Should I use time machine, CCC or a bootable installer for OS X Yosemite

I am about to change my mid-2010 MBP and install a Samsung 850 pro. I have Yosemite (by the way: Yosemite performance is good, no slowness; hdd filled only 50%) - I have VPN Tracker and Microsoft Remote Desktop as main applications at the moment. I will also use it for itunes.
I have made a backup on time machine.
The process instructions on the net vary:
1) After replacing the HDD with the SSD, press down Command + R, this opens boot utility of Yosemite; then with disk utility format the SSD as MacOs ext journal. then: Back-up from time machine.
2) OR: Use Carbon Copy Cloner. Connect the SSD on a USB tray (I have one) and commence from there before installing. On re
3) OR: Should I first - Create a bootable installer for OS X Yosemite; the instruction says: Download the OS X Installer app from the Mac App Store. But I can't find it. And then clone as Kappy describes.
- Isn't that replaced by the Command + R startup procedure?
& I am looking for insight in this tip:
4) I read someone failed in installing an SSD because he forgot an I/F sensor connection (Temperature gauge??) ; but I see such a connector nowhere in the video's.
Of course I prefer 1), looks most straightforward as being within the Apple software mindset.
anything will help me.

First I would explore the potential problems you may face installing a third party SSD in a MBA running Yosemite. Just a sample:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/os-x-yosemite-and-third-party-ssds-heres-what-you-n eed-to-know/
The simplest way of installing a new storage device is to connect it to the MBP via USB and then format it Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in Disk Utility>Erase.
Then use CCC or Disk Utility>Restore to copy the data to the SSD from the internal HDD.
Then test to see if the external SSD will boot the MBP. If so, make the physical swap.
Ciao.

Similar Messages

Should I use Time Machine?

I have a new Western Digital My Passport Essential 320GB external hard drive. I also have an old PowerPC iBook G3, with a 40GB hard drive and a dead logic board. I can still access the iBook's HD by hooking it up to my current MacBook and starting it up in Target Disk mode. My current MacBook has a 120GB hard drive, which is getting full.
This is the first time I've ever used external storage. What I would like to do is:
a) copy the contents of the iBook's HD to the external HD;
b) back up the contents of the MacBook's HD;
c) free up some space on the MacBook's HD.
My questions:
1. Do I need to format the external drive before doing anything? If so, am I right in thinking that I should do this in Disk Utility > Erase, and choose 'Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)'?
2. If I do this, do I need to worry about the files that were already on the drive when it arrived from the manufacturer? (I might keep the User Guide pdf, but everything else seems to be .exe files, or files for which there is no default application specified to open them.)
3. Do I need to create a partition on the external HD for the contents of the old iBook HD?
4. Will Time Machine work on a partitioned external HD?
5. Should I use Time Machine to back up the contents of my MacBook, or do it manually? The things that I'm most concerned to back up are my photographs. However, these are also the files which take up the most room on my MacBook HD (I shoot in RAW - lots of 10MB+ files), so are the obvious candidates for files to keep on the external HD in order to free up space on the MacBook. If I back up using TM, then erase some photos from the MacBook hard drive, will TM then erase them from the external hard drive as well - either immediately or when the external hard drive fills up - or will they be safe forever? Sorry, I'm not entirely clear how TM actually works...
I'm a real novice here. Advice on any or all of the above will be much appreciated.
Michael

