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I have to replace my hard drive as it is failing, I'm away and just bought a new external HD for backups,,only problem is it is fsiling to backup without a reason. Disk utility says ex HD is ok. I need to backup before i get it repaired. Any Advice?

Hi my hard drive is failing and I'm overseas in Thailand. I bought a Buffalo 1TB to back up my mac 13inch HD version 10.6.8, only problem is it wont back up. Disk Utility says ex HD is fine. I need to backup before I take it for repairs. What can I do? Thanks advice appreciated. NL

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 4GB MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Dec 11, 2012 6:11 PM

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Posted on Dec 11, 2012 6:16 PM

Firstly, you need to prep this external drive as follows:


Drive Preparation


1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.


2. After DU loads select the external hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.


3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.


4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.


5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.


6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.


Next you want to clone your computer's drive to the external drive:


Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility


1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination

entry field.

5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.

6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

19 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Dec 11, 2012 6:16 PM in response to nlouis4

Firstly, you need to prep this external drive as follows:


Drive Preparation


1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.


2. After DU loads select the external hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.


3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.


4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.


5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.


6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.


Next you want to clone your computer's drive to the external drive:


Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility


1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination

entry field.

5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.

6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

Dec 12, 2012 6:52 AM in response to nlouis4

Hi I followed your instructions after clicking restore, In the Source I had my HD of computer and in Destination I had my Time Machine backup disk, Firstly I unticked erase destination right under the Destination Box (I'm not sure if I did the right thing unticking it. Then disk utility said it could not restore input and output. Would you mind advising me further... Thanks

Dec 12, 2012 9:29 AM in response to Kappy

I am attempting to clone my internal Mac HD to my Buffalo external HD, however it is the drive I use for Time machine Backups and that is it's name 'Time machine Backups"" This name was what I placed in the Destination Box as it wouldn't take the Top level 'Buffalo 1TB part of the name.


for ex: In Disk Utility there ion the left hand side are names of HD or disks.


Buffalo 1TB HD

Time Machine Backups


Hopefully you understand

Dec 12, 2012 11:12 AM in response to nlouis4

OK. I did not understand that correctly. My suggestion is that you create a new partition on the Buffalo drive large eenough to hold all the data on your internal drive. Then clone the internal drive to that new partition.


To resize the drive do the following:


1. Open Disk Utility and select the drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list.


2. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. You should see the graphical sizing window showing the existing partitions. A portion may appear as a blue rectangle representing the used space on a partition.


3. In the lower right corner of the sizing rectangle for each partition is a resizing gadget. Select it with the mouse and move the bottom of the rectangle upwards until you have reduced the existing partition enough to create the desired new volume's size. The space below the resized partition will appear gray. Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed. (Note: You can only make a partition smaller in order to create new free space.)


4. Click on the [+] button below the sizing window to add a new partition in the gray space you freed up. Give the new volume a name, if you wish, then click on the Apply button. Wait until the process has completed.


You should now have a new volume on the drive.


Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility


1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination

entry field.

5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.

6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


Destination means the new partition on the Buffalo drive. Source means the internal startup drive.


If there is not sufficient space on the Buffalo drive for the needed new partition, then will need to get another external drive or rely on the Time Machine backups that you now have.

Dec 12, 2012 7:10 PM in response to Kappy

Sorry but I am lost now, I thought I erased everything on the Buffalo as to your prior instructions. My Buffalo is an external 1TB hard drive with the name Time Machine Backups. There is nothing on that disk. As My Mac hard drive is 500Gb shouldn't there be enough room? When I try to back up on time machine with my Buffalo ex- HD it keeps failing that is why I need another way to back up my mac. Do I have to have a partition on the external HD? I just want to back up my mac before I take it to repairs as I have no backup now. Thanks

Regards

Dec 12, 2012 7:29 PM in response to nlouis4

I think we both had our wires crossed a little. 😁


Then just go ahead and clone your internal drive to your Buffalo. You are not going to use Time Machine, and you do not have to partition it. So ignore all that stuff I posted. Let me start from scratch.


First check that your Buffalo drive is partitioned GUID and formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled. So open Disk Utility, select the topmost entry for the Buffalo drive. You should see something like this:


User uploaded file


I have selected the entry of my CalDigit drive. Note that the Partition Map Scheme is GUID. Now, select the volume (mine is "System Backup."


User uploaded file


Here you see it is a Format type of Mac OS Extended, Journaled. If that's what you see then you are good to go.


With Disk Utility still open:



Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility


1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to

the Destination entry field.

5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to

the Source entry field.

6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


Destination means the Buffalo drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

Dec 13, 2012 1:38 AM in response to Kappy

Hi again, I retried time machine and did not work only backed up a few things so something must be corrupted. So from now I have some data on this Buffalo ex HD but still have to clone my mac HD before getting it repaired.

Do I firstly have to erase all of the backup data before I begin to clone? What are my next steps before I begin cloning?


Checked and all is good in the formatting Buffalo drive is partitioned GUID and formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled.

Cheers

and thank you again

Dec 13, 2012 12:44 PM in response to nlouis4

That means the drive has most likely failed and needs to be replaced. At this point your options for recoverying data are few:


General File Recovery


If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.


The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.


Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.


If recovery software does not work you would have to send the drive to a data recovery service such as Drive Savers. They are quite expensive and provide no guarantee of success.

I have to replace my hard drive as it is failing, I'm away and just bought a new external HD for backups,,only problem is it is fsiling to backup without a reason. Disk utility says ex HD is ok. I need to backup before i get it repaired. Any Advice?

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