Time Machine: erase?

[Speed38]

I helped a senior upgrade from a 2011 MB Pro to a brand new M2 MB Air.

It's been a month or so and she has not reconnected her Time Machine to the M2.

What should I tell her to do:
#Connect the TM HD to the M2 and forget about it?
# Connect the TM HD to her M2, erase it, and start all over?
# Something else entirely?

Any guidance much appreciated.

 

[MarkC426]

If everything was copied/moved to the new Mac, I would start a fresh TM and wipe it.

 

[Speed38]

If everything was copied/moved to the new Mac, I would start a fresh TM and wipe it.

That's what I thought...but I needed confirmation. Thanks, Mark.

 

[theluggage]

#Connect the TM HD to the M2 and forget about it?
# Connect the TM HD to her M2, erase it, and start all over?
# Something else entirely?

I’d put the old TM drive away somewhere safe, buy a brand new external drive (doesn’t have to be a fast/expensive one) and start from fresh.

(a) you keep the old versions/deleted files on the old TM disc which won’t have been restored to the new Mac
(b) Hard drives don’t last forever - you don’t want to be relying on a 5-10 year old drive as the only backup.

PSA: It might seem overkill in your situation (sometimes getting people to make any backup is an achievement), but in principle one TM backup is not enough - make periodic whole disc backups to another drive with something like SuperDuper or CCC, periodically make copies of important files, and/or use a cloud backup.

 

[Speed38]

Thanks very much for the feedback. I cut and pasted your suggestions into an email to her and added, "A new Tm HD along with the new M2 isn't a bad idea." We'll see what she says. Thanks again.

 

[MarkC426]

Agreed with @theluggage, if an additional drive is within budget, this is a better option....

Personally I NEVER delete anything, I get another drive for storage, but it's a bit different with a Mac desktop.

 

[Fishrrman]

Erase the old drive, reconnect, and start over.

Better yet, erase the drive, reconnect, download SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner, and start over THAT way...

 

[Speed38]

Erase the old drive, reconnect, and start over.

Better yet, erase the drive, reconnect, download SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner, and start over THAT way...

I have lots of experience dealing with helping seniors (over three years) so trust me, CCC or SD are simply a bridge too far. TM is perfect: like the military's 'fire and forget'. Connect a HDD, start TM running, and fuggedaboutit.