BACKUP FIRST

Before even thinking about installing Leopard, backup your previous system to an external drive, using FireWire, if possible and making the backup a bootable clone. Test the backup, don't leave it to fate.
If you did not make a backup, then you might not ever see all your data again if you have a problem installing Leopard.
Anyone with precious data on a computer should always have a backup, preferably of the entire disk, but certainly of those valuable files and documents.
Also keep a paper list of all your user registration codes, keys, serial numbers, etc., for all your apps. If you only keep them on a HD that crashes, they are useless.
In other words, expect the best, but be prepared for the worst. Stuff happens.
There is no luck involved AFAIK, but I could be wrong.
Prayer might help, but if you don't have a proper backup, please don't get mad at Apple or any of us in this forum.
This is a warning. A very serious one.
BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

Kevin Horn wrote:
Very good advice. But there is some luck involved, I didn't use a back up for many years and got away with it. No point to it now, though, with hard drives so cheap.
For registration codes, serial numbers, etc. I do have them on my computer in Yojimbo, but I sync that with .mac so I have copies on both home and work computers as well as my backups of each. Then I have another set of copies on my Palm for easy non-computer access. Paper printouts of them I would just lose.
I keep a handwritten list of my most important contacts login pw and such, in addition to having them on my flashdrive and on several other computers. The first time you change your email address, you realize all the websites, subscriptions, etc., that you need to notify, and many require a login.
Yes, I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about Luck. When I upgraded my G5 to Tiger, some years ago, I knew nothing about backups. I inserted the disk and had that preverbial cuppa.
Actually, I didn't need a backup for my two Leopard installs. I have a theory that if you have a working backup you won't need it.
Whether Luck, Karma, whatever, I suppose there are some intangibles in installing software that nobody can really explain
Yes, HDs are so cheap today, and backup software is free - so there is no reason not to backup.
My G5 TM disk is an old 160Gig Maxtor FW which seems to work fine. It's not bootable, but I have Tiger on my other internal drive on the G5.
If everyone made a proper and tested backup, this board would almost be dead, which is why I posted this note.
Nobody has to say, "I told you so" because this post does that.

Similar Messages

HT1766 I want to update to IOS 5, it says I have to backup first, but I do not see how to do that

I want to update to IOS 5, it says I have to backup first, but I do not see how to do that

If you connect the iPad to your computer's iTunes you can force a backup of it by right-clicking the iPad 'Device' on the left-hand sidebar of iTunes and selecting 'Backup' (on iTunes 11 you can enable the left-hand sidebar via option-command-S on a Mac, control-S on a PC)
Before starting the update you should copy any purchases off it to your computer via File > Devices > Transfer Purchases. You may also want to copy photos and any important documents off the iPad as well e.g. via the file sharing section at the bottom of the device's apps tab when connected to iTunes, via wifi, email, dropbox etc - they should be included in the backup, but it's best to have a copy of them outside of the backup just in case.
Then start the update by selecting the iPad on the left-hand sidebar, and on the Summary tab on the right-hand side clicking the Check For Updates button
Updating to iOS 5+ : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4972
A first gen iPad will be updated to iOS 5.1.1

HT1414 My iphone asked if I wanted to update and I hit yes. It said to plug into ITunes so I did. My only option is to "restore". It didn't ask if I want to backup first. I don't have service on phone. How can I go back to "not" restoring?

My iphone asked if I wanted to update and I hit yes. It said to plug into ITunes so I did. My only option is to "restore". It didn't ask if I want to backup first. I don't have service on phone and I don't want to restore. How can I go back to "not" restoring?

You have to restore it

I need to restore my sons ipod touch because he forgot his pswd. I can do this but it asks to backup first and my computer has no more memory to do this. Aren't all my itunes app purchases stored anyway? Why do I have to put this info onto my labtop?

I need to restore my sons ipod touch because he forgot his pswd. I can do thisby hitting restore in itunes, but it asks to backup first and my computer has no more memory to do the backup. Aren't all my itunes app purchases stored anyway? Why do I have to put this info onto my labtop?

The iPod backup that iTunes makes does not inlcude synced media like apps and music. Those items should be in your iTunes library.
You can redownload iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

Got grey screen when strat up,does genuis bar help to backup first b4 reset my hardwear?I didn't backup thoTAT

got grey screen when strat up，does genuis bar help to backup first b4 reset my hardwear？I didn't backup thoTAT

It is too late to backup now, the disc is already malfunctioning.
Backup is what you do before things break.
Take it in and hope that something can be recovered, don't be surprised if it can't.

