Need 10.6.8 External Drive for Back Up

My external hard drive died just this week, right before I need to upgrade my OS from 10.6.8 to something newer that's fully compatible with Adobe's new version of Connect (9.3).  So I can't use my old backup drive to back up my iMac before I upgrade from 10.6.8.  I was looking at new external hard drives, and I noticed that one of them specifies that it's compatible with 10.7.  I don't know if that means it's NOT compatible with 10.6.8, but does anyone know of an external hard drive that IS compatible with 10.6.8 so that I can backup my iMac before upgrading?  Thanks.

You don't need to worry about whether an external drive is compatible with your operating system. Given that you have 10.6 right now your computer can use a USB 2 or USB 3 external drive. (If you buy a USB 3 external it will operate at the slower USB 2 speeds but it will be compatible.) Windows and Mac computers don't use the same drive format so unless the drive specifically says it is formatted for the Mac you'll need to format it. See this Apple support document for instructions on formatting the drive.

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    Get a different drive for backup.
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    Hello...
    Good information here for backup and recovery.
    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/backuprecovery.html
    You need an external drive for back up.
    Carolyn

  • I've used an external drive for time machine which has important files on it. After trying to back up my computer, it suddenly needed to be "repaired" by utilities. Now it's not being "seen" at all! How do I recover my important files off the drive?

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    If the external drive can be seen at all in Disk Utility, follow the instructions for repair here.

  • I would like to know if you have to back up a macbook hard drive, can I use a external hard drive that has been previously used to back up several pc 's, or is it best to have a separate external drive for the Mac?

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  • HT201250 Hi, I hope this question won't seem too basic but if I want to use a new larger external drive for my time machine backups, will it do a new full backup the first time I plug it in and if so, do I really need all the old backups on my smaller ext

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    50maz wrote:
    Hi, I hope this question won't seem too basic but if I want to use a new larger external drive for my time machine backups, will it do a new full backup the first time I plug it in
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  • HT4946 How do i change where itunes sends the back up file? I need it in an external drive?

    I need it in an external drive?
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    I doubt this can be relocated or moved so you might want to just repost in the macbook pro area.
      MacBook Pro
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    https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions
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    http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB137VC/A/g-technology-4tb-g-raid-professional -high-performance-dual-drive-hard-drive?fnode=5f

  • How can I force Time Machine to make a complete backup of my Hard Drive.  I just installed a new external drive for Backup since my previous one failed.  Now when I back up, Time Machine only backs up my data folder and the Users folder.

    How can I force Time Machine to make a complete backup of my Hard Drive.  I just installed a new external drive for Backup since my previous one failed.  Now when I back up, Time Machine only backs up my data folder and the Users folder.
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    Hi I'd like to jump in here. Your app showed me this:
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              Destinations:
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                        Total size: 999.86 GB
                        Total number of backups: 64
                        Oldest backup: 2013-07-24 23:25:11 +0000
                        Last backup: 2013-11-17 01:40:47 +0000
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  • I am using a WD external hard drive for backing up my laptop with Time Machine, but I have to do it manually. How do I know when it has finished the back up? How long should it take?

    I am using an external WD hard drive for backing up my laptop. I have to do it manually, so I can't set Time Machine to just do it for me. How do I know when it is done backing up? How long should this take?

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:
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    Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
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    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
    ☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
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    Added:
    Removed:
    Changed:
    These lines show the total amount of data added, removed, or changed on the source(s) since the last snapshot.

  • I'm trying to find an external drive for the MacPro that will allow me to password protect the external drive in case it is taken.  Any suggestions on a very reliable on that is 2TB or a third party software that is compatable with the need I describe?

    I'm trying to find an external drive for the MacPro that will allow me to password protect the external drive in case it is taken.  Any suggestions on a very reliable one that is 2TB or a third party software that is compatable with the need I describe?

    How much of a hurry are you in, and are you considering upgrading to Lion?
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  • I got an old Apple G5 shell from Goodwill. I'd like to salvage the Superdrive and use it as an external drive for my Apple laptop. Is this possible, and what cables would I need if so?

    I got an old Apple G5 shell from Goodwill. I'd like to salvage the Superdrive and use it as an external drive for my Apple laptop. Is this possible, and what cables would I need if so?
    Other info is available:
    Superdrive MFG date: Sept 2009
    Model: DVR-118LBK DVD-R/RW Writer Unit
    My Macbook is: Mid-2010, running Mavericks
    Thanks in advance, God bless!

    That's a nice Pioneer DVD±RW drive - and an upgraded replacement for the original optical drive that shipped with that G5.  For a finished look, you'd want to install it in an external enclosure for 5.25" IDE/ATAPI drives that converts it to USB connectivity.  Because SATA optical drives have replaced ATAPI drives in recent years, the selection is getting more limited for a new enclosure, although used ones can undoubtedly be found at ebay.  Here's an example of one, although it only features USB connectivity.  You can also find enclosures that have both FireWire and USB connectivity, which for Mac users is beneficial.  Booting the computer (if needed) by a FireWire-connected device is generally more reliable than USB booting.  If this isn't important to you, then a USB-only enclosure would be adequate.  The enclosure will have directions, but essentially all you need to do is plug in the power cable and data ribbon cable and then secure the drive to the bottom plate of the enclosure with the included machine screws.

  • I want to upgrade from OS X 10.5.8 to Snow Leopard. When trying to back-up to a WD 1 TB external drive, the back-up process stalls at about 4 GB. Grateful for any clues to assist with the backup issue please.

    I want to upgrade from OS X 10.5.8 to Snow Leopard, then to Lion. When trying to back-up to a WD 1 TB external drive, the back-up process stalls at about 4 GB download. I would be very grateful for any clues to assist with the back-up process please.

    That disk is very probably formated as FAT 32, the normal format for PCs. FAT 32 cannot support files larger than 4 GB; also, it corrupts some types of Mac OS files. If you want to securely backup your mac files, you must have a disk prepared for Mac OS.
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  • HT1478 How do I download my iTunes music library onto an external USB drive for back up purposes?

    I have an external USB drive plugge into my computer. I want to download my iTunes music library onto the USB drive for back up purposes.
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    See here: iTunes: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
    B-rock

  • What's the best external hard drive for back-ups?

    I have a Powerbook G4 and would like to buy an external hard drive for back-up purposes. It seems impossible to choose one because drives made by every company occasionally fail and only then do people write reviews on them. Every time I hear that LaCie, Maxtor and Seagate make the best hard drives, an equal amount of people say they suck and fail on a regular basis.
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    The problem with review sites is that your average Joe buys a drive, it dies, so he throws mud at the company without giving any thought to the fact that no factory can attain perfection. And of course this average joe wants the best possible price (in other words cheap as dirt) so the company's tech support is staffed by under payed workers in Bangalore.
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