Bootable Backup on Intel Macs?

I read this on the internet. Has anyone checked this out?
A Bootable Backup for an Intel Mac
Shortly after I got my shiny new 20″ Intel iMac I read in a forum somewhere that booting from an external firewire enclosure was no longer supported on the Intel-based Macs. I was disappointed to hear this, because I’ve used this feature on my PowerMac in the past to great advantage, it makes upgrading your system hard drive very easy, and the same would apply to recovering from a hard drive failure.
I decided to try anyway, so I connected my IoGear Ion external firewire drive to my iMac and started a disk cloning operation using Carbon Copy Cloner, a very popular Mac backup program that works well on my PowerPC based Macs. It kept asking for my Admin password, and it eventually locked up without having finished the backup.
Then I tried LaCie Silverkeeper with no luck either.
Next I bought a shareware license for a program called ChronoSync, which seems to be well written, but also failed at the task of creating a bootable system backup. In a later email exchange with the author of that program I was told that kind of an operation was “not supported”.
Finally I tried Synchronize! Pro X from Qdea, it worked. In only 3 hours it copied 182gb of data across a firewire connection to my external drive, and the OS X Startup Disk preference pane saw the disk as bootable. I’ve done a test boot, and it worked flawlessly.
I like to keep a mirror image backup of all of my computers. It has saved my cookies (literally and figuratively) on more than one occasion. I did have to pay $99 for a license for Synchronize! Pro X, but I consider it to be money well spent.

Well... If you are using CCC, the only way to use it to restore would be to start up from the bootable backup and run CCC from there. Unlike Disk Utility, CCC can clone the disk being used for startup; Disk Utility want the "source" disk to not be "busy." On the other hand, if you are using Disk Utility from the Mac OS Installation Disk, the backup does not need to be bootable. The backup can even be a disk image, which has the advantage of not occupying the entire external drive.
A bootable backup has several advantages. First, running from an optical disk is slow if you are going to be making backups at regular intervals; I'm not sure if want to boot from the Mac OS X Installation Disk so often. Second, the bootable backup will serve as an emergency boot disk to diagnose problems that you may have with the internal drive. If you buy tools like DiskWarrior and TechTool Pro, you can run them from there.
If you want a full identical copy of the internal drive, the following would be ideal... Get an external drive that is larger than the internal drive. Partition it so that it is bootable for Intel and with TWO partitions. Make the first partition about equal in size to the internal drive (it can be somewhat smaller since you will never fill the internal drive to 100%). Make the second partition the rest of the space.
Use CCC to make regular backups of the internal drive to the bootable second partition. As an added precaution, copy just your user directory to the second partition and keep it in sync with the one on the internal drive. You can do this manually, or with a tool like ChronoSync. Why the second user data backup? Because during the time when you are using CCC to clone the internal drive to the first partition, there is risk. At that moment, the previous backup is gone, the new backup is being written, and the "original" is actively being accessed. If there was a internal hard drive failure, or a power failure, you could lose the original and not have a backup. But if you have that user data backup on the second partition, at least you did not lose what's most important. Though inconvenient, you can always spend a day reinstalling the OS and apps from scratch.

Similar Messages

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    Spinland wrote:
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    As a quick test you can try installing OS X to the external drive to try booting to a fresh installation. If this works then try another cloning approach. It is likely you might have an odd setting or two in Carbon Copy Cloner that might be the problem here. While not the best option, you can use Disk Utility's "restore" feature to clone the boot drive to an external drive.

  • Using MacBook backup with non-Intel Mac laptop

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  • Mac Pro 5,1 Start up disk preference   Internal bootable backup

    Hi,
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    Oh wow, thanks for this info. You've actually just provided info for another problem which I had given up on finding a solution to...
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  • Bootable Backup- created and works BUT....

    I've got a full bootable backup on my external lacie firewire drive. My PB G4 15" can boot from it, happily.
    (tiger, not leopard)
    My question is what other macs could boot off the drive? e.g. MacMini, Macbook, Macbook pro (intel)? or is the bootable backup only good for my specific machine?

