Returning back to old computer - Catalina

[MrP90]

I recently purchased a newer 2019 MBP and migrated my information from my older 2013 MBP (both running Catalina) via Time Machine backup to the new computer. When I moved to the new computer, I did not wipe out the old one yet and also left Boot Camp loaded on the old machine.

Now I am going to return the newer MBP 2019 (and order the new 16 inch MBP) , I do have a current backup on TM of the new machine. Am I ok to use a another admin account on the older machine to erase a the main user and then migrate from the newer TM backup the updated user from the 2019 MBP?

 

[chabig]

Forget about the 2013 computer. You said you had a backup of the new 2019 machine. Just migrate that over and you should be fine.

 

[MrP90]

Forget about the 2013 computer. You said you had a backup of the new 2019 machine. Just migrate that over and you should be fine.

Depending on availability , it might be a couple weeks before I can get the 16 inch MBP lol. I would like to use the old one while I wait .

 

[chabig]

Oh. Well then, why not migrate the 2019 to the 2013?

 

[MrP90]

Oh. Well then, why not migrate the 2019 to the 2013?

So on original computer, use admin user to delete the other user. Plug in Time Machine drive and then migrate the updated user over correct?

 

[chabig]

That should work. I was assuming that the 2019 machine was a full migration from the 2013 machine, with the same user accounts, etc. If that's the case, you might find it easier to perform a full restore on the 2013 machine so it's fresh and then just migrate the 2019 machine over directly (just plug them into each other--no need for Time Machine).

If that doesn't appeal to you, I don't see why your idea wouldn't work. Use the admin user to delete the 'regular' user and migrate the updated user over. That would indeed be simpler if everything else is the same.