Using Time Machine to migrate to a new iMac, can I keep my old backups?

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