    I can't speak for the Intel-based Macs because I don't have any of those (though my folks and sister have MacBooks, go figure... they have "more powerful" machines than me... I have lots of PowerPC-based apps that I'm still using as well as OS 9 ones in Classic) but I'm sure they are no different with Intel-based Macs.
    I know for a fact that you can boot from any machine that supports Tiger and matches the specs of what's on your LaCie external drive.
    So, your PowerBook G4 15-inch that's been backed up onto the LaCie, will function as that PowerBook when you boot up on any G4-based Mac mini, PowerMac, iMac, etc.
    Though even G3 machines will work. I mean, G3 machine's drives will work as bootup drives in G4. (I never tried vice versa). I have a drive that is the original drive from a PowerMac G3, and I put it inside an older PowerMac G4 model--older than the Dual FW800 model that I have--and it booted up fine.
    I'm sure you know how to choose your boot volume at startup? Hold down the OPTION key at startup and it will let you select your startup drive.
    The perfect example is this. In April, I sent my 12-inch PowerBook into the Genius Bar to have the LCD screen replaced under warranty. I created a backup of my 12-incher's drive. I was able to connect that to my PowerMac G4 and startup as if I was using my 12-inch PowerBook all along.
    You can even do that via FireWire in Target Disk Mode. I can, essentially, if I wanted to, use my PowerMac G4 on my 12-inch PowerBook.
    The only caveat there is that of the processor. Let's say you are able to run Aperture on your PowerBook 15-inch. If you plug that LaCie external drive into a 433 MHz PowerMac G4, you won't be able to run Aperture since it doesn't qualify for the minimum system requirements.
    But you can do everything else that does qualify (like iMovie, iPhoto, maybe not GarageBand or Pages, if you have those).
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  • Can I boot a Mavericks desktop computer with a bootable backup made with OS X 10.4.6?

    I used to create bootable backups with SuperDuper and still have one created in 2010 from a white Intel mac (2006-era) running OS X 10.4.6. Would it be possible to boot a brand new 27" desktop running Mavericks 10.9.4 using the old bootable backup? I've never had to boot any of my computers from the bootable backups and I'd have to go searching thru my notes to find out how to do it, but I have no idea if attempting to do so could cause any harm to the new computer. If it could, I won't make the attempt.
    The reason I'm considering it: I lost three computers to a lightning strike a couple weeks ago. The white Intel mac was the one I used to create GarageBand projects. I discovered that the new version of GarageBand (10.0.2) lacks many of the instruments I frequently used in my projects. Thus, I figured, if I could easily boot using the bootable backup, I could continue my GarageBand work using the version of GarageBand on the bootable backup. Good idea or totally unworkable?
    Secondary follow-up question: any way to install the old version of GarageBand on the new computer using either the bootable backup or the old install disks? Although I'd like to get access to the old version, I won't do it if there's a large risk of creating problems with the new computer.
    Any advice?

    Bedruthan wrote:
    Would it be possible to boot a brand new 27" desktop running Mavericks 10.9.4 using the old bootable backup?
    No. Newer machines cannot boot with OSs that precede the one it shipped with.
    Secondary follow-up question: any way to install the old version of GarageBand on the new computer using either the bootable backup or the old install disks?
    Again, no. Newer machines cannot run PPC apps since they're based on Intel chips and not Motorola ones.
    iMac refurb (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), SL & ML, G4 450 MP w/Leopard, 9.2.2

  • The best backup software for mac os 10.4.8?

    Hi,
    I'm new on mac, I just got tired of PC and windows so I decided to make a change, a really good change.
    First of all to say that I've been looking for an answer of this question around the forums, but havn't got what I'm looking for. What I've found is that people prefere freeware, I just want good stuff.
    I'm not sure if this is the right forum to place my topic, but is not a bad one either.
    Anyway, here is my question.
    I need to clone and do incremental backups, but I have to be extremely sure that the software I use is completly trustfull and secure, so I do not care if I have to pay 100€ (not much more thouh), just want to be sure I get everything works right.
    I also prefere software that only does clone and backups than a multitask soft.
    Well, if u have any question just ask, u're the ones who really know about this things.
    Thanks, everything is wellcome here.

