Older MacBook Pro as a Wireless Backup Drive?

I just got a new MacBook Pro and want to use my old one as a wireless backup drive. Is this possible? I'd backup only user files and skip the music and photos. If so, how do I set it up and what are my options for wireless backup software?

If the router is wireless then you don't need Ethernet. Enable File Sharing on one or both computers so you can copy files from one to the other over your wireless network.
You cannot use SuperDuper! because it cannot backup to a networked device. However, any of these should work:
Backup Software Recommendations
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. Carbon Copy Cloner (Donationware)
6. Intego Personal Backup (Commercial)
7. Data Backup (Commercial)
8. SilverKeeper 2.0 (Freeware)
9. Tri-Backup (Commercial)
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
And, the Restore option of Disk Utility for full disk cloning. Apple's Backup 3 also will work but requires a MobileMe account.

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    I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. the same thing happens when just trying to save my pictures from iphoto to a flash drive. suggestions to complete backup please?

    Sounds like you'll need to access that drive while it is not booted. You need to replace it anyway, so do that, then one way or another (ext enclusure, et), access it and copy files.
    If you keep trying to boot it, you might kill it for good and not get your files, so just swap it out first.

  • How do I restore a Time Machine backup from a newer MacBook Pro to an older MacBook Pro?

    My MacBook Pro is in the shop and am using my older MacBook Pro in the meantime. I want to restore my older computer with the lastest backup from my newer computer, but I'm not able to see/access the backups from my newer computer - I can only see the backups from my old computer. Any suggestions?

    That is probably due to the older computer being too old.
    You can do a manual restore to a USB drive plugged into the computer. Then select the files you want.
    See pondini Q14-17 on restore.
    http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    Particularly 16 and 17.
    You tend to migrate from older to newer computer and OS.. and it is not going to work the other way around.

  • Cannot load backup onto older MacBook Pro

    I own a early 2008 MacBook Pro and my mom owns a early/late 2011 MacBook Pro. Mine has recently been showing signs of slowing down a little bit and my mom asked if I wanted to switch computers since I will be going back to school and she rarely uses hers. Well we both backed up our computers on the AirPort Time Capsule and wiped our computers. Everything from my 2008 laptop loaded fine onto her 2011 laptop but when she went to load everything from her volume on the AirPort Time Capsule, it cannot find the volume. Is this because all of her files are going onto an older MacBook Pro? Both are updated to the newest software and everything. Anyone have any idea what is going on and how we can "Find" her backup and load it onto the 2008 computer? Thanks!

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    In the end you may need to manually restore files, by mounting the sparsebundle in finder.
    See Pondini Q17.. but please do read from 14-16 so you understand it.
    http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    Also the stuff on the home page about migrate is important albeit it is not up to Mavericks.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html

  • Hi, I have a macbook pro with a new hard drive installed. My WD external drive backup on time machine now wont let me access the files. I get a prompt saying 'you do not have permission to access the files'

    hi, I have a macbook pro with a new hard drive installed and restored. My WD external drive backup on time machine now wont let me access the files. I get a prompt saying 'you do not have permission to access the files' After my new drive was installed I plugged in time machine and it started backing up. I paused it when I realised that it was running for more than a few minutes. I now realise that it probably started backing up the new hard drive all over again. Which makes me think that the original back up must be on the WD back I cant seem to access it. Any ideas would be helpful.

    See E-10 in the first link.
    Time Machine Troubleshooting
    Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

  • How can I backup my MacBook Pro to an external hard drive

    How can I backup my MacBook Pro to an external hard drive?

    Basic Backup
    For some people Time Machine will be more than adequate. Time Machine is part of OS X. There are two components:
    1. A Time Machine preferences panel as part of System Preferences;
    2. A Time Machine application located in the Applications folder. It is
         used to manage backups and to restore backups. Time Machine
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         drive being backed up.
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      1. Carbon Copy Cloner
      2. Get Backup
      3. Deja Vu
      4. SuperDuper!
      5. Synk Pro
      6. Tri-Backup
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files. For help with using Time Machine visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.
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      3. WiebeTech
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      5. California Drives
      6. NewEgg
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  • Using my boot hard drive from an older Macbook pro into a new one?

    Hi,
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    Jason

    You can resolve that by installing the 10.6.6 Combo Updater instead of the smaller incremental updater.
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  • My macbook pro crashed and the hard drive was replaced. How do I restore my backup pre- 9.6 iphoto library to the 9.6.1 iphoto library? They look completely different.

