Entire HD backup

shifty_uk · 15 Sep 2011 at 14:26

Before now I've only backed up vital folders and files but I'd like to do a clean system install and back all my existing hard drives up.

For backing up the Apple HD, would it be a simple case of dragging and dropping the Macintosh HD route folder on my desktop over to my external(backup) hard drive? Would this capture all the vital applications and system settings?

Or, would I require specific software to do the job correctly?

Cheers fellas

Eddie182 · 15 Sep 2011 at 14:29

Time Machine?

Gilbert89 · 15 Sep 2011 at 14:36

I use Time Machine which is preinstalled on all Mac systems.
It simply backs up a mirror image of your OS usually daily I believe behind the scenes once your hard disk gets full it deletes the oldest backups E.G you can enter time machine and scroll through back up dates e.g Sept 10, Sept 11, Sept 12 and so on. This does not create for example a 100gig back up each time a file is changed. I downloaded some music the other day 200MB of music I saw a backup of 200MB additionally being added.

Very Simple and effective to use!

shifty_uk · 15 Sep 2011 at 14:36

The backup in question will be my system running Tiger so Time Machine isn't included as far as I'm aware?

cotton31 · 16 Sep 2011 at 12:20

Can't you make an image of the disk? I've used CarbonCopyCloner before when upgrading the drive in my MBP.

artaxerxes · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:11

Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to make bootable whole disk backups.

cheef · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:28

Both apps are perfectly suitable and highly recommended in the wider community.

shifty_uk · 21 Sep 2011 at 14:10

Cheers chaps, ended up going with CCC, works a treat

Quick additional question without starting a new thread, this is a first gen Macbook(bought it pre-release back in the day). Would I be right in thinking it only holds 2gig maximum ram? Giving it to my other half for uni and more ram would be beneficial.

Feek · 21 Sep 2011 at 14:40

DON'T use CCC if you have Adobe apps (such as Photoshop) as there's a good chance that they won't work properly once you're using the restored system (known problem and I experienced this myself). SuperDuper! works perfectly though.

Rambaud · 25 Sep 2011 at 11:46

shifty_uk said:
<snip>

Quick additional question without starting a new thread, this is a first gen Macbook(bought it pre-release back in the day). Would I be right in thinking it only holds 2gig maximum ram? Giving it to my other half for uni and more ram would be beneficial.

Yes. I had one of the earliest macbooks (2006), and 2Gb was the maximum RAM.

artaxerxes · 27 Sep 2011 at 12:46

I have the second release MacBook Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz and they also have an official max of 2GB - but I have installed 4GB and it recognizes 3ish.

shifty_uk · 27 Sep 2011 at 16:27

Feek said:
DON'T use CCC if you have Adobe apps (such as Photoshop) as there's a good chance that they won't work properly once you're using the restored system (known problem and I experienced this myself). SuperDuper! works perfectly though.

I've went off this software right from the start. I got the absolute fright of my life when I ran it then checked my external HD afterwards - It appeared to have cleared my external HD of all files and deleted 300gig worth of work. WTF, 5 minutes of near suicide passed before I found the files discretely hidden away in an archives folder. Phew.... I haven't quite recovered from the shock.

Wont be using this again, apparently there's another subtle option which does wipe the external HD. :eek:

david_129 · 3 Oct 2011 at 09:51

A lot of the drives come with one button backups now, might be worth looking for.

SimonR · 3 Oct 2011 at 21:18

Roxio Retrospect.