Restore from Time Machine

[erich.j.k]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
First try: boot into options, select Restore from Time Machine: Error saying that isn‘t possible. I would need to use Migration Assistant.
Second try: boot Sequoia, start Migration Assistant - but: the backup is not selectable (greyed out).

In the end I reinstalled Tahoe. Again, at first tried during the boot option - same result as before (Message saying I would need to use the Migration Assistant). Booted into Tahoe, started Migration Assistant and that works.

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[robvalentine]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
First try: boot into options, select Restore from Time Machine: Error saying that isn‘t possible. I would need to use Migration Assistant.
Second try: boot Sequoia, start Migration Assistant - but: the backup is not selectable (greyed out).

In the end I reinstalled Tahoe. Again, at first tried during the boot option - same result as before (Message saying I would need to use the Migration Assistant). Booted into Tahoe, started Migration Assistant and that works.

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

Thanks for any tips!

I know with iOS/watch OS if the back up is on a newer version, then you need to update before restoring. I think the os version has to be higher than or equal to the backup version.

 

[MayflyMaven]

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.

Apple doesn't support downgrading, and they don't want you to do it. Downgrading is a lot harder that it used to be, you have to erase your current OS and then install the older OS using an older installer. Whether you can restore from your Time Machine backup at that point is dubious, you may be prompted to upgrade.

I ran across this reference again just recently after I upgraded one of my systems to Golden Gate (ultimately decided against downgrading though, for now): https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-u...367-Best-practices-for-updating-your-Mac-s-OS

Not sure if that will be helpful if you only have a Time Machine backup though...

 

[Bigwaff]

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

MrMacintosh knows the way... no data loss

 

[erich.j.k]

MrMacintosh knows the way... no data loss

Ok, that makes sense. Thank you.

 

[ChrisA]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
...

The reason is obvious. Apple is not being evil. It is simply that Sequoia is not designed to read files written by Tahoe. How could that even be possible? All those preference files and Pages documents and Photos database were written by the newer OS and support features not available in their older OS.

 

[benwiggy]

Things like Mail and Photos databases will be unreadable by an older OS.

 

[gilby101]

Thanks for any tips!

1. Before upgrade to Tahoe, disconnect your TM drive and set it aside.
2. Upgrade to Tahoe and use a new disk for TM.
3. Before downgrade, disconnect the new TM disk.
4. You can now downgrade using Migration Assistant with the old TM disk.
This works because the old TM disk has not been touched by Tahoe. And, of course, it requires the foresight (step 1) that you might want to downgrade.

 

[badlinker]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
First try: boot into options, select Restore from Time Machine: Error saying that isn‘t possible. I would need to use Migration Assistant.
Second try: boot Sequoia, start Migration Assistant - but: the backup is not selectable (greyed out).

In the end I reinstalled Tahoe. Again, at first tried during the boot option - same result as before (Message saying I would need to use the Migration Assistant). Booted into Tahoe, started Migration Assistant and that works.

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

Thanks for any tips!

Mac Pro 5,1. I used to used to use Time Machine in Mohave. Was nice! But in Opencore patcher with Sequoia trying to restore a Time Machine backup using migration assistant all looked good until a popup at the end said to reboot Migration assistant to complete. It just kept looping. I had to wipe HDD and reinstall Sequoia with patcher. AI search says Time Machine will break the patches of Opencore, corupting Sequioa. "A known issue". AI recommended to turn off the patches then turn patches back on after Migration assistant finishes. Made no differencee. Still looped. Had to wipe and reinstall all again. I am able to drag and drop files fom the Time Machine to the computer, but that does not restore all the settings of Sequoia. A BIG JOB. Sometimes AI search is excellent instruction. Sometimes it is completely wrong. I guess I am going to ponder my next steps. My Sequoia runs beautifully with 95 % of my old drag and drop from Time Machine backed up apps now. I will be careful now with my next steps... I am hoping someone. can recommend a good backup and restore solution for us! Someone that has experience... Not just what they think will work.

 

[LeVan]

Mac Pro 5,1. I used to used to use Time Machine in Mohave. Was nice! But in Opencore patcher with Sequoia trying to restore a Time Machine backup using migration assistant all looked good until a popup at the end said to reboot Migration assistant to complete. It just kept looping. I had to wipe HDD and reinstall Sequoia with patcher. AI search says Time Machine will break the patches of Opencore, corupting Sequioa. "A known issue". AI recommended to turn off the patches then turn patches back on after Migration assistant finishes. Made no differencee. Still looped. Had to wipe and reinstall all again. I am able to drag and drop files fom the Time Machine to the computer, but that does not restore all the settings of Sequoia. A BIG JOB. Sometimes AI search is excellent instruction. Sometimes it is completely wrong. I guess I am going to ponder my next steps. My Sequoia runs beautifully with 95 % of my old drag and drop from Time Machine backed up apps now. I will be careful now with my next steps... I am hoping someone. can recommend a good backup and restore solution for us! Someone that has experience... Not just what they think will work.

First, it is against the rules here to double post in different threads. 😎
Read my reply here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/backup-and-restore-bad.2485254/
In short, get Carbon Copy Cloner at Bombich Software.https://bombich.com/