Mac Users-good backup software

[Berengaria]

What software would you recommend for backing up my whole system(Mac) and files to an external drive? Free and easy would be nice.

Berengaria

[frank abramonte]

Post your question here:

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=161

This is an exclusive apple support site similar to elements site you are now on. You will receive immediate and educated responses from the members. There is no charge other than to register.

There are a number of products from free to costly. I't important that the software be capable of making a bootable backup. This will allow you to boot from the backup if the main drive fails.

I use Carbon Copy Cloner. I think it's freeware. Takes about an hour to backup 12Gb. I understand all backup programs are slow since they have to match everything on the drive.
You can exclude backing up certain items from to time which will shorten the backup time. Actually the only item that takes a lot of time is the OS system.

CCC allows you, if you wish, to automatically delete items from the backup disc which are no longer on the main drive.
It's a rather complete program and it would cetainly be worth a little research before jumping in.

[Berengaria]

Thanks for your advice Frank. About CCC, assume I do an intial backup on an external hard drive. Included in that is a file of photos. If at some later date I've deleted that file from my computer, and then do another back up, is that file of photos still on there somewhere or is it all gone and replaced by the new backup?

[frank abramonte]

Berengaria:
Yes, you do an initial backup. From that point on the program does an incremental backup (only the items that have changed).
They will be deleted only if you check the box in the CCC preferences(see picture)Under preferences you have the options under Synchronization to delete items not on the source disc or leave them even after you have removed them from the main drive.
Why not post a question on the apple site asking about the pros and cons of CCC. You may also benefit by the answers you receive of other backup programs.

You select the Source and Target discs. Notice in the "items to be copied" everything on your main drive will be displayed. At this point you can choose to not include any of the items in the current backup.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1nhywKBJz5CoXpVOembEyyvKyth11_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1nhywKBJz5CoXpVOembEyyvKyth11)


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1aDb0fzhqKMgFcLDcKQv9Z1JBY6cjm1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1aDb0fzhqKMgFcLDcKQv9Z1JBY6cjm1)

[bnk1953]

The program that I use and many recommend is SuperDuper found at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

It does incremental backups after the first one (so yes if you change your main hard drive and do back-up it will erase what is on your back up and make an exact copy of your original. The cost is $27.95 but well worth it. Most mac magazines highly recommend this program. Make sure that your back-up hard drive is firewire so that it can be bootable.
It's not if your hard drive will fail - its WHEN!
My initial hard drive in my tower was starting to make noise. I added to hard drives inside and then bought a big external hard drive (firewire). Partitioned the external for the 3 drives and had some left over. Backed up each hard drive - and wouldn't you know it - I was lucky - my initial HD failed. Some aren't so lucky.
Best wishes on your choice of back-up program - but find one and use it!
~bruce.

[frank abramonte]

bruce,
"(so yes if you change your main hard drive and do back-up it will erase what is on your back up and make an exact copy of your original. The cost is $27.95 but well worth it."

Why would you not want the option of not deleting a file from the backup disc that you had deleted from your main disc? I know of number of cases where I've stored inactive files and/or folders on my backup for possible future use, and freed the space on my main drive.

CCC is freeware, all they ask for is $5 donation, if wish to contribute.
You can read all about it and download it from the following link.

http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I don't actually back up the whole thing I just back up things like my iPhoto libraries, scrapbooking stuff and all my images etc ..

I simply drag & drop them to the external drive .. (the exisiting copy I rename before I start and I trash the one before that). Then I do the same thing all over again a couple of weeks later ...

Wendy

[frank abramonte]

Wendy, so that means your documents, OS, applications, fonts etc never get backed up.
Think of what is involved in restoring all that data in case of an emergency. That's if you can remember everything on your HD. You can simply restore from a bootable backup.
I hope you have a complete list of all that resides on your HD.

[Teacher617]

I have a .Mac account which includes the application called Backup. Files are backed up to my iDisk and/or my external hard drive. I choose to back up whatever I want. For me, this includes my iTunes purchases, iPhoto library, scrapbooking files, iLife projects, and any other important (read irreplaceable) files on my computer.

Tricia

[Wendy]

Hi Frank ...

I have all emails etc documents etc backed up too ... :)

Wendy

[bnk1953]

Frank - as far as keeping files to ease up on your main hard drive - thats why I suggest getting a large external - so that you can do full backups from your main and still have room for "those special files".
The reason I paid out the extra money - as per reviews in Mac magazines (see the acclaim on the page I posted above), suggestions from other mac users, etc - the ease of use and all that it does (there are lots in the program that I suggest you fully read at the site listed above. It does have a thing called "Sandbox" that might be what you are looking for) are well worth the money. You can get the "free" version of Superduper you just won't have access to the advance features.
It's one of many programs available for you to use. I just went with the acclaim from many on how good the program is.
There are many that do as Wendy does. My preference is to have everything on an external - so "when" the hard drive fails - I'll be able to start up off my external and keep going - including getting a new hard drive installed and the duplicating the external to the internal.
Again - the key is doing something and not waiting until the internal drive fails.
~bruce.

[Berengaria]

Thanks to all you answered and gave me their valued opinions.

I've decided to try Carbon Copy Clone first and see if it does what I want. I don't understand yet how you start up from the copy or how you replace your old set up when it crashes, but I'll learn that when necessary. You might hear from me again Bruce.

Now off to learn how to use it

Thanks gang.

Berengaria

[frank abramonte]

Berengaria:
If you hold down the "C" key you will boot from an external source. I think this would include a firewire drive.
If your backup is on an internal drive then you would boot from your first install disc and launch disc utility. This will allow you to change the startup disc to the backup drive. Then restart.
Once your up you can reformat your HD and copy back from the backup.
If the HD is completely gone just replace with a new drive. At this point you can change the switches on the drive to make the backup the main drive and make the new drive the slave drive (backup).
You can get good opinions on the different backup programs by posting a question on the apple support site.
Easy to understand instructions on switching drive: Post on the apple support site.
http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa?categoryID=1