    My macbook pro crashed and the hard drive was replaced. How do I restore my backup pre- 9.6 iphoto library to the 9.6.1 iphoto library? They look completely different. When I look at my backed-up iphoto library folder I see lots of files and folders: ALbumData.xml, Attachments folder, etc. The 9.6.1 iphoto library doesn't appear to be a folder at all. Help!

    iPhoto 6 and earlier libraries were regular folders with the kind of files your reporting.  With the advent of iPhoto 7 the library folder was changed to a package similar to the application packages but have essentially the same files and folders inside.  There's no reason to have access to the inside of the iPhoto Library so Apple changed them to packages.
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  • Apple new macbook pro dosent have a disk drive. Does the older model have a problem with the disc drive and so is removed in the new model?

    apple new macbook pro dosent have a disk drive. Does the older model have a problem with the disc drive and so is removed in the new model?

    No. Apple replaced the disk drive with a solid state drive (SSD) instead. The SSD is faster the old disk drive.
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  • I have an older macbook pro os x 10.5.8 , processor 2.4ghz intel core 2 duo 2gb . Can I upgrade it and is it worth doing?

    i have an older macbook pro os x 10.5.8 , processor 2.4ghz intel core 2 duo 2gb . Can I upgrade it and is it worth doing?

    Yes. Here's the information:
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           3. 5GB of available disk space
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           5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
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           6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
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    To upgrade to Mavericks you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8, Lion, or Mountain Lion installed. Purchase and download Mavericks (Free) from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. The file is quite large, over 5 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
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           Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mavericks
             1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 7,1 or later
             2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) —
                 Model Identifier 5,1 or later
             3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
             4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 2,1 or later
             5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
             6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
             7. Xserve (Early 2009) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
    To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
    Are my applications compatible?
             See App Compatibility Table — RoaringApps.
    Upgrading to Lion
    If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mavericks, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
    You can purchase Lion at the Online Apple Store. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax.  It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
         Lion System Requirements
           1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
               or Xeon processor
           2. 2GB of memory
           3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
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           5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
    Only you can decide if it's worth doing.

  • Installing new SSD into older MacBook Pro and Organization Questions!!?

    Hello,
    I am about to pull the trigger on a new Samsung 840 Pro 512gb ssd for my older Macbook Pro 5,3 with 2.66 Intel Core 2 Duo.
    I need some advice or at least point me in the direction of where I can read up to date info on properly executing the install of my new ssd.
    A little background:
    I have a Seagate 500gb external hdd that has many older pictures/videos on it as well as my "just about full" 320gb hdd on this computer that will be getting the 512ssd.
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  • Every time I try to back up my Macbook Pro with an external hard drive using Time Machine, I receive the error of "the disk does not have enough space". I have a 500GB hard drive and only 120GB Macbook. It worked fine before the latest Maverick's

    Every time I try to back up my Macbook Pro with an external hard drive using Time Machine, I receive the error of "the disk does not have enough space". I have a 500GB external hard drive and only 120GB Macbook. It worked fine before the latest Maverick's update. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    My guess would be it has created an entirely new backup of your drive when you upgraded to Mavericks.
    See Here: http://pondini.org/TM/1.html
    And here: http://pondini.org/TM/9.html
    Peruse the whole site. There is a lot of information there.

  • TS4088 I have a MacBook pro that has power issues and will not start but the hardrive is fine.  I do not want to lose all of my files so I was wondering if it's possible to transfer my hardrive from a older Macbook pro to a new one if I were to purchase o

    I have a MacBook pro that has power issues and will not start but the hardrive is fine.  I do not want to lose all of my files so I was wondering if it's possible to transfer my hardrive from a older Macbook pro to a new one if I were to purchase a new one?  Also, the software is not updated as the computer hasn't worked for about 2 months. 
    Also, if it is possible to transfer the hardrive, would my iTunes music transfer as well?  It is not saved in the cloud.
    Thanks for your help, it is much appreciated.

    You computer is probably perfectly repairable, but if you want a new one anyway, it is perfectly possible to transfer the data from the faulty one.
    But it would be a mistake to simply put the old HD in the new computer.
    These are the steps:
    Remove Hard drive from faulty computer. (very easy on Unibody MBPs, do-able but not so easy on older MBPs)
    Put it in a cheap enclosure
    Connect it the new computer
    Boot up new computer.
    If the new computer has never been run before the Setup Assistant will ask if you want to import your apps, data, settings etc from either another mac, another HD connected to the Mac or a Time Machine back up.
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    If the new computer has already been run (so Setup Assistant doesn't run when you boot it up), you will need to use Migration Assistant...or run the installer again so that Setup Assistant runs again.
    Message was edited by: Mike Boreham...added sec on line

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    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5287

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