Macintosh Backup Basics
What should I backup? A: Your OS X Startup Drive
1] Your Startup Drive in a bootable backup (this is called a Bootable Drive Disk Image).
Why should I backup my bootable Hard Drive?
* If your computer refuses to boot, a bootable backup allows you to recover to the last saved bootable backup.
Why can’t I just reinstall OS X using the Archive and Install option?
* Sometimes this Does Not Work. Especially, if the problem is a failing Hard Drive, that needs replacing.
Why can’t I just use the System Restore CDs that came with the computer?
* This will revert the computer as it was out of the box. Your added software will need to be re-installed. Your files and information can be lost, if they are NOT backed up.
What should I backup? A: Your User’s folder
2] Your User’s folder on your Startup Drive.
Why should I backup my User’s folder? If I make a bootable backup in Step 1], they will be backed up.
Step 1] is done once, or every 6 months, or after installing new software. It will not be current.
What should I backup? A: Your other saved files
3] Your files that are NOT stored in your User’s folder on your Startup Drive.
Why wouldn’t my files be in my User’s Folder?
* If you save your files to someplace other than your Desktop, your Documents, your Music, your Pictures, or directly into your Startup Drive - they are NOT in your User’s folder.
* Your files could be loose on another partition or another drive (either internal or external)
Where is my User’s folder?
Startup Drive > Users Folder > [your username] folder
What size is my file collection?
Highlight your User’s folder and choose Get Info in the FILE menu.
What Mac OSX Backup Software should I use?
Time Machine is the simplest, just plug an external hard drive into your Mac, when Time Machine asks if it should use it, click YES.
For safety, you should consider a second backup utility, it can use the same hard drive as Time Machine, another device is better.
1] For your Startup drive backup to disk image I recommend. SuperDuper! (Free or $27 for extra features) or Carbon Copy Cloner
2] For your documents and files, I recommend SilverKeeper (FREE OSX ver 10.4 or older) or Carbon Copy Cloner ($40) or ChronoSync ($40)
CrashPlan is an option, but has drawbacks.
Is Time Machine all you need? | MacWorld
Why Time Machine isn't enough for backup | MacWorld
Start Backing Up Today!! Please.
1] Your Startup Drive in a bootable backup (this is called a Bootable Drive Disk Image).
Why should I backup my bootable Hard Drive?
* If your computer refuses to boot, a bootable backup allows you to recover to the last saved bootable backup.
Why can’t I just reinstall OS X using the Archive and Install option?
* Sometimes this Does Not Work. Especially, if the problem is a failing Hard Drive, that needs replacing.
Why can’t I just use the System Restore CDs that came with the computer?
* This will revert the computer as it was out of the box. Your added software will need to be re-installed. Your files and information can be lost, if they are NOT backed up.
What should I backup? A: Your User’s folder
2] Your User’s folder on your Startup Drive.
Why should I backup my User’s folder? If I make a bootable backup in Step 1], they will be backed up.
Step 1] is done once, or every 6 months, or after installing new software. It will not be current.
What should I backup? A: Your other saved files
3] Your files that are NOT stored in your User’s folder on your Startup Drive.
Why wouldn’t my files be in my User’s Folder?
* If you save your files to someplace other than your Desktop, your Documents, your Music, your Pictures, or directly into your Startup Drive - they are NOT in your User’s folder.
* Your files could be loose on another partition or another drive (either internal or external)
Where is my User’s folder?
Startup Drive > Users Folder > [your username] folder
What size is my file collection?
Highlight your User’s folder and choose Get Info in the FILE menu.
What Mac OSX Backup Software should I use?
Time Machine is the simplest, just plug an external hard drive into your Mac, when Time Machine asks if it should use it, click YES.
For safety, you should consider a second backup utility, it can use the same hard drive as Time Machine, another device is better.
1] For your Startup drive backup to disk image I recommend. SuperDuper! (Free or $27 for extra features) or Carbon Copy Cloner
2] For your documents and files, I recommend SilverKeeper (FREE OSX ver 10.4 or older) or Carbon Copy Cloner ($40) or ChronoSync ($40)
CrashPlan is an option, but has drawbacks.
Is Time Machine all you need? | MacWorld
Why Time Machine isn't enough for backup | MacWorld
Start Backing Up Today!! Please.