Data transfer after hard drive replacement

TinyTimbo67 wrote:

Hello,

I have a late 2012 27 inch Mac, I recently took it to a repair centre and they installed a new Samsung SSD. They have installed a new version of Catalina and transferred across what they told me was all my data, which includes photos and documents but no Mail program or MYOB program.

Before the new hard drive was installed I completed a time machine back up, whilst I had Mojave installed.

My question is now that I have Catalina installed on the new SSD with the photos and documents that have been transferred across from old hard drive can I use time machine to reinstall Mail and get all my emails that I need for business as well as getting back my MYOB program and information, even if that time machine back up was made using Mojave ?

I am very annoyed that the repairers didn't explain this thoroughly before new install, they didn't even ask if I had a time machine back up.

If there is a solution I would be most grateful and most likely it will save a divorce, as it was a lot of my wife's emails and she does the business books.

32 bit apps are not supported on Catalina I suspect this is you issue "MYOB (pronounced my-ob) is an Australian tax and accounting software company," ( ?)

Typically you are always better off running the most current macOS your machine will allow—especially for the built in security features.

Old app compatibility maybe one reason to hold back— you have to do your own homework here: https://roaringapps.com/apps

32-bit app compatibility with macOS ... - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436

IMAP mail is stored on the server.

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/restore-files-mh11422/mac