School me on preferred methods to backup and clean my data

Yes, I realize this may have been beaten to death, but as I'm going through a serious housecleaning with my drives, I would like to know what the more effective ways would be to backup and clean my drives/data.
I am currently running a 74GB Raptor (main drive, only as a Systems location), a 150GB Seagate in the lower drive, and a 250 LaCie 800 FW external.
I will be wiping the main drive clean for a fresh install, so any pointers on cloning, Duping, etc. would help quite a lot. I was currently just dragging and dropping to "copy".
Last, what utilities/softwares are recommended? I have macaroni for unused language files and automated permissions cleanup. It sounds as though I should add DiskWarrior to the arsenal as well.
Thanks for any information and pointers.

SuperDuper - most people skip reading the pdf but it is well-written and helpful

Similar Messages

Using a Time Capsule for Time Machine backups and as a data drive

Hi There....can I use my Apple Time Capsule for my Time Machine backups and as a drive I can put data on?

Yes, you can use your time capsule as a drive for data. If you create a disk image, you reserve a certain amount of space for that image. Time Machine will respect that space and leave the disk image alone even if there is a large amount of unused space on the image.
If you create a folder, it starts with zero space until you add data to it. The folder can be as large as you would like as long as the space is available on the TC.
So, each has an advantage. The disk image will reserve the space until you fill it up and the folder will not. But, the folder can be as large as you would like as long as the TC has space available.
Your next question might be can you change the size of a disk image after it has been created? I haven't tried this, but think you probably could.
For most users, I think the folder concept is probably simpler for them to use and easier to understand. But more advanced users may favor the disk image concept if they feel that space will be at a premium on the disk.

Need help with backup and clean install

Need Assistance with G5
Background
I'm an inexperienced Mac user with a G5, twin 2.0 gig processors and 1.5
gig ram. The OS is v10.3.6. It is the latest OS that will not slow down
internet (Safari/Mail) applications. Anything newer has really slowed internet applications down big time.
Current Problem
I've probably messed up my hard drive by switching back and forth
(archive/install) from newer to present OS. I now have corrupted data and
while my Mac is useable, several things do not work (disk utility, printing
and possibly more). I have a mixture of new and older versions of
these applications/utilities in my OS.
Going Forward
I believe I need to wipe out my hard drive and do a clean install. I also have a Mac mini which I can use (I believe) for backup via firewire.
Backup
Is everything I need to backup in the "User" folder? My spouse and I have
separate accounts and a shared account on the same Mac, with a total of 8.5 gig of data, mostly photo's and music. We want to save that and the usual preferences and favorites/bookmarks/addresses/email, etc. It would be nice if all I had to do was drag the user folder into the target drive.
I'd appreciate any assistance. I have more questions which I'll get to later, but I need to start somewhere.
Thanks all
Mac G5

Backing up your Users folder will save everything in all the accounts on the computer including pictures, music, preferences, etc. as long as they were kept in that folder.
If you have File Vault turned on you should turn it off. The "correct" procedure for transferring to your Mac Mini is as follows:
1. Turn both computers off. Connect them together with a Firewire cable.
2. Boot the G5 into Target Disk Mode.
3. Then boot the Mac Mini normally. The G5's hard drive should be present on the Mini's Desktop.
4. Create a new folder on the Mini and name it something appropriate like G5 User Backup. Drag the Users folder on the G5 into this new folder on the Mini.
After the transfer completes you should verify that everything has been transferred and is there in the folder.
5. Drag the G5's hard drive icon from the Desktop to the Trash or CTRL-click on its icon and select Eject from the contextual menu.
6. Shutdown the G5 and remove the Firewire cable connecting the two computers.
You can now proceed to fix the G5. Because you are planning to erase the hard drive I would like to suggest you do an extended format to prep the hard drive properly for your restoration:
1. Boot from your Panther Installer Disk. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Installer menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) 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, if supported.) 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 will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
You can then quit Disk Utility and return to the installer. Now proceed to reinstall OS X. Be sure you set up your accounts with the exact same usernames and passwords as you used before.
Once you have completed your reinstallation on the G5 you can restore your Users folder from the Mac Mini.
1. Shut down both computers. Connect them with a Firewire cable.
2. Boot the G5 into Target Disk Mode.
3. Boot the Mac Mini normally. G5's hard drive should appear on the Mini's Desktop.
4. Open a Finder window on the G5's hard drive and drag the Users folder to the Trash (don't delete yet.)
5. Now copy the saved Users folder from the Mac Mini to the G5 (only the Users folder, not the folder in which you stored it.)
6. Eject the G5's hard drive from the Mini's Desktop and shut down the G5.
7. Disconnect the Firewire cable.
Now restart the G5. If all worked well it should start up normally and you should find everything normal in your accounts.
There is one potential problem in all the above. All your account preferences are contained in the Users folder. If you have any corrupted preferences, they will still be corrupted and may continue to cause problems. If that's the case you may need to trash the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder's contents. Hopefully, this won't be the case, but you should be aware of the possibility.
If eveything is working normally you can empty the Trash and delete the contents. Same on the Mac Mini.

