How to back up a mac using disk utility in recovery mode

1. Try using the Restore function to put that data onto an external drive, or connect the MacBook Pro with another Mac through FireWire or Thunderbolt, start it up with the T key held down, and run a product such as these ones.

2. That’s the recovery partition.

(124090)

If the drive is truly damaged, then Disk Utility won't be able to read it in order to clone it. But you do this:

Boot to the Recovery HD:

Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.

1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue

button.

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

If you don't have an external drive you can use, then use Niel's suggestion to use Target Disk Mode.

1. To provide a way of installing the OS or repairing systems for Macs/OS versions which don’t have install disks.

2. It depends on what you’re trying to do.

(124091)

It won’t erase the data on the computer.

(124092)

No, it won't erase anything on the computer. But cloning will erase the destination or target drive to which you make the copy.