Old TimeMachine Backup, New Mac Smaller SSD.

[Trhodezy]

Morning all.

Just a quick Q. I have a TM backup that’s about 400GB in total from my iMac. I’m moving to something more portable. (New job; occasional 4K editing, light online gaming, lots of web based work, file management and those lovely lovely emails!)

I’m moving to either a MBP TB 13”, rMBA 13 or rMBA. (Any thoughts?)

Of my 400GB backup, I believe I only need about 175GB of it due to the new job, so I plan on setting the new Mac (256GB) up as new and migrating individual files and apps over from Time Machine.

Is this something that’s wise? Will it affect the apps I’ll be migrating over? Will all files related to an app that’s imported also be imported not just the app selected? (If that makes sense).

Furthermore, is there anything I should be aware of with migrating from an old TM backup.

Thanks guys ‘n’ gals!

Thom

 

[Trhodezy]

I guess nobody knows.

 

[Fishrrman]

I know.
But I'll bet you'll be hesitant to take my advice.
OK, here goes anyway.

DON'T use Time Machine to do this.

Instead, download CarbonCopyCloner. It's FREE to download and use for 30 days.

Use CCC to create a bootable cloned backup to an external drive.

Take that drive and connect it to your NEW Mac.

Now you can mount the backup right in the finder, and then "manually copy" anything you wish from the CCC backup to your new Mac.
Essentially, this becomes a "manual migration".

Or, you can "selectively use setup assistant (during the setup process) or migration assistant (after setup) to do the job.

VERY IMPORTANT PRECAUTION:
When you first mount the CCC backup on the desktop of your NEW Mac, you need to do this:
1. Click ONE TIME on the backup drive icon to select it
2. Type "command-i" (eye) to bring up the get info box
3. At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your administrative password
4. In "sharing and permissions" put a check in "ignore ownership on this volume"
5. Close get info

Now, you can copy anything you wish from the backup (i.e., OLD Mac) to the new one, and whatever you copy will "come under the ownership" of your NEW account on the new Mac.

 

[Trhodezy]

I know.
But I'll bet you'll be hesitant to take my advice.
OK, here goes anyway.

DON'T use Time Machine to do this.

Instead, download CarbonCopyCloner. It's FREE to download and use for 30 days.

Use CCC to create a bootable cloned backup to an external drive.

Take that drive and connect it to your NEW Mac.

Now you can mount the backup right in the finder, and then "manually copy" anything you wish from the CCC backup to your new Mac.
Essentially, this becomes a "manual migration".

Or, you can "selectively use setup assistant (during the setup process) or migration assistant (after setup) to do the job.

VERY IMPORTANT PRECAUTION:
When you first mount the CCC backup on the desktop of your NEW Mac, you need to do this:
1. Click ONE TIME on the backup drive icon to select it
2. Type "command-i" (eye) to bring up the get info box
3. At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your administrative password
4. In "sharing and permissions" put a check in "ignore ownership on this volume"
5. Close get info

Now, you can copy anything you wish from the backup (i.e., OLD Mac) to the new one, and whatever you copy will "come under the ownership" of your NEW account on the new Mac.

You absolute god. THANK YOU IT WORKED A TREAT!