GoonInChief wrote:
My questions:
1. Do I need to format the external drive before doing anything? If so, am I right in thinking that I should do this in Disk Utility > Erase, and choose 'Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)'?
If it's not HFS+, it needs to be formatted to HFS+ (Mac OS Extended - Journaled) via Disk Utility. All data will be lost. See Answer 4.
2. If I do this, do I need to worry about the files that were already on the drive when it arrived from the manufacturer? (I might keep the User Guide pdf, but everything else seems to be .exe files, or files for which there is no default application specified to open them.)
If you want to keep the files, copy it to another location.
3. Do I need to create a partition on the external HD for the contents of the old iBook HD?
If you want to.
4. Will Time Machine work on a partitioned external HD?
Yes, but it needs to be formatted HFS+. If you are creating a separate partition, you use a GUID partition map for an Intel iMac (APM for PPC).
5. Should I use Time Machine to back up the contents of my MacBook, or do it manually? The things that I'm most concerned to back up are my photographs. However, these are also the files which take up the most room on my MacBook HD (I shoot in RAW - lots of 10MB+ files), so are the obvious candidates for files to keep on the external HD in order to free up space on the MacBook. If I back up using TM, then erase some photos from the MacBook hard drive, will TM then erase them from the external hard drive as well - either immediately or when the external hard drive fills up - or will they be safe forever? Sorry, I'm not entirely clear how TM actually works...
Absolutely NOT! TM is not for archiving. You delete files are NOT safe forever.

Should I use time machine to backup server?

moving from 10.4 server running on an emac, to a 10.5 setup on a mac pro tower, 2 500gig hard drives. I used to use silverkeeper as an automatic backup utility, I am wondering if it is a good idea to use time machine. I like the idea of being able to go back in time to restore users files, or take the system back when something gets messed up. Any suggestions? I have about 100 users with home directories on server. Clients are mostly running 10.4 with some 10.3. I am not talking about allowing clients to time machine to server, but rather backing up the entire server to the 2nd drive using time machine.

I think this is a controversial topic.
Apple certainly doesn't support it. Apple omits a bunch of key folders depending on what you use your server for. For example, Time Machine does not backup /var/spool which is where the mail store is located. Additionally, Time Machine does not back up logs.
These exclusions can be seen, and commented out, here:
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/StdExclusions.pli st
I personally comment out the exclusion of /var/spool and additionally any logs. I also set ServerAdmin to roll my logs so that Time Machine isn't constantly backing up the same log file for more than 7 days.
Of course, you must re-verify that your changes are in place after any software update.
Once I made these changes, I've been very happy with the use of Time Machine to backup my server.

How to use time machine to replace the current iMovie for one a few weeks ago?

I have a movie in iMovie that somehow became unusable. The size says it is 10GB when it should only be about 1GB. I have been to the Genius Bar for a total of 4 hours and the only solution we can find is to REMAKE the entire movie. They say that one or more of my movie clips must have imbedded data that it shutting the whole iMovie program down. They say there is no way to know which clip is causing the problem. I really don't want to remake the entire 2 hour movie. I tried to use time machine and found my movie from about 3 weeks ago (before it ballooned to 10GB--so I guess before I added the bad clip) and I just wanted to replace my current one with this version and just fill in the last 3 weeks of data. However I can't seem to do this. Does anyone know how to do this using iMovie '08?

sheri69 wrote:
I tried to use time machine and found my movie from about 3 weeks ago (before it ballooned to 10GB--so I guess before I added the bad clip) and I just wanted to replace my current one with this version and just fill in the last 3 weeks of data. However I can't seem to do this. Does anyone know how to do this using iMovie '08?
You don't do it with iMovie, but with Time Machine.
Quit iMovie, then locate and select the file you want to restore in your backups via the "Star Wars" display and click the Restore button. See #15 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

I can't use Time Machine now that I have upgraded to OS X Yosemite

Ever since I have upgraded to OS X Yosemite, I have not been able to use Time Machine to backup my hard drive. When I back up using my wireless network, the connection is dropped at some point in the backup process. I tried a direct connection to the Time Capsule and got a blinking yellow light on the Time Capsule. What can I do to rectify this situation (other than buying a knew Time Capsule)?

