Q: What are the essentials for manual backup in Yosemite?
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Jan 5, 2015 6:45 AMby judysings,Hi crabpaws,
Happy New Year! The resource below lists the important files that should be backed up. Although the title of the article is Mavericks, the information applies to Yosemite as well. It may be easier to backup files to an external drive than to multiple CDs and DVDs. I'm not sure why you aren't using Time Machine to make your backup ... but I'll include information on it as well.
OS X Mavericks: Important app files to back up
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13985If you can’t back up your entire Mac, back up the files listed below, which are used by apps to hold user data or preferences.
The tilde (~) indicates the name of your home folder, which is the same as your user name. (For example, if your user name is Anna, your home folder is named anna.)
Note: The Library folder is hidden. To open it, in the Finder, hold down the Option key, then choose Go > Library.Data file Location Your documents
~/Documents and ~/Desktop
Mail data and settings
~/Library/Mail/V2
iTunes data and settings
~/Music/iTunes/
iPhoto data and settings
~/Pictures/iPhoto Library/
Contacts data and settings
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook
Calendar data and settings
~/Library/Calendars/
Safari data and settings
~/Library/Safari/
Fonts
~/Library/Fonts/
Keychain data and settings
~/Library/Keychains/
Stickies
~/Library/StickiesDatabase
Other preferences
~/Library/Preferences/
Apps not from Apple may store user data in different locations. For more information, check the documentation that came with your app.
If you moved app data, such as your iTunes or iPhoto library, make sure to also back up that data.
Last Modified: May 8, 2014Back up your iTunes library by copying it to an external drive - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201625Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250Cheers,
Judy
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Jan 5, 2015 5:43 PMby crabpaws,That's very helpful, judysings, thank you.
The reasons I don't use Time Machine 1) I don't care to have another drive on my desk 2) I don't trust cloud backups 3) Time Machine doesn't do DVDs.
Looking at Yosemite, my feeling is that fairly soon, Time Machine will be necessary for backups. Is there some reason I have to use it now?
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Jan 6, 2015 11:57 AMby judysings,Hi crabpaws,
How you choose to back up your data is totally up to you. I was just suggesting to you that the recommended "best practice" is to use the Time Machine software to create a local backup of your entire system onto an external drive. Cloud based backups are a way to create a second backup off site in case of fire, etc. in your home or business. If you don't wish to use it, that is totally up to you. Personally, I've kept a second backup of my important data on an external hard drive in my security box at the bank for years.
Wishing you all the best in 2015 ....
- Judy
