Getting files off a backup drive

doingitanyway

googler said:

Dontcha need to install Time Machine on your new machine and get your backups back using that ...?

If I install Time Machine on the new Mac won't it start backing up the new Mac and write all over the old files?

TadleyBaggie

Time Machine (the app) will be already on there by default, it just won't be configured to be backing up. Until you point it at a hard drive it won't be doing anything. 

What do you see when you open the external drive in Finder?

doingitanyway

Thanks @TadleyBaggie I found the files I had been looking for. 

Thanks @grumpycrab the link you provided was a simple guide that worked for me! I saw all the old files and I copied and pasted them to new documents.

I had been worried that as soon as I plugged it in it would begin saving all the new computer info and it would get rid of the old but it did not.

I am so very pleased. Thank you everyone.

Grumpy_chap

@grumpycrab - the above comment must be for you.

doingitanyway

Grumpy_chap said:

@grumpycrab - the above comment must be for you.

Thanks I edited my post