SuperDuper no longer works after Big Sur installation in my iMac

Ask that third party developers for answers.

"Waiting Is" or so Robert Heinlein advised us...

I have been employing SuperDuper since 2008 when I switched over from the Dark Side and gave up on Windows and Dell for a Mac Pro and a 30" Cinema Display. I still have those now as sculptures. SupDuper over the years has saved my life when upgrading to new Apple computers, following their recommendations for porting over my computer disk(s) content which always failed no matter what method they recommended. The first time I was ready to jump out the window. I live in a private house so the fall wasn't going to be catastrophic. And then I just ignored AppleCare (not to disparage them) and launched SuperDuper and Super! It completed the task without fail. Over the years that's how I transfer to new computers. Three computers ago, after porting over my disk's contents, I got an error message from SuperDuper. That's not a welcome message except it is. To make a long story short, David predicted my new iMac's Fusion Drive was going to fail. I ignored him. And kept going or computing. The second time, Dave asked me for the logs and once again informed me the new Fusion drive in my new iMac was going to fail. This time I contacted AppleCare, after all, it was nearly a brand new iMac. First tier AppleCare sent me to second tier., who was thoughtful and referred my case to an advanced group which only he, the tech person had contact with. Their response, no, the Fusion Drive was not going to fail. Is there a point to this story? Yes. Dave had me send the logs to the second tier. Who in turn sent the SuperDuper logs to the advanced team, who after a time, suddenly reversed their assessment and agreed (with Dave) and the second tier and me and Apple ordered a third partyto take my iMac to their premises and install a new Fusion Drive. Here's the interesting part. Several months later, Apple announced that my particular Fusion Drive that was in my iMac was faulty and would replace anyone's Fusion Drive that met the same year, model, etc. It was widely publicized. Thank you back then Dave, you saved my life a second time in a really big way. Had Dave not interceded Apple would have not replaced my Fusion Drive until a widespread replacement became necessary, and my drive would have failed long before that happened. The deeper point of this story is that like everyone who posts here to lament the fact that Big Sur has an issue that has complicated for Dave the upgrading of SuperDuper to work with Big Sur. I miss having the assurance and safety of SuperDuper. And, I am not kidding, before I close or shutdown my latest iMac, reflexively start to launch SuperDuper. I have not capitulated and changed over to Carbon Copy (please don't assess something about that I don't intend))). As for Time Machine. I know Dave advises to use it in the mean time. I am sorry but Time Machine when I needed it, wasn't there for me in the way I was promised. But Dave has always been there for me. And, of course, for everyone of us. So, if Dave is not ready to release the Big Sur version of SuperDuper, I am prepared to wait for him to decide when it's the proper time for SuperDuper to jump into Big Sur. In the meantime, I'll tread water and keep praying that I won't ever have to rely on Time Machine in the interim, which reminds me of interminable and then I start to pray harder. Thank you Dave for maintaining the standards of build, reliability and the care and skill you invest in SuperDuper. What a fitting name for both the inventor and the program. Waiting is...Best regards, REShaman

P.S. Kenny L's advice has a certain ring to it. Good advice, Kenny.

You are referring to a third party app; unfortunately, we would not know any more than what is available from the developer. You could contact them and ask directly.

The temporary use of a simple external drive would fix it. I don't know why it doesn't work with an NAS, but it does work with any old USB drive. I format it with Mac OS HFS+, just do be careful.

I agree. Use an external drive with Big Sur for testing. I found that even after loading the OS system on my external it will not show in startup pane in preferences. I need to restart Mac with "option" and pick that drive to boot... I'm sure CCC will figure it out.

Dear Phil,

Sorry, but you read my post incorrectly. It's Dave, the creator of SuperDuper, in his website blog recommendations who advised us to use Time Machine. I was only repeating his advice in case it was useful. Sorry also to learn of your difficulties with Time Machine. On my iMac with an external 3TB bus powered (love it), Time Machine is working dandily for me. The irony is when ever I need to depend on Time Machine, it falters. Thank G-d for SuperDuper, which never falters, and for the time being feel lost without it. SuperDuper is not an app as I erroroniously referred to it. It's a program. An app, I also miss, CuteClips3 doesn't work either and the creator is working on a new version. I use that program often. Yet other programs, utilities as they are probably termed have been updated. One is Moom. The other PopClip. I am grateful for those that work with Big Sur. I gather Dave who does things so well wants especially to get it right as making clone backups that are bootable must be a touch more complicated than some other programs. In any case, sorry for your troubles. I hope the resolutions you require arrive as soon as possible. Same for me.

Best regards,

REShaman

REShaman wrote:

"The good news is that Mike Bombich, developer of Carbon Copy Cloner, has worked with Apple to resolve the issues. Carbon Copy Cloner 5.1.23-b1 includes full support for making bootable backups in Big Sur.