    You will find information on backup in this:
    Kappy's Personal Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
    For disk repairs use Disk Utility. For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.0 is now Intel Mac compatible. TechTool Pro provides additional repair options including file repair and recovery, system diagnostics, and disk defragmentation. TechTool Pro 4.5.2 is Intel Mac compatible; Drive Genius is similar to TechTool Pro in terms of the various repair services provided. The current version, 1.5.1, is Intel Mac compatible.
    OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.
    OS X automatically defrags files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems.
    I would also recommend downloading the shareware utility TinkerTool System that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old logfiles and archives, clearing caches, etc.
    For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack. If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the commandline.
    When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
    Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is significant):
    1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
    2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
    3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
    4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
    5. PsynchX 2.1.1 and RsyncX 2.1 (Freeware)
    The following utilities can also be used for backup, but cannot create bootable clones:
    1. Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
    2. Toast
    3. Impression
    4. arRSync
    Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of also backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility as are the other two.
    Impression and Toast are disk image based backups, only. Particularly useful if you need to backup to CD/DVD across multiple media.
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
    Additional suggestions will be found in Mac Maintenance Quick Assist.
    Referenced software can be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
    Why reward points?(Quoted from Discussions Terms of Use.)
    The reward system helps to increase community participation. When a community member gives you (or another member) a reward for providing helpful advice or a solution to their question, your accumulated points will increase your status level within the community.
    Members may reward you with 5 points if they deem that your reply is helpful and 10 points if you post a solution to their issue. Likewise, when you mark a reply as Helpful or Solved in your own created topic, you will be awarding the respondent with the same point values.

  • GUID format needed to make bootable HD for intel iMac?

    I have one brand new 1TB hard drive, and an old 250GB. Both Lacies.
    I have a newish intel iMac and an old G4 tower.
    Am I right in thinking that, in order to make a bootable clone for the iMac, I need to format the 1TB as GUID? Will I then not be able to boot from it on the G4?
    Confused, and want to get this right. THANKS!

    If you want to install OS X freshly to the drive then you need it to be partitioned using GUID to boot an Intel Mac. However, if you clone an existing Intel system to the drive then the drive can be partitioned using APM. However, an Intel version of OS X cannot be used to boot a PPC Mac. To accomplish what you want you need to partition the drive into two volumes - one will hold the clone of your Intel Mac and one will hold the clone of your PPC Mac.
    You may need to re-partition the drive as it is. It may already be partitioned GUID, so you will need to change that.
    Do the following:
    Extended Hard Drive Preparation
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to APM then click on the OK button. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu to two (2) then use the sizing gadget to change the size of each volume to whatever you prefer. The default will be equal sized partitions. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volumes mount on the Desktop.
    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 Options 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.
    Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.
    At this point you can now clone your existing computers to their respective volumes. The cloned Intel system should boot the Intel Mac and the cloned PPC system should boot the G4. After you clone the systems you should of course verify the clones are good by starting each computer from their respective cloned systems.
    You can clone using Disk Utilities Restore option or any backup utility that can create bootable clones such as Carbon Copy Cloner - VersionTracker or MacUpdate.

  • Bootable backups - disk utility and which external drives

    hi all
    (maybe) a simple question
    i have been using time machine for my back ups but i am now planning to have a second backup program. i'm looking at using a bootable clone in this regard.
    i started looking at super duper and ccc however a few stumbling blokes have just popped up (well at least warning signs that may be of no issue at all - hence this question)
    * can ALL external drives be used for bootable backup purposes?
    I have a couple of western digital ones - my book essential and my passport.
    On the western digital website, it does not have my model numbers listed - does it matter?
    Is it a case of any usb connected external drive can be used for intel macs? - i am getting conflicting views on various postings i have seen re this question
    second part/question is:
    i also understand disk utility can be used for cloning (no updates, just full clones) and as a bootable back up.
    if, just for the purposes for having a back up bootable drive, can i set up a clone without too much regard for recloning it (say every 2 months) and if i need to use it, then boot the mac back up with it and then do a full restore using my up to date time machine backups? am i missing something with that method? is that too simple?
    feedback much appreciated on these 2 areas
    cheers
    peter t

