You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Bernard Piela
Bernard Piela Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

Re-using Time Machine external disk

Hello. If I have an external hard drive used for Time Machine backups, and I use that disk to restore my data onto a new Mac, what are the best practices for potentially using that external disk as my Time Machine backups on the new Mac?


Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?

Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?

The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.


Thanks for the tips!

Posted on Jan 27, 2020 8:37 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
23,375 points

Posted on Jan 27, 2020 9:00 AM

Bernard Piela wrote:
...
Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?
Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?
The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.

Thanks for the tips!


Depending on the age of the external drive, I would suggest that you replace it with a new one. In my book, if a drive is 5-6 years old or more I begin to consider that it could become a potential problem at any time. You could continue to use it as a backup to the backup... or for just misc storage of non-critical data.

View in context

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
23,375 points

Jan 27, 2020 9:00 AM in response to Bernard Piela

Bernard Piela wrote:
...
Will the drive be wiped once I setup Time Machine on the new Mac?
Would it be best just to buy a new external drive for the new Mac?
The old Mac will probably be stored powered down for a short period of time and then decommissioned and discarded.

Thanks for the tips!


Depending on the age of the external drive, I would suggest that you replace it with a new one. In my book, if a drive is 5-6 years old or more I begin to consider that it could become a potential problem at any time. You could continue to use it as a backup to the backup... or for just misc storage of non-critical data.

Reply

Re-using Time Machine external disk

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up