I have an intel iMac OS X 10.8.3 and haven't yet backed up anything. Please advice on best ways of backing up everything before it's too late - external drive etc.
I have in Intel iMac OS X 10.8.3 and haven't yet backed up anything. Please advise on best ways of backing up everything (external drive etc?) before it's too late.
Buy any external hard drive - USB/Firewire/Thunderbolt, etc that is compatible with your Mac. Opinions will vary, but I use Western Digital externals without problem, others will suggest LaCie, but there are no shortage of other manufacturers making equally good drives, I'm sure. It's preferable to buy a drive that is equal to the size of your internal HD, some will say twice the size. Mine are less than the size of my internal HD, but I don't have masses of data.
The simple and free option is to then connect the drive to the Mac and turn on Time Machine. Leave the drive permanently connected and it will backup your data regularly.
An alternative, and my preferred option is to use SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner to make regular bootable clones of your drive. Some (me included) keep multiple backups - clones and TMachine.
When I had my HD replace recently I re-installed from the clone and was back where I left off in around an hour.
Similar Messages
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What is the best way to move part of my iTunes library to an external drive?
After many years of collecting iTunes content on my Mac, I'm starting to get low on internal hard drive space. I'd like to move my movies and tv shows to an external drive while keeping all other content where it is. I have found numerous explanations on how to do this, but they vary widely in their methods and most of them are at least a couple of years old.
Could anyone with recent experience share with me the best practices for doing this? In addition, I'd love to know this: Although I have a firewire external drive, but I don't keep it connected at all times and would prefer to put the files on my Time Capsule, since it connects to the Mac wirelessly. Would that work?
Thank you!I don't think it is easy to move part of a collection unless you don't care about the metadata such as date added, etc. You can copy the files to the other drive, delete in iTunes the references to the copies still on your computer, then hold down the option key while dragging the files on the external to iTunes so it doesn't copy them back to your internal but just references them where they are. You have to remember to do this each time. Either that, or set preferences so iTunes does not automatically copy any file to your media folder when added but leaves them all where they land on your computer. You can move them by hand around the computer, but not between drives.
You could try Dougscript "Move Files To Folder" but I don't know if this enables iTunes to track items moved to a different drive. iTunes doesn't really like using multiple drives.
As for using Time Capsule, I have seen various takes on this. I recall reading somebody saying it isn't a good idea to have a backup drive competing for dual purposes. My take on it is, TC is a backup, period. If you keep your movies on it and the TC drive dies, you lose your only copy of the movies.
How often do you really watch these movies? Yes, it is nice having them appear in iTunes, but unless you are watching them every day then it isn't a huge burden to have them on another drive. Frankly, if I had iTunes movies I would probably make a whole different library for them and start from it with the external drive turned on when I was in a movie mood. -
I have an Intel Imac Tiger 10.4 w/ built-in Airport card...Need help please
I live in the sticks, so I am using a Verizon EVDO Broadband USB modem for internet connection (works great by the way)....I also have a Windows XP PC with a Belkin Wireless card....My question:
Can I share my Mac's internet connection without buying or using a router or ethernet cable? Can I do it safely? Thanks so much.....Thanks for the info.....I have the "network" up and am able to use the mac's internet connection....However, when I try to enable the WEP encryption (40 bit), I lose the network and connection....I am inputting a 5 digit password into the Mac software, and adding that same password into the Belkin wireless software on the PC....But no go....As soon as I disable the encryption, I pick the signal back up....I am running the firewall and stealth modes....Will this be secure enough if I don't enable file sharing ?
Thanks for helping.... -
I have an Intel iMac running OSX 10.6.8. I would like to use Final Cut Pro 10.1. I know I need OSX 10.9 for this. Can I run both 10.6.8 and 10.9 on the iMac ? I do not want to convert completely to 10.9 because of my existing software. Thanks for any help
It would depend on how old your IMac is, how mush memory you have, it it can be upgraded by OWC, etc. I have a 2006 Macbook Pro and would NOT put Mavericks on it or espeacially FCP 10.1.1 on it because the most memory it can have is 4 GB. You need at least 8 GB to work with Final Cut Pro 10.1.1. IMHO.
