How to access "very old" files with "very old" OS's (10.6, 10.8 Mountain Lion

[prog4ever]

Hello, friends.

One more problem, one more question:

- How can I access and transfer "very old" files on "very old" OS systems?

I need to access them, because I need to "translate" them to newer versions, using newer apps.
But, for instance, ALL the OS's I have on a lot of old MacBooks and desktops units are different (10.6 doesn't open 10.8, and so on).

Any solutions, my friends?

Thanks in advance

Art

 

[galad]

What's the format of those files?

 

[prog4ever]

What's the format of those files?

Several formats, some of them video, some of them illustration and different others.

I forgot to say the problem of accessing them is the external disks are formatted on different OS's than the laptop and desktop units...

 

[galad]

Then format a disk in MacOS Extended (HFS+), it will be compatible with 10.6.

 

[prog4ever]

External Disk is formatted in OS 10.8, because it was a Time Machine backup. I really want to know what's inside on this disk and I can't. There is 5GB of information I really need, but don't know how to access it, see?

Oh, I forgot to thank you for your help, sorry for that

 

[Fishrrman]

"Several formats, some of them video, some of them illustration and different others."

If you want specific suggestions, tell us the specific applications that were used to create these files, and what file format(s) they are in.

For word processing and spreadsheet files, the free LibreOffice is able to read a lot of old Mac formats directly.

As far as transferring the files goes, get something like an 8gb or 16gb USB flashdrive. It can be formatted however as needed, reformatted, etc.

Do things "a little at a time". Works better that way.

-- Fishrrman (reactionary troglodyte forever)

 

[prog4ever]

"Several formats, some of them video, some of them illustration and different others."

If you want specific suggestions, tell us the specific applications that were used to create these files, and what file format(s) they are in.

For word processing and spreadsheet files, the free LibreOffice is able to read a lot of old Mac formats directly.

As far as transferring the files goes, get something like an 8gb or 16gb USB flashdrive. It can be formatted however as needed, reformatted, etc.

Do things "a little at a time". Works better that way.

-- Fishrrman (reactionary troglodyte forever)

The major problem I have is to read a 5GB file which is "inside" of a OS 10.8, time machine backup.
What is the best way to access it. This is my problem now. "A little at a time", as you say. For now, accsessing the 5GB file. And then, the other ones.

Thanks my friend, very appreciated

 

[Fishrrman]

"The major problem I have is to read a 5GB file which is "inside" of a OS 10.8, time machine backup.
What is the best way to access it. This is my problem now."

I have never used time machine (ever).
I want a backup that can be EASILY accessed and read.

I prefer backup apps such as CarbonCopyCloner and SuperDuper which created cloned backups that can be read "in the finder". Copy one file, a group of files, many folders, or the entire drive.

Seems to me that to "read inside a tm backup", you're going to need an older Mac running 10.8.

Can newer Macs read older tm backups? I have NO idea (see first line of my reply).

 

[Approved]

The major problem I have is to read a 5GB file which is "inside" of a OS 10.8, time machine backup.
What is the best way to access it. This is my problem now. "A little at a time", as you say. For now, accsessing the 5GB file. And then, the other ones.

Thanks my friend, very appreciated

What are you trying to access the TM backup with? What Mac model, OS version, software, etc.?

Have you tried using Time Machine to browse the old backups?

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac

On your Mac, use a Time Machine backup to retrieve lost items or recover older versions of files.

support.apple.com

 

[gilby101]

The major problem I have is to read a 5GB file which is "inside" of a OS 10.8, time machine backup.

Can't you see it in Finder?

 

[prog4ever]

"The major problem I have is to read a 5GB file which is "inside" of a OS 10.8, time machine backup.
What is the best way to access it. This is my problem now."

I have never used time machine (ever).
I want a backup that can be EASILY accessed and read.

I prefer backup apps such as CarbonCopyCloner and SuperDuper which created cloned backups that can be read "in the finder". Copy one file, a group of files, many folders, or the entire drive.

Seems to me that to "read inside a tm backup", you're going to need an older Mac running 10.8.

Can newer Macs read older tm backups? I have NO idea (see first line of my reply).

Yeah, you're right.
I use Get Backup Pro 3 to sync files, NOW.
But I used TM back then. A painful mistake, as I can see now, because I do not have a clue on how to access precious files "inside" a 10.8 TM disk

 

[prog4ever]

What are you trying to access the TM backup with? What Mac model, OS version, software, etc.?

Have you tried using Time Machine to browse the old backups?

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac

On your Mac, use a Time Machine backup to retrieve lost items or recover older versions of files.

support.apple.com

Thanks, I really have to read some of those instructions you all trying to put in my direction.
Really, really thankful I am

 

[prog4ever]

Can't you see it in Finder?

No, I'm using an old white laptop, but with a 10.6 OS installed, and the TM disk is 10.8

 

[gilby101]

No, I'm using an old white laptop, but with a 10.6 OS installed, and the TM disk is 10.8

Sorry I didn't get that sooner.

