Setup as new Mac but use same Time Machine

[tburk32]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any solutions for setting up a Mac as new after a clean install of El Capitan and utilizing the same Time Machine backup? I don't want to restore or migrate the information, but I'd like to make sure I don't lose availability to all of my old files/backups.

In my research I found a script that is supposed to help but i'm not familiar with scripts or how to use them

sudo tmutil associatedisk -a "/Volumes/Macintosh HD" "/Volumes/Time Machine Disk/Backups.backupdb/John Doe's MacBook/Latest/Macintosh HD"

edit: here is the source https://simon.heimlicher.com/articles/2012/07/10/time-machine-inherit-backup-using-tmutil

 

[!!!]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any solutions for setting up a Mac as new after a clean install of El Capitan and utilizing the same Time Machine backup? I don't want to restore or migrate the information, but I'd like to make sure I don't lose availability to all of my old files/backups.

In my research I found a script that is supposed to help but i'm not familiar with scripts or how to use them

sudo tmutil associatedisk -a "/Volumes/Macintosh HD" "/Volumes/Time Machine Disk/Backups.backupdb/John Doe's MacBook/Latest/Macintosh HD"

edit: here is the source https://simon.heimlicher.com/articles/2012/07/10/time-machine-inherit-backup-using-tmutil

No. Just select the disk in the Time Machine preferences. It will treat it as if you backup multiple computers to the same disk.

 

[tburk32]

No. Just select the disk in the Time Machine preferences. It will treat it as if you backup multiple computers to the same disk.

If I use the same disk, won't it create a new sparse bundle and I won't be able to access the old one in the time machine interface?

 

[!!!]

If I use the same disk, won't it create a new sparse bundle and I won't be able to access the old one in the time machine interface?

You cannot access other Mac backups through the time machine interface. This is for security. You can access it through the Finder, however.

 

[RabidMacFan]

I did a clean install to El Capitan when it came out, and I'm using the same Time Machine backup I had before. I'm not sure exactly what I did, but you may want to try this:
1. Set your computer name the same as the old system in System Preferences > Sharing (you can change it later)
2. In System Preferences > Time Machine, select the same disk you were using before

It should recognize that there is an existing time machine backup for the same computer name, and it will ask you if you want to use the same time machine backup, or create a new one.

Like I said, I set this up a while ago, so I might be wrong. But I would give this a try.

 

[leman]

The relevant options of tmutil are described here: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man8/tmutil.8.html

So yes, there is a way (its either inheritbackup or
associatedisk command), but I lack understanding of TM to make a more clear statement. Personally, I wouldn't risk it. It is possible that you can mess something up. I'd start a new backup.