    Crows2012 wrote:
    1) there is no way to make a BOOTABLE clone using disk utility or time machine whatsoever, right? DU will only allow me to make clones and Recovery HD essentially allows me to restore the system (ie software) AFTER booting up?
    Correct with respect to TM; all you get is a copy of the Recovery HD.
    Disk Utility will make a bootable clone, but there are downsides.  First, it can only do a whole copy;  unlike a specialized cloning app, it won't copy just what's new or changed, so takes a long time.  Second, as I understand it, it won't copy to a smaller volume, even if there's plenty of free space on the internal.  For example, if you have a 1 TB internal with only 400 GB on it, DU won't copy it to a 500 GB drive.  I may be wrong, but I've seen that posted here by folks who seem to know.
    does file b here mean aliases of file b in each backup?
    It acts sorta like that, but no.
    There's one copy of the actual file, but two hard links to it, one in each folder.  The file actually "belongs" to both folders at the same time!  The good part of that is, if you delete either backup folder, the other one remains intact.  The downside is, how the heck do you count the size of each folder accurately?
    that was a great read to understand TM workings and attain some level of piece of mind re my question of incremental v differential backups
    It is a bit hard to get your head around!    I've been revising and editing that for several years trying to make it clear.
    And remember, this only applies to TM as far as I know, at least for consumer-level backup apps.
    While it may be possible to boot your computer to an external hard drive, Western Digital does not provide technical support for booting your computer using an external hard drive. If you intend to make a copy of your boot drive, or install your operating system, please use a second internal drive (EIDE or Serial ATA), rather than an external drive.
    Yup.  WD doesn't exactly have a good reputation for support. 
    i guess i'll trial CCC or SD and see what happens with the drives that i have re BOOTABILITY
    I use CCC myself -- it's a great product with great support.
    I downloaded SD a couple of times, but never got around to experimenting with it.  Lots of folks swear by it, and say it also has excellent support.  To a large degree, it just seems to be a matter of which approach and GUI you prefer, but CCC does allow "archiving" of changed and deleted stuff (differently from TM), and can copy Recovery HDs.  I don't think SD does either, but it may have other advantages.
    4) and, i think one final question, and a simple/naive one at that.....if my internal hard drive physically collapses then what are the benefits of that bootable clone v not having one?
    You can start up from the clone and run normally (but likely a bit more slowly), although you probably won't be as up-to-date as you would after restoring to a new or repaired internal, or an external, from TM.  The reason is, running a clone backup, even an incremental one, takes much longer and far more CPU than one of TM's quick incrementals, which it will do hourly if you let it.  Few folks using a clone for an OSX drive do it more than once per day, many only once a week. 
    The downside is, if you run from the clone, you no longer have a backup -- the clone has the only copy of your stuff.  That's one reason many folks who use only a cloning app have two (or more) externals with them.
    Apart from (obviously) being able to start up immediately to do whatever i wanted to do at the time, after i replace the hard drive (if that was to be the case) are there further expenses or much inconvenience suffered due to not having a bootable drive in getting things all sorted internally on the mac? what is the process in that regard, generally speaking
    Just clone the external to the new internal, and you're back in business.
    thanks heaps for your time to answer these and previous questions and to build up my understanding of these topics
    You're quite welcome. 

  • Partition format for bootable backup

    I am running Tiger on my G4 and MBP, and also running SL on the MBP off an external HD (don't ask).
    I want to make a third bootable backup copy of my HDs for my G4 and MBP on one HD that I will partition for both of the computers and the 2 systems on the MBP using SuperDuper to do the backup.
    If I choose GUID format, all the partitions will be GUID. I know I can only choose one format for all the partitions.
    Can the G4 be booted from a GUID formatted HD?
    Or should I do the backup in Apple HFS+ Journaled (do I remember the term correctly?) in which can will it be bootable on the MBP?
    Help please - I need to do this asap before I leave town so I can put the new backup in our safe deposit box.
    Thanks,
    Mrs H

    BDAqua wrote:
    Hi there, That is done on the Erase tab, before you can even Partition it.
    As Niel said...
    HFS+ = Format
    APM = Partition scheme
    BDA - stick with me here, I'm confused. Let me explain:
    I finally remembered that the Help for "Partition" is found in DU help. And I know I've done this before but I can't figure out format and scheme now.
    Here's some of what it says in Help - and I don't see how it links to what's been suggested here.
    Sorry to be so stupid - I just want to get this done once and right and I don't want to have to re-do it once it's done. And I'm running out of time before I leave the country. (btw - I know you don't like LaCies but I've had good luck with them - the HD I just got for storing in our safe deposit box is a tiny 1TB Rikiki Go - fits in the palm of my hand, very cool1)
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    -Select the disk in the list that you want to partition, and click Partition.
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