I deleted photos cause the capacity is so big but i backup first on itunes then when i was to restore some of those i cannot find photos from the last backup that i 've done. What to do?

I deleted photos cause the capacity is so big but i backup first on itunes then when i was to restore some of those i cannot find photos from the last backup that i 've done. What to do?

As far as i know, you can use a third party iPad photos recovery software to have a try. If i remember correctly, this software has two methods to restore your photos. One is recovering from your iTunes backup, another is recovering from your iPad directly.
http://easy-iphone-recovery.blogspot.com/iphone-recovery-resource.html
It is worth to try if your photos are important.

Bootable Backup First Timer

I want to make a bootable backup of my computer on a external drive. How do I do it with the disk utilities that come with my imac? I've read about Super Duper but I thought I read somewhere that I can do this with my disk utilities. I already have data on the external drive and I didn't partition it when I got it, so is there a way to do a backup without erasing what's on the external drive already?
Also what about Carbon Copy Cloner? Has anybody had good results? I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible. ( I know $27.99 is cheaper than a hard drive migraine, but I'd like to try my options first.)
Thanks

*Hi tedzig, Welcome* to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.
If there is room on the internal HD, you could copy to it from the external and then be free to reformat. You have excellent helpers already.
To help you along the way, here are the SD and CCC sources.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Purchase at $27.95 will allow smart backups that look at the bu files and only move over new ones. It's quick at ~7 mins to change ~1 gig out of 20.
Be sure to test that the clone boots and apps behave properly.
Here are other popular cloners.
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
http://www.prosoftengineering.com/products/drivegeniusinfo.php?PHPSESSID=909c070fb2e13b35097fa9cc1340bfc0
Good Luck, JP

Erase/install - backup first question

On my 2yr old macbook I want to do a clean erase/install bc i hear thats better. I've never backed up my computer before. I'm going tonight to buy an external HD to do so. All I want to move to my new OS is photos, music and docs, as well as MS office, all my keychain passwords, and my safari bookmarks. Will I be able to move these files, programs and settings over after the clean erase/install, and how? Also, am I forgetting anything obvious that I should want to move over?

David's advice is solid. However I would like to suggest one other possibility. First, partition the external into two partitions and clone your current system to +both partitions+. Then, upgrade the system on one of the the external's partitions, leaving the other as a backup and your currently stable system intact. You can run from the upgraded external partition to verify that everything is working to your satisfaction. If so, you can simply clone the upgraded system on the external drive back onto your MacBook's internal drive, leaving the second duplicate intact "just in case". But, if you have any issues or find that you prefer the previous version, you have only to reboot your internal drive. This "method" will cover any possible situation you could encounter. After you have verified that everything is "good", you can return the external to whatever use you like. But I would leave it partitioned so that you have one partition dedicated to a backup "clone" of your OS. This should be updated prior to making any future changes to your system.

I have never done a backup; i don't have an external hard drive ; i want to intall snow leopard...is it important to do a backup first?

i have never done a backup; i do not have an external hard drive;
do i need to do a backup before i upgrade/install snow leopard?

Most commonly used backup methods
OS X 10.4/10.5 need to upgrade, 10.6.8 ok still
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

Leopard to Snow Leopard can i use a large flash drive to backup first?

I've been using Leopard for 4 years with no problems.
Since Google decided to stop support for Leopard, and I use Chrome a lot I decided to upgrade. I won't be upgrading to Mountain Lion right right away. I ordered my Snow Leopard disks from Apple.
I understand that I need to backup. I want to backup with Time Machine before I upgrade the OS, but I don't have $75+ right now to purchase an external hard drive for this purpose only.
Can I use a large Flash Drive to run Time Machine? Like a 32 GB? I know that flash drives have a limited number of writes on them and can go bad, so I am thinking I could just use it this one time to make sure I have a clean backup. If this is possible, then can I set up Time Machine again later when I have an external drive?
Also, I have 2 cores on my Mac, but I have no idea how to use the 2nd core.
I'm also not sure if I need to purchase a specific external drive because I have a mac.
Thanks for the help.