I-Photo won't open even though I have upgraded to OS X Yosemite and downloaded the I-Photo upgrader.
But have you run the the iPhoto Library upgrader? It is installed in Applications > Utilities. Launch it and direct it to your iPhoto library.
Which version of iPhoto did you upgrade from?
The upgrader is only necessary, if you have been running iPhoto7.1.2 or earlier.

New Hard Drive- Should I use Time Machine for "fresh" install?

I have a first generation Early 2008 MacbookPro. Warranty just ended and I want to replace the hard drive w/ the Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid. I'm getting a bunch of spin wheel action and things are just running slowly/sluggish. I'm questioning whether or not I should just do a real "fresh" install and load my applications onto the new drive or use TimeMachine. If I use TM am I not adding all the stuff/files that are not needed? Am I adding bloat that I've collected over the past couple of years? Is it better to start w/ a new clean operating system? I do have CS5 and some photo programs that I think I can reinstall. Anyway I wanted to get people's perspective.
Message was edited by: mikked

It's usually best to clean your system up, and deal with any problems before doing major surgery.
With any other scenario, if something goes wrong, how will you know what it was, much less how to fix it?
I'd start with this: [Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509].
Then Verify your internal HD, and repair your Time Machine drive, per #A5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Then run a +*Repair Permissions+* on your internal HD, via Disk Utility.
Then replace the drive, do a full system restore and run for a while to be sure the new drive and everything else is ok. See #14 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for details.
Then start deleting the apps and files you don't need.
Note that, unlike Windoze, leftover files and apps may take up a bit of space, but don't cause any performace problems, unless they're actually running.
The main problems with trying to transfer things selectively are:
Permissions. If you install OSX and set up a user account, that account, even if it has the same name, may not have permission to restore the files on your backups or other drives.
Applications. Simple apps can be transferred individually, such as by restoring from Time Machine. Complex ones usually can't, as their installers put other files in other places. If you don't know what and where they all are, and restore them, too, the app won't work properly, if at all. But if you have all the original discs (and serial numbers/purchase keys), you can just reinstall them.

Should I use Time Machine or SuperDuper to revert?

Just before "upgrading" to iTunes 11, my iMac was backed up - twice - I have an external hardrive partitioned for use with both Time Machine and SuperDuper.
After fooling around with iTunes 11, I now need to revert to one of my back ups. I believe my options are:
A. Use my Time Machine backup to revert to my system as it was just before the software was updated.
B. Boot from the SuperDuper clone, and reverse clone it, writing the pre-upgrade files over the present system.
Assuming each back up is identical, is there any advantage to using one method over the other?
-gw

I have not upgraded the OS since making my backups. All I've done is:
Ugrade iTunes from 10.7 to 11.something, and,
Totally screwed up my iTunes library.
OK, maybe I'll loose a few emails and text doucments which I can live without.
So, I believe my next step is to boot from the SuperDuper clone, and write the clone to my iMac, using "Erase, then Copy"
BTW, I tried to find a forum devoted to Time machine, but couldn't find one. I just discovered there is a "Time Machine" subcategory under the "Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard" forum. That is where I probably should have posted this question - and if an administrator wants to move it there, that would be fine by me.
Message was edited by: Gary Wright4 for brevity

Should I use time machine if I am going to use bootcamp?

Hello,
I am planning on downloading Windows 7 on bootcamp for the main purpose of playing windows only games on steam.
Is it a good idea to back everything up on Time Machine? I have 800GB of free space, but would I need a disk drive? At the moment, I cannot get a disk drive so can I still backup everything on Time Machine? Will my hard drive be ruined?
Also, can I buy Windows 7 for bootcamp online or do I have to buy a physical disk or something?
Thanks.

batsassin wrote:
Do i need a seperate disk drive to back everything up or can I back it up on my current drive (which came with my mac)
Backing up to your internal drive is foolish, when it fails your data, and your backups are lost. Time Machine will not backup Boot Camp at all.

Is it possible to use Time Machine with an external hard drive for two separate computers?