How should I backup and clean off my MacBook using 10.7/Lion

Here's my situation:
1) I have an old mac -- probably about 5 years old. Not the latest, but I want to get the most of out it.
2) My mac's 160GB HD is at about 90% capacity.
3) I have a 500GB external hard drive I haven't used much and have made 3 partitions: 10.7 restore, Time Machine backup (~300GB), other (~150GB).
4) I'd like to blow away all the crap that I've accumulated on this machine (I really don't know what's taking up all this space -- it's really just stuff I can't be bothered to sort through right now but also don't want to delete forever) and start fresh.
So I'm thinking I'll do a back up, maybe completely clone the machine to my external drive so I can access the files as easily as possible and then delete everything on my laptop's hard drive? I have a bootable partition on this external hard drive as well, but it's creation ended with an "invalid argument" message so I don't trust it to re-install 10.7. I also don't want to have to create all my new settings. I guess I want to start fresh and get a lot of hard drive left so I can play with linux on VirtualBox and do a little web development. Any suggestions?

ColorBars wrote:
. Anyone see any problems with doing this?
Not my Mac so I do not have any problems with this. Though the chances are small, should the 500 GB external HDD die while you are cleansing the internal HDD, you may have a problem.
If you value your data, I suggest the following;
Install a larger HDD in your Mac.
Use an external HDD for Time Machine.
Use a separate HDD for a CCC boot drive. If the internal HDD fails, you are ready to go by connecting the CCC HDD to the Mac.
Make a USB thumb drive for installing Lion.
Redundant backups are a wise strategy and HDD prices are quite reasonable.
Ciao.

How do I backup and recover all of user's objects and Application?

I know that I can export the application ,CSS and images by HTMLDB.But there is not user's data. I can also export user's full schema by sqlplus. Can I recover all of user's objects like this:
1,import the user's schema.
2,create a new workspace and reuse the user'schema .
3,import the application ,CSS,images.
Then,Is all OK?
Thank for any help and option.

Lastgod,
Yes, you can do what you described. You definitely must use Oracle export/import (or something) to backup and restore the data in the application schema. On the HTML DB side, depending on your purpose, you might find it simpler to export the workspace using the HTML DB site administration pages. Then you would import and install the workspace (using HTML DB admin pages), which will let you confirm the workspace schema, instead of your step 2. After that your step 3 can be performed. When you export a workspace you get the user accounts and group definitions also, so you don't have to recreate accounts when you import/install the workspace in the same or another HTML DB instance.
Scott

Backup and restore LMS 3.1

We have cisco works LMS 3.1 and the server have very problems, we need format the server and reinstall the Cisco Works, when I doin backup and restore of data LMS We lost the licenses? or when we restore the data in the server we have the same licenses? or get the new licenses to cisco?

If you dont have the data, I would recommend a clean install for LMS 3.2 and not an upgrade. without looking at the error, it is hard to tell if it is an cosmetic one or imapcting.
LMS 3.1 is anyways EOS/EOL soon. Follow these tips for windows:
https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-9132
-thanks
Vinod

HT4859 Can I go to my iCloud backup to delete unwanted data. If so, how?