If you only need to make a full backup prior to upgrading, I would suggest using SuperDuper, which for creating a full, bootable clone is free. (It is not free when you start needing to make incremental backups, but you won't be doing that, at least not right now.) For a bootable clone, you only need a Flash drive (or external drive) as big as the total size of the utilized space on your hard drive right now, not as big as whatever the entire drive size is.
In the past, I would have recommended Carbon Copy Cloner for this, but it's no longer free or donation-ware and you don't have the budget for both that and some kind of external or Flash drive.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
You might also want to look around newegg.com for inexpensive USB external drives, or even large enough Flash drives. You'll probably find a much less expensive external hard drive than a Flash drive for this purpose.
You do not need to use Time Machine, but even if you did you could just make one full backup to a Flash or external drive and then unmount and disconnect it. An external for TM only needs to be so large because it's constantly taking snapshots of your drive and those add up. But you won't be using it that way.
Anyway, I think you're much better off with a bootable clone, should you need to restore that.
Don't worry about having 2 cores; that's nothing to do with backing up.

Can't backup - first time

Hello,
I have just set up my time machine (light is green), but can;t backup. When i click on the time machine icon, a pop up window states " A storage location for TM isn;t set up. To choose a location, set up Time Machine." I am confused because Time Machine is already set up. So i choose "Set up time machine" and it brings me to the window where I can slide the box from on to off.
I slide to on, and then a window comes up and asks to setup time machine or to cancel. There is also some space above but nothing is indicated.
In the same window to choose on or off, there is an icon "choose backup disc". I select this and it goes to the same window which asks to setup time machine or to cancel and also has some space above but nothing is indicated.
I have tried to follow the directions, but it always asks me to set up TM, which I have done, or go to the system perferences time machine page, which then eventually asks me to set up TM.
Thanks

do you have an external drive attached to store time machine backups? it's not clear from your post if you do. you need to set up time machine by selecting the backup drive in TM system preferences. THEN you can move the slider to on.

HT201412 Will restoring my iPhone lose any info if I backup first?

I am trying to figure out exactly what is going on with my phone, without having to go to the Apple store. I went to charge it earlier today (it was at about 7% battery) and when I plugged it in, it made the "charging" noise. It repeatedly makes that noise when plugged in. When I connect it to my computer, iTunes recognizes my phone just fine. The screen is completely black and I cannot "wake up" the phone by holding the power and home keys simultaneously as suggested. I read an article on the support site that suggested I restore my phone, so that I what I am trying. Hoping it works! (YES, I did backup my info before restoring!!) Does anyone have any suggestions or has anyone else experienced this before???

I believe you have to have the phone at the home screen to back it up on pc

Time for Another "Please Backup FIRST" Thread

Yes, that's right. Back up your system (or at least your data) BEFORE attempting to upgrade your OS. It's much easier than trying to recover your stuff after a failed installation. Astonishingly, there still seem to be many who do not understand this most basic of concepts.

Hey look, I'm not rich either. I have put three kids through college...well. two plus one "working on it". I understand most people are not "made of money". But this is not "optional". At least it should not be considered so. It should be factored into the cost of the computer. Either a second internal drive or an external if the computer has no extra drive bay. Would you buy a new car and run it on bald tires or with no insurance? What is your data worth? Nothing? That's about the value you give it by ignoring the necessity of having at least one dependable backup. Furthermore, if it were a choice between buying the newest OS or buying a backup drive, I would seriously think about waiting on the OS.

Must upgrade to use Time Machine? How to backup first?

My Mac Mini Server (mid 2010) just got reformatted and the HD wiped clean. I restored the system when I got home via Time Machine. I’m running 10.6.8. Today I tried to engage Time Machine, it said that I had to upgrade to 10.7 to use this version of TM? Then how could I back up? thanks. Frank

Type this in terminal:
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool YES

I bought the social network movie. When the operating upgrade started I checked for backup first. It continued upgrade. I lost the movie and all music synced to the pad. Frogged gone too. Anable to get frogged again. I paid for these that are missing and

I paid for these .they were not apples to remove . I want what I paid for .

You have actually helped me with a decision that has been driving me crazy for the past week. I do not need nor do I want all or most of the above you mentioned. Heck I hardly use half of that stuff on my home computer or I-pad. I will definately stay with my basic phones that I can get calls, texts and take pictures. Thanks again.

BACKUP FIRST

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