I would try to find a copy of Final Cut Express perhaps.
Does this answer your question? -
I have an intel iMac OS 10.6.8 with iTunes 11.0.2 and an Apple TV with software 5.2. Home sharing worked fine until I added a VoIP device to my wired ethernet network. Now Apple TV cannot recognize my computer. How can I reconfigure?
I have an intel iMac OS 10.6.8 with iTunes 11.0.2 and an Apple TV with software 5.2. Home sharing worked fine until I added a VoIP device to my wired ethernet network. Now Apple TV cannot recognize my computer. How can I reconfigure?
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Just bought a new iphone 5, i have an old imac computer OSX 10.5.8 and itune version 10 (updated at great cost last year for iphone4) it dosen't let me restore data... any chance of update or do i have to thow away my computer (and never by Mac again?)
You an use your iPhone without connecting it to a computer.
But the product description for the iPhone clearly states that in order to sync with a Mac you must have OSX 10.6.8 or later. That version of the OSX is usually called Snow Leopard. There are two mo recent versions of OSX. OSX 10.7.x (Lion) and OSX 10.8.x (Mountain Lion).
If you can upgrade your computer to at least Snow Leopard I suggest you do so. -
I have a 27" iMac connected to several others pc and to Server via router. Very frequently Lan or internet drops in my iMac. I Have OS 10.6.7 with all updates.
Issues like this are going to be related to the network. Intermittant problems are typically due to network interference, have you checked istumbler.net to get a report of your network?
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I have an old iMac version 10. 4.11 and I have the iPhone 3GS which I cannot upgrade the latest applications I want to buy the iPhone 4S but I need to back up all the information on my iMac and move it to a different computer contacts songs etc which is the easiest way to do this
Glenn,
I tried upgrading to leopard, even bought the software and brought it home but it wouldn't let me. So i went back to apple, gave them the specifications of the machine and been told my machine is simply too old for leopard. This is incredible to me because it really isn't THAT old (i think just a little over 6 years maybe) and yet i'm left out on the curb when it comes to using newer apple products. I understand technology moves on but the mindset that i am supposed to dump a perfectly working machine after a couple of years or face not being able to use any other apple product is counter to what thought apple was about. -
I have an older iMac G5. I updated the computer and itunes updated also. Now it won't come up It wants a updated quicktime. The computer isn
't letting me do that. I need an older version of itunes. can anyone help?iTunes 10 works with Leopard on a PPC Mac if you have Quicktime 7.7 available here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL761 -
hello. i have a 2011 iMac G4 with OSX10.9.2 and I can't find AirPlay . is it on this version of iMac? i just got a new soundsystem expecting to connect via AirPlay but don't know where to find it....?
About AirPlay and Airplay Mirroring
AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, and is supported on the following Mac models: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer), Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), and MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer). For non-qualifying Macs you can try using Air Parrot.
Several Apple Articles Regarding AirPlay
Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- How to use AirPlay Mirroring
How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes
iTunes- Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring
iTunes- Using AirPlay
Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- Understanding AirPlay settings
About AirPlay Mirroring in OS X Mountain Lion
iTunes 10- About playing music with AirPlay
Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring
Using AirPlay
Thanks to the $15 Beamer, AirPlay streaming is still possible on Macs that do not support Airplay and mirroring.
Other solutions are the Air Parrot, StreamToMe, and AirServer. -
I have an older iMac (OS X 10.4.11), and I forgot my master password. Is there anything I can do to reset the master password?
Here's the instructions if you have the discs.
Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274?viewlocale=en_US
Changing your administrator password
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh655.html
Here's one method to reset the password without the install disc:
1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.
2. wait for terminal show
3. release keys
4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"
5. press enter
6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
7. press enter
8. type without the quotes: "reboot"
9. press enter
This will let you create a new admin account when you reboot your computer.
Also, without the discs, look at Mac OS X Tip - No Password, No Root, No CD? No Problem.
http://www.macobserver.com/tip/2003/06/16.1.shtml
Here is a way to get around not knowing the admin password on Macs.