You mustn't expect version 10.6 to understand changes that may have been introduced since in 10.7, 10.8, 10.9.... Apple do not back port new features/changes to older versions. In some cases there is some forward compatibility, but mostly not. Disk format changes (even minor ones) almost always have issues with forward compatibility.

If the TM disk was created with 10.8 (or used with 10.8) you need a 10.8 or newer version of macOS. If you have not got a 10.8 or newer macOS, take the disk to a friend (with a newer Mac) and see if that can read it.

Then format a disk in MacOS Extended (HFS+), it will be compatible with 10.6.

There is no guarantee of this and in general a 10.8 disk will only be readable by 10.8 or newer. HFS+ is not a frozen format - there can be changes with each macOS version.

 

[prog4ever]

If the TM disk was created with 10.8 (or used with 10.8) you need a 10.8 or newer version of macOS. If you have not got a 10.8 or newer macOS, take the disk to a friend (with a newer Mac) and see if that can read it.

Thanks, my friend, to get the time to help me.
I have a 10.15 Catalina desktop Mac, but I don't know if I'm doing things right. It seems I cannot read the TM 10.8 disk.
What should I do? If I "turn on" TM on the Catalina unit, do you think I should reed the disk?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I'm using an old white laptop, but with a 10.6 OS installed, and the TM disk is 10.8"

Things you might try:

One approach:
Upgrade the internal drive on the old white laptop to 10.8 (Mountain Lion).

Now it should be able to read the 10.8 tm backup.

Another approach:

If you don't wish to upgrade the internal drive on the old laptop, get an EXTERNAL USB3 drive of some sort. Even an old platter-based drive will work.

Then, install a copy of 10.8 onto the EXTERNAL drive, so that it can boot the old white laptop.

Now you can boot from the external 10.8 drive, then connect the tm backup, and see if it can be read.

You will need to create a bootable USB installer to do this.
There is some work and learning involved.

More thoughts:
GIVE UP your notions of using NTFS for drives connected to the Mac. This will lead to nothing but trouble.

Use either HFS+ (Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format) or APFS (but this can't be recognized by older Macs).
My recommendation is HFS+ for everything (except newer boot drives that require APFS).

Final thoughts:

If the old white laptop CANNOT RUN 10.8, and you can't read the tm backup from your new Mac, then you're going to have to seek "outside help" -- someone with an older Mac that CAN run 10.8, and MIGHT be able to access the backup.

Expect to pay for these services.

 

[gilby101]

I have a 10.15 Catalina desktop Mac, but I don't know if I'm doing things right. It seems I cannot read the TM 10.8 disk.
What should I do? If I "turn on" TM on the Catalina unit, do you think I should reed the disk?

No, don't turn on TM on Catalina, because it may well "upgrade" the disk in some way. Keep it as is.

If Catalina can't see the disk in Finder, then I think you have some deeper problem with the drive.

What does Disk Utility show for the drive? Please add the output of the Terminal command diskutil list on the Catalina system with the TM disk connected.

 

[prog4ever]

"I'm using an old white laptop, but with a 10.6 OS installed, and the TM disk is 10.8"

Things you might try:

One approach:
Upgrade the internal drive on the old white laptop to 10.8 (Mountain Lion).

Now it should be able to read the 10.8 tm backup.

Another approach:

If you don't wish to upgrade the internal drive on the old laptop, get an EXTERNAL USB3 drive of some sort. Even an old platter-based drive will work.

Then, install a copy of 10.8 onto the EXTERNAL drive, so that it can boot the old white laptop.

Now you can boot from the external 10.8 drive, then connect the tm backup, and see if it can be read.

You will need to create a bootable USB installer to do this.
There is some work and learning involved.

More thoughts:
GIVE UP your notions of using NTFS for drives connected to the Mac. This will lead to nothing but trouble.

Use either HFS+ (Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format) or APFS (but this can't be recognized by older Macs).
My recommendation is HFS+ for everything (except newer boot drives that require APFS).

Final thoughts:

If the old white laptop CANNOT RUN 10.8, and you can't read the tm backup from your new Mac, then you're going to have to seek "outside help" -- someone with an older Mac that CAN run 10.8, and MIGHT be able to access the backup.

Expect to pay for these services.

Amazing how people find the time to help others! Very appreciated.
I now have lots of tips to try, which is wonderful.

Thank you so much!

 

[prog4ever]

No, don't turn on TM on Catalina, because it may well "upgrade" the disk in some way. Keep it as is.

If Catalina can't see the disk in Finder, then I think you have some deeper problem with the drive.

What does Disk Utility show for the drive? Please add the output of the Terminal command diskutil list on the Catalina system with the TM disk connected.

I will try the tips you all suggest and come back with the results, maybe it can be useful for users with the same problem.

Thanks a lot. Like Schwarzenneger would say: "I'll be back"!