I don't want to purchase additional storage for the iCloud. I'd like to stick with the 5GB.... Can I go into my backup and delete unwanted data? If so, how?

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Unfortunately not.
Delete the back up and start again, this time choosing just the items you want backed up.

HT1382 What is the best method to backup an Iphone 3G and then install newer ios without losing any info on the phone?

What is the best method to backup an Iphone 3G and then install newer ios without losing any data in the phone?

How to BackUp > http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766
Key2Paradice wrote:
What is the best method to backup an Iphone 3G ...
Note:
The iPhone 3G can only update as far as iOS 4.2.1
Connect to iTunes on the computer you usually Sync with and “ Check for Updates “...
If an Update Appears Install it... if not... you are up to date for your particular Device...
See the Using iTunes Section Here...
How to update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Which one is the Best Backup and Recovery Method in your point of view?

Friends,
Currently we are taking hot backup with archive mode.
we have backup script to copy the datafile and we will copy the archive files in a separate folder.
alter tablespace system begin backup;
host cp /u01/app/oracle/oradata/livedb/system.dbf /u02/online_backup
alter tablespace system end backup;
like the above script we will copy all the other data files.
then in the test environment. we will copy the datafile and archive file.
we will be recovering by using the below statement.
sql>recover database until cancel using backup controlfile.
currently no problem in backup and recovery.
What i want is......
is there any other sophisticated and safe way to take a backup and restore it to another server?
if yes, can anybody point out the steps or link.
I have heard about......
DataGuard
RMAN
EXP/IMP
but i never used the above.
Thanks
sathyguy

DataGuard
RMAN
EXP/IMP ...
The only real backup/recovery method here is RMAN, Oracle's integrated backup/recovery tool, which I prefer. As an example for a fully functional RMAN command see 'backup database plus archivelog delete all input'. This statement provides a complete hot database backup including archivelogs and deletes at the successful end all archivelogs in all destinations . Compare this statement with all the steps necessary to do the same job manually. Don't worry you have many ways to finetune your backup.
For more informations there's a quick start guide:
http://download-uk.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14193/toc.htm
Dataguard is a high availibility tool, which provides a kind of backup in terms of having a logical or physical standby database. When primary side fails you can switch to this standby database. Such a constellation does not mean, database backups are no longer necessary.
Export/Import is a logical backup, still often used to recover from human errors (you accidentally dropped a table for example). Don't use it as a replacement for physical backups, especially hot backups,in case of media failures you always will have loss of data, because changes made afterwards the export are not captured.
Once again I recommend you seriously should consider RMAN.
Werner

Using iTunes why can you not backup and save your voicemail? Guide me through this step by step if possible. If alternate method MUST be used then provide same. Truly appreciate this.

Using iTunes why can you not backup and save your voicemail? Guide me through this step by step if possible. If alternate method MUST be used then provide same. Truly appreciate this.

Create and delete iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups in iTunes - Apple Support - link doesn't state that voicemail is part of the backup
iCloud: iCloud storage and backup overview states that VVM is part of the icloud backup.
You can also contact your cell phone provider - as voicemail is a carrier feature.

The Best Method To Backup Referenced Masters?

I cannot find in Aperture help any mention of backing up the referenced masters which seems odd that Apple would consider backing up managed photos on the internal Aperture Library while not considering the very common (and supported by Apple) method of working with referenced masters on external hard drives.
This is what I am doing: I am using super duper to clone the HDD with the referenced masters to another external drive. If the HDD with the referenced masters dies I just hope that I can somehow reconnect the masters on the other HDD.
Is there a better way to back up those referenced masters? Perhaps a method I am not aware of from within Aperture to make it easy to use or reconnect the back up images?
Aperture 3, MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard

It makes me wonder. Since Aperture places the backups and therefore "knows" the location, does it in the event of losing the originals, have a dialog box or other means for "finding" and reconnecting to the file backups?
afaik, no. Kirby, do you know differently?
But there is of cause the "File > locate referenced files" window, that will allow you to reconnect the versions with their masters. But you will have to point Aperture to the location of the masters.
I am a fanatic with keeping at least two but preferrably 3 copies of everything in at least two different formats.
and preferably in two different places, see Kirby Krieger's post - "offsite location".
And if you are very concerned about the safety of your images, you will create the first backup of your masters directly from the card - before the images enter any image editing software.

