My faithful late 2012 has died and I will buy an M4 and use my Time Machine backup to populate the new Mini. However, my 2012 M1 had two SSDs (1TB + 500GB) and the new will only have one. Will I be able to do this?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Set up new M4 from previous M1 Time Machine
Mac mini, macOS 10.15
If I understand your setup correctly you can migrate your user data from the Time Machine backup for the M1 to the M4. However, if you want what was on the 500 GB external drive on your M4 internal drive you'll have to copy if manually to whatever folder the data belongs in, i.e. documents to the Documents folder, Photos libraries to the Pictures folder, Music libraries to the Music folder, etc.
However, if you have installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your M1 remove them and their supporting files before migrating to the M4 and make a TM backup after removing them.
If the above is not what you intended the above will delete itself in 10, 9, 8, 7…
If I understand your setup correctly you can migrate your user data from the Time Machine backup for the M1 to the M4. However, if you want what was on the 500 GB external drive on your M4 internal drive you'll have to copy if manually to whatever folder the data belongs in, i.e. documents to the Documents folder, Photos libraries to the Pictures folder, Music libraries to the Music folder, etc.
However, if you have installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your M1 remove them and their supporting files before migrating to the M4 and make a TM backup after removing them.
If the above is not what you intended the above will delete itself in 10, 9, 8, 7…
You will have to tell us more about how you were using the dual drive setup in the 2012 Mac mini and what was backed up to Time Machine.
The first thing to consider when purchasing the new Mac mini is Storage Space, because you can not fit 1½ TB of data into a ½ or 1 TB drive.
At this point, it sounds like you will need to order the new Mac mini with a 2T Storage Drive or plan on using an External SSD for your Photos, Music or Movie Libraries.
The 2012 and 2014 Mac mini's are not classified as M1's.
The 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018 are Intel Mac mini models.
The 2020 M1, 2023 M2 and 2024 M4 Mac Mini's are Silicon models.
see > Identify your Mac mini model - Apple Support
Sadly the 2014 Mac mini is not much of a step up from the 2012 model.
Besides only having 1 drive bay, the 2014 Mac mini's has integrated none upgradable RAM.
see > Upgrade or install memory in your Mac mini - Apple Support
Thanks. Both the 1TB and 500 GB drives were internal on the M1. As I’m currently without a working PC I can’t see how apps and OS are distributed across the two. I’m waiting for a used late 2014 M1 to come from eBay to let me plug the drives in externally to read their contents and will try to condense them onto the 1 TB disk, then install it as the ‘new’ M1’s main drive, back that up and use it to populate the M4 when I get it. It’s a pity the 2014 M1 won’t take both drives.
Thanks. Model numbers are pretty confusing; I assumed the oldest was M1 etc. Yes, for me the 2014 is a step backwards as with my 2012 I have been using recording and composition software with a perfectly good FireWire audio interface and using dual monitors as well as having two SSDs on board, two outboard and a 2TB HDD for Time Machine.
i’ve bought the 2014 just to temporarily stay connected to the internet and run Libre Office for my accounts - while I save up for a bigger spend on new M4 with a dock + extra NVME, a thunderbolt audio interface and to replace any software that won’t work on the new gear.
If the M1 from eBay was not prepared according to this Apple document return it immediately for a full refund: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support.
Otherwise there's a very good chance you won't be able to add your own Apple and iCloud ID and you'll end up with an expensive door stop.
Raystrack wrote:
Ti’ve bought the 2014 just to temporarily stay connected to the internet and run Libre Office for my accounts - while I save up for a bigger spend on new M4 with a dock + extra NVME, a thunderbolt audio interface and to replace any software that won’t work on the new gear.
That was a waste of money. I'm running a Mac Mini M4 on Sequoia and run LibreOffice for much of my needs. It works fine with Sequoia and previous systems.
What may you think it wouldn't work with new Macs?
Thanks. I can’t currently view my SSD’s contents - pls see my response to Old Toad’s reply.
You’re welcome. Yeah” using the year model, is the best way to prevent any name confusion.
Thank you. Now I understand your decision and goal.
Can I use my Mac mini M1 Time Machine backup on Mac mini M4?
