I need to back up my imac running Tiger (no time machine) so that we can upgrade OS. It is set up for multiple accounts. How do I capture all files in each account using newly purchased USB external hard drive? Thanks!
iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
Consider reading this post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4099894?answerId=18893335022#18893335022
It offers many third party options, look for the post by Kappy.
Consider reading this post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4099894?answerId=18893335022#18893335022
It offers many third party options, look for the post by Kappy.
Backup Software Recommendations
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
Or you can simply use the Restore option of Disk Utility to clone the drive to the backup:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
Or Kappy will honor us with their vast knowledge firsthand!
Thanks for the advice. In the clone instructions, why would I want to erase destination?
How is cloning different from copying i.e. dragging the internal drive icon onto the icon for the external drive?
Carbon Copy Cloner gets my vote.
I started using Carbon Copy Cloner way before TM and it is still my first choice.
You are doing the erase/format to provide the correct environment for the data.
You cannot clone the entire system to an unerased drive. If you are using Snow Leopard or later the drive will be erased automatically and that step is unneeded.
It's different due to the presevation of permissions for system files versus user files. If you simply copy files by drag and drop you'll end up with an unusable system. It won't boot. Also, cloning software knows what files you don't transfer to the external drive, and it "blesses" the clone so it is bootable.
Cloning systematically copies your ENTIRE drive. Coping and pasting in theroy is the same, but cloning provides that perfect copy. Basically cloning is done by software you just sit back and wait for it complete.
This is not precisely true when cloning system disks. The clone will always have a few less files than the original because some system files are not needed or unwanted such as certain cache and temp files.
If you are cloning just a disk of data, then you are correct. The clone should be an exact replica of the source disk.
With the advent of Lion and the Recovery HD, Disk Utility actually clones both automatically - First the bootable volume then the Recovery HD. As of now Carbon Copy Cloner is the only other software that can clone both although CCC does not clone the Recovery HD automatically.
I need to back up my imac running Tiger (no time machine) so that we can upgrade OS. It is set up for multiple accounts. How do I capture all files in each account using newly purchased USB external hard drive?