To reset your OS X password without an OS X CD you need to enter terminal and create a new admin account:
1. Reboot
2. Hold apple + s down after you hear the chime.
3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):
* mount -uw /
* rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
* shutdown -h now
4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one and you’re good to go again!
Cheers, Tom -
I have a mac OS X version 10.5.8 and need adobe flash to installed..please help
i have a mac OS X version 10.5.8 and need adobe flash player to install please help
Hello, likely you can, but...
So we know more about it...
At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware> and report this upto but not including the Serial#...
Hardware Overview:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 6 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.21f4
Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...
General requirements
* Mac computer with an Intel processor
* 1GB of memory (I say 4GB at least, more if you can afford it)
* 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)
* DVD drive for installation
* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
* Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Which apps work with Mac OS X 10.6?...
http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/
Buy Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Call Apple Sales...in the US: 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or Support... 1-800-275-2273
Other countries...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57 -
What is the best way to back up my imac
I am new to using an imac and wondered what is the best way to back the data up? Can I back it up to the cloud and if so how do I do this?
The first response pretty much covers it. Time Machine is a great backup for restoring individual files or folders. It can also be used as a full system restore, but you cannot boot from a TM backup and run the computer from it. You can do that from a clone, which can be useful should your hard drive fail utterly.
I have a TM backup on one external drive, and I use bus powered portable external drives for clones. I like thes as I can keep one offsite, and another one stays at home, but is in the firesafe except when being updated.
The two main cloning apps are Shirt Pocket Software's SuperDuper, and Bombich softeware's CarbonCopyCloner, both very reasonably priced. Note that CCC will work over a network, while SuperDuper will not - other than that they have very similar features, including automatic update scheduling.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
http://www.bombich.com/
Of course you can buy drives at all sorts of places (Amazon, Newegg, TigerDirect,...) but a good place that services Apple computer users specifically is Other World Computing (http://www.macsales.com/) who also sell some very good quality drives and external enclosures. -
Which is best way to back an iMac?
Which is best way to back an iMac? I have lots of photos and videos on my iMac TIme Capsule or hard drive. I would like to take photos and videos off my iMac but would easy access to them.
steve359 wrote:
CCC stores a "base image", then its incremental backups are stores in separate folders that you would have to search for specific files. If different files were "last changed" on different days, you may have to search different days "incremental folders" to get all files.
Because of this CCC is "managed" ... you cannot fully control how backups are made or where files are stored. And TimeMachine eventually deletes "incremental folders" as they get too old, so it is "managed" as well.
If you have full sets of files you want saved "as a specificslly formatted set", I would do it in another eternal drive that *I* manage as a set of folders.
This is totally 100% incorrect. What you described here is more or less Time Machine, not CCC. CCC is a standard backup program. It does not, I repeat, NOT, create incremental dated backups. While you can save what gets replaced by date archived directories that is not the intent of CCC. It's intent is to have a exact disk image, folder-for-folder, file-for-file, of the source. Under option it just stuffs the files it replaces in a folder.
And you switch what your are taking about halfway through your post to TM. -
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!! Transferring music Mac external drive- Windows
Hello my fellow community members. I have an external hard drive where I used to back up my MacBook's hard drive, and more importantly my iTunes music collection, a decade long culmination of my ever changing musical tastes. The MacBook finally gave out on me and now the only computer I have access to apart from my iPad is a PC running windows 7. So my question is, how can I transfer my iTunes folder off of my Macbook's external drive onto the Windows 7 PC? And also, would there possibly be some kind of USB extension I can get for the iPad that could possible allow me to access those files on the drive? but most importantly is transferring that entire folder onto the PC. If someone could please help me I would greatly appreciate it. I would be devastated if I lost my collection. About 90% of my collection wasn't purchased on iTunes so iCloud is no help for the majority of it. So please, help a brother out as they say!!!!!!!
There is no way to connect any iOS device via USB to an external drive.
What format is the external drive in? If it is not in NTFS format, the windows computer will not be able to read the data on it.
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