How to save Time Machine backup but not migrate to new computer ?

I believe you should be able to access the individual files you want by looking at the external drive's directory in Finder. The files are organized by each backup instance. By date of backup, for example. Within each backup instance, the files are grouped in folders, and it's easy to find your pictures etc. within your home folder on the backup.

 

Hmm...I don't see why not. I would expect it to be just like viewing the contents of any external drive.

 

If you intend to wipe and sell the old machine before you get the new one, I would definitely do a different sort of back up as well, maybe use carbon copy cloner or super dooper, or even a drag and drop, to an entirely different external HD, or if the volume of data is low, burn to DVDs.

 

As one other poster mentioned, I don't think Time Machine is the app that you want to use for this.

I think you would do much better by using CarbonCopyCloner (free) to do a "full dupe" of the contents of the current internal drive to an external backup drive.

Done this way, the files will be easily accessible in "regular Finder format". And a CCC backup is bootable, too (at least insofar as the older laptop is concerned).

Actually, it might also be a good idea to burn the most important files to CDs or DVDs, as well. You always want a second copy of your most-valued data somewhere.