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best buy for modest backup during upgrade

what is the more economical hardware for backup of stuff on laptop

during an upgrade from Tiger to Leopard 10.6 ?


I have a 4G memory stick. The laptop is only 1 G.

Can I put all the applications and content on the memory stick ?

MacBook Pro, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Dec 5, 2012 7:38 AM

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Posted on Dec 5, 2012 7:48 AM

Don't confuse RAM "memory" which is temporary memory on chips with hard drive file storage. Even with Tiger you have a lot more files than 1 GB. If you have very, very modest use you might be able to use a flash drive. If you're a regular user you could have tens if not hundreds, if not possibly even thousands of GB.


Don't think of this in terms of temporary backup. You want a long-term backup solution. Your computer drive could fail at any time, it's just a bit more risky something unpleasant will happen when you are upgrading (not drive failure but bad file rearranging).


Look into getting an external hard drive. I cannot recommend a particular model but there are good and bad ones for Macs. It's a slightly complex topic. If you want to play it safe, go with a vendor such as OWC or www.macsales.com Personally I would make sure the drive they put inside the enclosure is a Western Digital model and go with at least a blue or even a black. Yes it is more costly but if you get a good one then likely the external drive may last through several computer generations for you.

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Question marked as Best reply

Dec 5, 2012 7:48 AM in response to Barbararose

Don't confuse RAM "memory" which is temporary memory on chips with hard drive file storage. Even with Tiger you have a lot more files than 1 GB. If you have very, very modest use you might be able to use a flash drive. If you're a regular user you could have tens if not hundreds, if not possibly even thousands of GB.


Don't think of this in terms of temporary backup. You want a long-term backup solution. Your computer drive could fail at any time, it's just a bit more risky something unpleasant will happen when you are upgrading (not drive failure but bad file rearranging).


Look into getting an external hard drive. I cannot recommend a particular model but there are good and bad ones for Macs. It's a slightly complex topic. If you want to play it safe, go with a vendor such as OWC or www.macsales.com Personally I would make sure the drive they put inside the enclosure is a Western Digital model and go with at least a blue or even a black. Yes it is more costly but if you get a good one then likely the external drive may last through several computer generations for you.

Dec 5, 2012 8:00 AM in response to Barbararose

My only addition to Limnos' excellant advice I would add is to implement a backup system all the time not just during uogrades. While it is true that during major projects like upgrades there is a greater chance for data lose, the possibility of data lose is always there.


Rule of IT. Lose of data is a certainty. The only question is when.


So get an external drive and implement a backup plan to protect your data.


Allan

Dec 6, 2012 8:57 AM in response to Barbararose

I read the Word page. It doesn't address my question.


This Mac (MacBook Pro with OS X 10.4.11) has Word for Mac for 2003

which I installed from discs purchased when I was using a desktop G3.

Since I will be installing OS Leopard, at the insistence of Firefox and Google,

I have to deal with Word. The only difficulties I ever have with using my

computer is what Word will and won't do and when.

So I'm groping the net to learn what to do.

It appears I can download a more current Word, free. Is that true?

Or will I run into a payment page halfway through ?

The community Word page has a few complaints about some version of Word

on Lion. So the questions are:


Is the internet still as Word dependent as I think it is, or are Google docs or

some Mac programs (that come with the system) as Portable between platforms ?


What is recent Community experience with Word for Mac ?


To repeat: Is it free ? Does it work ? Is there anything that works as well or better ?

Jan 3, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Allan Eckert

I bought My Passport 2 TB from Costco because I can return it easily

if I can't make it work. Package says it has to be reformatted for Mac OS.

How do I do that ?

Will it format itself when it meets the laptop as, I believe, a CD does ?


The laptop presently has a lot of debris i'll never use.

The new OS will have its own useless stuff.

And advice about that ?

Jan 8, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Allan Eckert

Thanks Allan.

Check that page to see if you think it would have helped.


I am getting customized help at Tiger to Leopard

from noondaywitch in the UK.


I'd link you to our dialogue if I knew how.

I'm sure you could find it if you wished.


I bought a WD 2T Passport and it is present use.

As I reported to ndw I think I should erase my Mac HD now

to install Snow Leopard.


I'll wait a few minutes to learn whether anyone says not to.

best buy for modest backup during upgrade

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