extra usb hard drive time machine back up recover

I backed up my MacBook to a USB external hard drive so as to update my OS from El Capitan to Big Sur using the time machine. I followed the process in where it asked me to erase all files, as I had already backed them up. Now that I am done and have Big Sur up and running, I reconnect the USB external hard drive but can't find where my backed-up files are so as to reinstall them in my Mac Book. Can any body help me ? Thank you

Posted on Jan 30, 2023 06:17 AM

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Posted on Jan 30, 2023 07:29 AM

this recent discussion seems to cover that exact issue:


I backed up my old Mac on a G-drive. How… - Apple Community


if there are more questions after you look at that, please post again here.


5 replies

Jan 31, 2023 04:27 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you again. It worked very well. I didn’t recover the applications nor the system as I was concerned that my computer may not have enough space and because I thought that the applications appeared already in the computer. However, now I can’t find the files for the garage band. Do you think I should also recover the applications? Wouldn’t recovering the system send me back to before the Big Sur OS? Thank you.

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extra usb hard drive time machine back up recover

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