I cannot Open ID files on my new Mac

[dayledoherty]

Before I purchased my new Mac I backed up all my files onto a external hard drive. When I copy some of these files back to the new Mac I can't open them? I double click and zip-nada. I tried opening them on my old mac - I get this error message? I also cannot open them directly from the external hard drive. 

Help? I'm using ID version 15.1.2

[Mike Witherell]

And is it the same problem if you do a File > Open and browse to the .indd file? How was your external hard drive formatted, btw?

[dayledoherty]

Hey Mike! Yes—I've tried the File>Open and browse as well. The external
hard drive I am using I've had for several years and cannot remember the
formatting process. I've never had this problem before with backing up
files on the external drive and then accessing them again. This all just
started with the new Mac. I called and talked with Apple Customer service
but we were not able to come to a resolution.

--
*Dayle Doherty*
*Hopkinton Center for the Arts*

[Mike Witherell]

Did you run First Aid on your hard drive to help rule out incorrect permissions on files, including files and/or subfolders in your new Mac's InDesign application install?

[dayledoherty]

I have not! Let me give that a whirl!

--
*Dayle Doherty*
*Hopkinton Center for the Arts*

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

You'd have been far better off using Dropbox and/or Onedrive for this purpose. You could have signed in on the new computer and the files would have synced automatically. Do you still have the old machine? It's not too late.

I don't trust external drive and I certainly would never attempt to work from one.

[dayledoherty]

Thank you Mike — I appreciate the insight. I will change my ways!

--
*Dayle Doherty*
*Hopkinton Center for the Arts*