I'm looking to purchase an external hard drive to use as with time machine as a backup for two separate computers. I'm not sure if I should buy 2 EHDs and dedicate one to each computer, or if Time Machine has the capacity to back up both computers separately. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!

You can make two partitions on a single drive and dedicate one to each computer.
The pic is of a single external usb drive with three partitions( a Time Machine and two image backups) for two computers

How do use Time Machine to back up to my network drive?

I have been dealing with this issue for days. When I had bought my MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago I figured Id try and back it up to my 1.5tb Western Digital HD that's plugged into the USB port on my router. I Have connected to it through finder and can access it fine however my main point in getting to it is to back up my MacBook with Time Machine over the air to the external HD. I have researched and tried many tricks such as running codes in finder to create a "sparsebundle" using the code " hdiutil create -size 100g -fs HFS+J -volname "Time Machine" COMPUTERNAME_XXXXXXXXXXXX.sparsebundle " in Terminal. I was able to succeed in creating one but my problem comes when I want to transfer it to the network drive. I use the code " rsync -aE COMPUTERNAME_XXXXXXXXXXXX.sparsebundle /Volumes/NETWORKDRIVE/ ". However I get error codes such as "file could not be transferred (23)" and "no file or directory (2)". Also before I did all of these steps I made sure to make network drives discoverable in Time Machine by running the code " defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1 " in Terminal. However without using the trick that I keep getting errors with Time Machine gets error message 45 when attempting to back up to the Network Drive straight after making the Drive discoverable. I know Apple niched Time Machine back ups on network drives after or toward the end of Leopard and thats why it is so hard to do it now but I was hoping someone can aid me in my never ending problem?

Hi Barney
What format is the drive on the router? It has to be HFS+ (Extended, journaled).
Sorry Barney, that's not correct in this context. The user must create an HFS+ sparse bundle and then upload it to the network drive. The network drive will be formatted as its formatted.
I also believe it has to be an Apple Airport Extreme router.
Again, that is not the case. I am successfully using Time Machine to an Iomega network drive for the last 12 months. No issues at all.
However, you are making your backup completely unreliable.
There may be an element of truth to this, however, I have used the "Star Wars" interface to recover individual files directly. If I should need to perform a larger recovery and for some reason I can't get the usual access through Apple software, I have established that I can directly access the sparse bundle on the drive and mount it on the computer. Once there, I can just copy files directly from it. The sparse bundle folder structure makes it easy to get the latest version of every file with a couple of mouse drags. This means that I will always be able to get access to my backups.
Apple nixed it because they couldn't get it to work reliably. I imagine they only support that sort of thing on their own Time Capsule because they can control the wireless transmission and error checking (and they sold TCs specifically for that purpose).
I don't know why Apple nixed it - I've had zero problems with this configuration and it is by far the most sensible way to use Time Machine. It seems completely pointless to have a portable MacBook and then have to physically connect a drive to it permanently for backup purposes.
I've only had personal experience with the Iomega drive - maybe it only works with a limited number of manufacturers?
Bob
Message was edited by: Bob Lang1

How best to save photos? I want to protect my photos (15,000 of them) by putting them on a portable drive and storing it in my safety deposit box. Is it better to export them all, drag the Photo file, use Time Machine – or are there better alternatives?

I am a 'newby' to the discussion world. Hope I am doing this right. How best to save photos? I want to protect my photos (15,000 of them) by putting themon a portable drive and storing it in my safety deposit box. Is it better to export them all, dragthe Photo file, use Time Machine – or are there better alternatives?

Welcome to the discussions! You can use Time Machine and I would also recommend for you to manually copy your iPhoto Library (on your Pictures folder) to an external drive/thumb drive so you can restore it from there should you loose your TM backup. Exporting them from iPhoto would not preserve the libraries' integrity neither your originals, should you choose to edit them in iPhoto.
Regards.

ICloud notes deleted; trouble restoring using Time Machine.