Where do you see CCC 5.1.23-b1 to download ?

Excuse me, but haven't we already discussed this circumstance and provided some direct and helpful information about the cloning programs that have been adversely affected by the release of Big Sur such that the various creators have needed time to get it right. While other app creators have had to actually redo their programs rather than revise. I don't see the discussions that expected to find that were written or so I thought for this thread. Am I missing something? I thought the matter was "solved" several replies ago. Or did I get that wrong?

Best, REShaman

Hello babowa,

Just to be clear I have spent some time. And chose not to respond to every post from those who have not read the comprehensive posts that are very helpful to those who have discovered the consequences of upgrading to Big Sur and how that upgrade has affected certain programs that provide backup cloning.

It doesn't serve anyone to reply each time some one has not read through the thread. But I couldn't resist my prior post as a way of auditing how this thread is being used. So I do spend time here, but I chose not to respond continuously with the information that has been adequately addressed. Like you I have reached the same determination. It's just my way of commenting sometimes with a touch of irony. N'est-ce pas?

Best regards,

REShaman

Hello jimpal, I gather we, who are invested in a software program we value highly and are disappointed about the time the creator is taking to publish and release a working SuperDuper version for Big Sur, may need to shout at the wind and say whatever comes to their mind. I never argue with perception, but! You knew that was coming (right?) Dave is not the type to punish anyone or entity or hold hostage his user base except for his due diligence and making sure his released version does not harm his user base. Punishing us would be the release of an unstable Big Sur version of SuperDuper that would bite us and cause us problems we would then expect Dave to fix as his customers would, naturally. So, in my opinion, and in my experience of Dave, his goal is to innovate a super SuperDuper that can provide us with the services and assurances when employing his bootable backup software we've come to experience ( which saved me several times ). But that's my take on the matter. You are entitled to yours. I hope Dave is listening. And, admittedly, I feel vulnerable with only the Time Machine as my waiting is, or as has been referred to by others Carbon Copy is working successfully (?) with Big Sur. So there are options. Yet, I am not wanting to switch over to CC as a solution. So really, I should stop whining and commit to Waiting is... . I don't think Dave will let us down and will find the best solution sooner than later ( Please!) Best, REShaman

Hello jimpal, I wish I had better news for us all. I just visited the Shirt-Pocket website to check before responding to your post to insure that whatever my reply contains is as accurate as I can make it. Unfortunately, I have found nothing to lead me to believe there is a beta or even a zeta version of a SuperDuper for Big Sur. Nor could I find a more recent comment from David beyond the one you referred to. I, too, miss SuperDuper VERY MUCH. I may be repeating myself which can may not be welcome, but I remain in the stand-bye status, choosing not to switch to CC which is touted as one that we can use in place of SuperDuper. My contention remains, that Dave must be experiencing a more challenging innovation for SuperDuper to work with Big Sur.. I am a little surprised as you are. It would appear this thread is quiet save your reply to and my reply to with no input from Dave, who I would appreciate an update even if it is notice of a further delay. But I keep expecting to hear from Dave any day in the form of an official release if only a beta. Perhaps, Dave has a retinue of beta testers he works with; and we haven't been invited to join in. Perhaps for good reason, as my data is and must be sustained and contained in the safest and most reliable backup I may decide just to purchase an external SSD and just backup manually the hard way so to insure I don't continue risking a disaster given I regard Time Machine with a history of very unsuccessful reliability when porting over to a new (for example) iMac. I didn't want to take that path. More than willing to pay an upgrade fee to Dave. Hope he's monitoring us. Any chance of some information, Dave, to guide us as to when we may expect surfing Big Sur with a new SuperDuper board ( I tend to be corny). Well, that's all I have to offer on the subject of waiting for Dave's new iteration. Wishing Dave good fortune in his pursuits. Your base awaits the arrival of a bootable, super, SuperDuper for Big Sur. Best, REShaman

Hello, babowa, Your reply is right on the mark and more succinct than my usual responses. You've identified the architecture of the lates macOS hence the reasonable explanation for the time Dave needs to innovate and release a Big Sur. I wrote a response to jimpal with more of a rambling content than your targeted response. But I don''t see my reply. I must have forgotten to click on post. Yikes! Best, REShaman. Oh? I must be preoccupied. My elusive reply is right above this one. Sorry for the double post, at least to two different thread posters (smile). Does that excuse me even a little?

This may be bad form to inquire here instead of elsewhere, but I haven''t figured out how to upload my avatar. I usually figure that out. I expected to find the method for doing so in my Profile. Have I missed something. Tired of seeing myself as a gray silhouette. If my post is inappropriate, please admin delete it! Best, REShaman