Thread: MAC Back up questions

Time Machine.

The initial back will take a while, but the incremental backup are then pretty quick. You could alway change the default backup to only your user directory, which will pick up your personal files, docs, settings etc providing you don't save them outside the user directory.

Thank you..er none the wiser, I have never used time machine

Can you explain to novice here what i need to do, its along time since i used a mac ie, LC3/quadra days. and need a few pointers...

Does this help?
Mac 101: Time Machine

Originally Posted by djam1

Does this help?
Mac 101: Time Machine

Indeed it does, all sorted thanks guys....

Hi Jb,

Time machine is great but only if you are looking to restore individual files and/or folders, if you Mac has a complete meltdown time machine is not ideal. The best thing to do is to have 2 backups-:

1. A Time machine Backup

2. A second hard drive and a piece of software to automatically create bootable backups. The hard drive should be the same size as the internal drive of your Mac. The software is a free program called SuperDuper! This is the link to the site to download it -:
SuperDuper!

Once downloaded and installed you can program it to create a complete backup of your hard drive, either at selected times or just when you attach the drive. The backup it will create is one that allows you to boot from your external drive if your internal drive dies. It will also, in the event of your whole Mac failing, allow you to create a complete restoration to a new machine essentially getting back in action with nothing lost.

I appreciate this sounds a little over the top but experience has taught me that unless you have 2 backups with one off site or at least hidden in a shed you are not really backed up. The rationale is simple for the second backup. If your house gets broken into they will steal your Mac and the hard drive if it is attached, if the house burns down you will loose both the computer and the backup. You can only be sure if you have another backup secured somewhere else. While it seems a little bit of a hassle it's nowhere as much as a hassle as loosing all your files.

Cheers

Craig

Originally Posted by Craig K

Hi Jb,

Time machine is great but only if you are looking to restore individual files and/or folders, if you Mac has a complete meltdown time machine is not ideal. The best thing to do is to have 2 backups-:

1. A Time machine Backup

2. A second hard drive and a piece of software to automatically create bootable backups. The hard drive should be the same size as the internal drive of your Mac. The software is a free program called SuperDuper! This is the link to the site to download it -:
SuperDuper!

Once downloaded and installed you can program it to create a complete backup of your hard drive, either at selected times or just when you attach the drive. The backup it will create is one that allows you to boot from your external drive if your internal drive dies. It will also, in the event of your whole Mac failing, allow you to create a complete restoration to a new machine essentially getting back in action with nothing lost.

I appreciate this sounds a little over the top but experience has taught me that unless you have 2 backups with one off site or at least hidden in a shed you are not really backed up. The rationale is simple for the second backup. If your house gets broken into they will steal your Mac and the hard drive if it is attached, if the house burns down you will loose both the computer and the backup. You can only be sure if you have another backup secured somewhere else. While it seems a little bit of a hassle it's nowhere as much as a hassle as loosing all your files.

Cheers

Craig

I disagree just a little Craig, I have restored at least 3 or 4 times from time machine backups. if the HD fails you replace the HD then reinstall osx from CD or usb and the last step on install is a restore from time machine.

Even if you are using superduper you will loose everything between the last backup and when the failure happens. This is no different to time machine.

I do agree with keeping a second backup though, it is well worth it especially if your timemachine backup drive dies....

I have fully restored from time machine before and it's all too easy and works brilliantly.

Definitely use Time machine for everything.

If you are looking for a hard drive to do time machine backups to you consider grabbing a time capsule. You can hide the time capsule out of the way and backup wirelessly to it. It's also possible to use external drives connected to the time capsule of additional capacity.

Time Machine Scheduler is also pretty handy if you need more control over time machine backup schedules.

cheers
Paul