All of my notes got deleted via iCloud on both my Mac and iPhone. I tried using Time Machine in the Mail app but for each note it says "Message not cached" and when I try to restore them my Notes folder remains blank. Any suggestions?

Time Machine backs up the file 'as it is'. Its just like copying and pasting the file to an External HD and then dragging it back, would keep the file exactly the same.
The best way to find out, is to try it! This is what I did. Even though there was no need. Get a random photo from the Internet, add it to iPhoto - make sure TM has backed up. (Does it every hour), then delete it and go to TM and restore.
I tried it with a whole album, and restored it. It just came back. Fantastic.
So in answer to your question - Yes TM will bring it back as it was.
The only problem is TM only backs up every hour. You cant do it yourself. (I dont think). So if you were to change a file, save it and then undo or delete it - All within an hour. TM wouldn't have backed up the changes.
Hope this helps.

Going to upgrade to Lion. First have to back up computer. What external hard drive should I buy to back up computer using "time machine". Have 320 gb hard drive.

I am going to upgrade to Lion. First have to back up computer. What external hard drives should I buy in order to use time machine. I have a 320 GB hard drive. Don't have too much on computer.

patmc102 wrote:
I am going to upgrade to Lion. First have to back up computer. What external hard drives should I buy in order to use time machine. I have a 320 GB hard drive. Don't have too much on computer.
Buy an external drive 320G or larger (much larger is preferable). I do not recommend you use TM for this, instead download a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner and make a clone of your drive. Once this is done you have 2 choices, you can download and install Lion on your internal drive just as you planned or download and install Lion to the external clone, the 2nd method allows you to test the Lion install before committing to it. If the clone with Lion is to your liking then just clone it back to the internal.

HT201250 which external hard drive should I choose/use as I am setting up Time Machine on my MacBook Pro 15 for the very first time?

Which external hard drive should I use/choose as I am setting up Time Machine on my MacBook Pro 15 for the very first time?

Any of these SATA HDDs that are at least the same size as your internal HDD (preferably larger capacity). In addition you will need an enclosure, preferably one with a Firewire as well as a USB connection.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
Ciao.

Imac has crashed..need new hard drive....had external drive connected...was using time machine.....so...itunes file should be on external drive....how do i import them to my new mac mini?

my iMac has crashed...was told I need a new hard drive.....meantime I bought a mac mini.....I had an external drive connected to the mac....and was using time machine for backups....so....how do i move itunes music files to my new mac mini from the external drive?

Turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane. Leave the window open.
Navigate in the Finder to your backup disk, and then to the folder named "Backups.backupdb" at the top level of the volume. If you back up over a network, you'll first have to mount the disk image file containing your backups by double-clicking it. Descend into the folder until you see the snapshots, which are represented by folders with a name that begins with the date of the snapshot. Find the one you want to restore from. There's a link named "Latest" representing the most recent snapshot. Use that one, if possible. Otherwise, you'll have to remember the date of the snapshot you choose.
Inside the snapshot folder is a folder hierarchy like the one on the source volume. Find one of the items you can't restore and select it. Open the Info dialog for the selected item. In the Sharing & Permissions section, you may see an entry in the access list that shows "Fetching…" in the Name column. If so, click the lock icon in the lower right corner of the dialog and authenticate. Then delete the "Fetching…" item from the access list. Give yourself read access if you don't already have it. Click the gear icon below the list and select Apply to enclosed items from the popup menu.
Now you should be able either to copy the item in the Finder or to restore it in the time-travel view. If you use the time-travel view, be sure to select the snapshot you just modified. If successful, repeat the operation with the other items you were unable to restore. You can select multiple items in the Finder and open a single Info dialog for all of them by pressing the key combination option-command-I.
When you're done, turn TM back ON and close its preference pane.

Should I use time machine, CCC or a bootable installer for OS X Yosemite

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