Ventura 13.2.1 update issues

Same Machine as yours and no issues when applying the 13.2.1 update

Disconnect all External Drives

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

Specific to M1 / M2 Computers

2 - Choose Apple menu > > Shut Down.

3- Do not  attempt a Restart to access this feature. The computer Must be Shutdown and pause for about 10 seconds before moving forwards 

Specific to this machine

 If using a Bluetooth Keyboard with Rechargeable Battery - Cable the Keyboard to computer for this unique purpose.

 4 - Press and hold the power button on your Mac until you see “Loading startup options.”

5 - Click Options, then click Continue.

victorfromhillsboro wrote:

The computer booted to safe mode and then ran the disk utility and then booted to what was a clean install. I had to resetup my account, add my Apple ID and so on. When I plug in my external drive that holds my Time Machine backup, the drive just spins and the computer never registers that the drive is plugged in. Also I've plugged it directly into the computer, not through a USB hub etc..

Q - " The computer booted to safe mode and then ran the disk utility and then booted to what was a clean install. "

A - Sorry If I appear to be parsing each word, but a Clean Install ?

A - This would imply the Ease all Content and Setting was used on this machine. Am I understanding this correctly

Refer to link below

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support (CA)

If that was the case, suggest plugging in Only The Time Machine Drive and not others

Going back to original question " My Mac Mini (M1) attempted to do the new Ventura 13.2.1 update. My computer will no longer boot up. It has gone to the Mac OS Recovery section but when I attempt to install a previous back up from my time machine drive (external), it can't find the drive now. Any help is greatly appreciated. "

Go to System Information and verify if the External Drive is appearing there.

Refer to image below

My Seagate External Drive is appearing in the USB category

In your Computers' case, as the TM Drive does not appear in Disk Utilities and If it does Not appear here too, the drive may have become Corrupted or Failed.

To test additionally, connect the problematic drive to another Apple Computer.

If it still does not appear in Disk Utilities and System Information - IMHO the Drive has failed

Drives do fail and most often when they are badly needed.

That is why I use a Rescue Plan

It comprises having 3 Backups, each to a separate and dedicated drives, using 2 Methods and 1 in the Safety Deposit Box of my Bank.

The last one is incase of a Natural or UnNatural disaster

If you use 3 backups on separate drives using 2 Methods, "2 Methods" mean Time Machine and something else? And of course the drive in the bank vault isn't connected to your Mac, so how often do you bring it out of the bank to make a new backup copy? And do you use Time Machine to make that backup or just drag all of your folders onto the bank drive by hand? Thanks.

Normally I do not answer questions from Later Arrivals to the original question.

But being as this appears to be a genuine interest here goes.

1- First, TM Backup on drive # 1 would have a complete set of The User Account ( Home Folder ) at that specific time and date.

That drive goes to a Secure and Fire Proof location like a Fire Proof Air Tight Vault in you home or the Bank Safety Deposit Box of the Back. Users ' choice

2 - TM Backup drive # 2 is kept with the computer and is used on daily Schedule setup by TM Backups Utility

3 - There are some Third Party Softwares available ( Cost for a License ) that can Clone / Backup the drive to drive #3

Some of the ones that I am personally familiars with are Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper.

That drive is kept with the computer and can be scheduled from Within the Application to make a Backup on a Regular Basis or you can configure to to run Manually at time of the Users' Choice

The above Cloning software I use and know is - Carbon Copy Cloner

4 - The TM Backup drive is your Safe Location Off-Site can be brought back to computer at a time of your choosing. The Person a TM Backup to that drive just to keep it semi-current.

Return it to the Safe Off Site location until you feel it necessary to do another " Keeping Semi-Current "

Notation - External Dries do fail and most often they fail when you need them the most.

By having a Rescue Plan in place the 3 -2-1 Method the chances are the computer is covered form Natural or Un-Natural Disaster

Hope the above helps

My 27" Mac (2021) up-dated to Ventura 13.2.1.

My main external hard drive became un-co-operative, I re-booted and the drive and 2 others were no longer recognised. I followed recommended procedure to check Utilities. The drives were represented but un-mounted and would not remount. First Aid said there was no problem identifiable. The drives are not corrupted, they work on my laptop, which is not up-dated to Ventura.

My husband has the same 27" Mac, both bought at the same time, but he has up-dated without any problems.

A friend with Mac has the same problems as I do and I am seeing the same issues around 13.2.1 reported around the net. I'm also seeing people asking for help being told they have corrupted external hard drive(s), may not have the HD plugged in, are trying to run too many externals, or advising all sorts of work-arounds and generally not recognising that this is a software issue that Apple need to fix!

Is the computer still booting in the Recovery Mode ?

Or has the computer booted into Safe Mode ?

Sorry but does the tm backup drive appear in disk utility