Use external drive for Time Capsule backups AND file storage?

I have an external drive formatted by my MBP. I'm using it to store my iTunes music library and iPhoto pics. Can I use the drive for Time Capsule backups as well?

Yes, but that is not recommended. Storage and backup should be kept separate to reduce the chances of a disk failure. This is especially important because you cannot even partition a Time Capsule drive. Go get a separate drive for your storage needs. Get another drive for a second backup and use a different method of backup than Time Machine

Can I creat an new iCloud account and make it the primary one for my backups and buy extra iCloud storage for it? Thank you

Can I creat an new iCloud account and make it the primary one for my backups and buy extra iCloud storage for it? Thank you

Hey Hindfromlondon,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities. Since you are posting here, I take it you already have an Apple ID.
You can setup that Apple ID to work with iCloud. See:
Set up your Apple ID for iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support
And you usually want to stick with one Apple ID as having multiples can cause confusion (especially with purchases).
Frequently asked questions about Apple ID - Apple Support
What is an Apple ID?
An Apple ID is a user name you use for everything you do with Apple. Creating an account for an Apple service, such as the iTunes Store or the App Store, creates an Apple ID. Apple ID allows you to access other Apple services. You don't have to create a new account for each service—just use your Apple ID.
For a complete list of all of the places you can use an Apple ID, see Where do I use an Apple ID.
and further down:
I have multiple Apple IDs. Is there a way for me to merge them into a single Apple ID?
Apple IDs cannot be merged. You should use your preferred Apple ID from now on, but you can still access your purchased items such as music, movies, or software using your other Apple IDs.
If you are wondering how using multiple Apple IDs relate to iCloud, see Apple IDs and iCloud.
Regarding iCloud storage check out
iCloud storage upgrades and downgrades - Apple Support
I encourage you to read all about it as there's lots of information out there.
Take care,
Nubz

Need to backup and remove photo library form my iphone. This library was previously backup on a hard drive that crashed. So these photos are only in the photo library and not in the camera roll. If I do a full backup, it only takes the camera roll.

Need to backup and remove photo library from my iphone. This library was previously backup on a hard drive that crashed. So these photos are only in the photo library and not in the camera roll. If I do a full backup, it only takes the camera roll.
So this is a 2 part question:
1) how to I backup the Photo Library to my new hard drive (as the last one was unrecoverable but previously backed up)
2) how do I remove the Photo Library form my phone (preferably after backup in item 1)
Thanks, Janis

Since it has always been very basic to backup your computer and all it's data, Apple provides no way for you to transfer music from your iPhone back to your computer. As you know, you can re-download all iTunes purchases, but music that you ripped yourself you'll have to just re-rip again.
You can try and find 3rd party applications that might help you. I'm sure you'll pay, however.
Let this be a very important lesson learned.
Best.

Windows 8 full system backup and restore to new laptop (system with 32GB mSata Cache)?

Hi, I have a new Envy DV7-7205 which has 2TB storage with 32GB HDD Cache (or mSata, not really sure how it's implemented). I need to return the laptop as it's faulty but I would like to startup on the replacement exactly where I left off.
Are there any special methods required to backup and restore the system image from the old laptop to the new one, particularly with consideration to the 32GB SSD cache, as this doesn;t seem to appear as a distinct "drive" on the system.
Please can anybody advise the simplest, safest method to move my entire system from old to the new laptops (should be exactly the same spec machine).
Many thanks,
Greg
HP Envy DV7-7205tx, 2x1TB HDD, 32GB mSata Cache, Windows 8 Pro

Hi,
Firstly I don't know how this is going to work on new machine because the Windows 8 lisence would NOT work at all.
Regards.
BH
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School me on preferred methods to backup and clean my data

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