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General Time Machine question relating to MacOS updates

It's a long story, but I had to update my MacBook Pro (previously running Sierra) to Catalina recently and now I cannot access any of the files backed up to Time Machine prior to the OS Catalina update. Sorry if a dumb question, but is that not something you can access from prior OS installs, even if just wanting to restore individual documents/files from older backups? If that is not an option, how in the world do I access those files again? Thanks for any insight!

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 7, 2020 2:51 PM

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Posted on Dec 13, 2020 8:22 AM

I have run into the same issue. Open TM and then use the keys shift-command-c. This will bring upfront your main drive. You can now scroll back in time. Once you get where you want you can then open the drive and scroll down to your user library and then documents, downloads, etc. and find the item you want. Then copy to desktop and use or move from there.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 13, 2020 8:22 AM in response to Adam Nitti

I have run into the same issue. Open TM and then use the keys shift-command-c. This will bring upfront your main drive. You can now scroll back in time. Once you get where you want you can then open the drive and scroll down to your user library and then documents, downloads, etc. and find the item you want. Then copy to desktop and use or move from there.

Dec 12, 2020 5:06 PM in response to Adam Nitti

Hey Adam Nitti,


It sounds like you're looking to restore data from your backup after updating. We can understand wanting to look into that further. We want to help.


You should be able to restore files from your backup using the steps here: Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac


If that's not working, let us know what happens when you try. Are you getting an error message? If so, what does that message say?


Thanks!


Dec 13, 2020 8:29 AM in response to Adam Nitti

Adam Nitti wrote:

It's a long story, but I had to update my MacBook Pro (previously running Sierra) to Catalina recently and now I cannot access any of the files backed up to Time Machine prior to the OS Catalina update. Sorry if a dumb question, but is that not something you can access from prior OS installs, even if just wanting to restore individual documents/files from older backups? If that is not an option, how in the world do I access those files again? Thanks for any insight!


There have been issues here... not easily discernible.


How to access Time Machine files from previous OS install?

reference: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5579823



If your new Mac inherits your backup history - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/if-your-new-mac-inherits-your-backup-history-mh35732/mac


If you get a replacement (new) Mac, you probably want the Inherit or Reuse option.

If you get an additional Mac, you probably want the Create New Backup option.




thus the old adage— 3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.




Dec 13, 2020 1:56 PM in response to tbirdvet

Thank you @leroydouglas and @tbirdvet for the helpful replies. The shift-command-c key combo did indeed allow me to finally go back in time to my previous backups when I was running Sierra and High Sierra. I would have never figured that out on my own... Is that a key combo that is somewhere in Time Machine documentation somewhere? Thanks again-

General Time Machine question relating to MacOS updates

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