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USNA91 · Feb 23, 2005, 12:11 PM

I'm still learning the ins and outs of my PB and OSX, and now comes the next step: backing everything up!

I'd like to create a set of CD-ROMs containing my files, iTunes music, etc., such that to do a complete system restore all I have to do is install OSX and then start copying from my CDs.

Is this possible? What do I need to back up?

Needless to say, I'll be looking at using an external HDD to make an image, but that's later.

I am particularly interested in saving my iTunes collection, which is up to 895+ songs, and I haven't even started importing my CD's yet!

Thanks!

stukdog · Feb 23, 2005, 02:44 PM

You should be able to fit quite a few songs as data on a blank DVD.

however, here is a good article about backup programs for the mac.

http://maczealots.com/articles/backup/

most of them have free demos so you can download it and see the things that it will back up for you.

Hope you enjoy your new Mac.

TheIceMan · Feb 23, 2005, 05:14 PM

What you want is Impression.

"Impression is a straightforward, reliable backup application that can back up directories to (and restore them from) multiple optical discs (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW) or disk images on any mounted hard drive (i.e. - iPod, FireWire drive, Newtork server, etc.)."

Randman · Feb 24, 2005, 12:43 AM

Both Carbon Copy Cloner and Apple's Backup work well as well.

For music especially, Backup is pretty good as you can specify an external hard drive or CD/DVDs.

USNA91 · Feb 25, 2005, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by TheIceMan:
What you want is Impression.

"Impression is a straightforward, reliable backup application that can back up directories to (and restore them from) multiple optical discs (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW) or disk images on any mounted hard drive (i.e. - iPod, FireWire drive, Newtork server, etc.)."

Works great! Thanks!

Except, of course, that it seems to hang up quite a bit....

mitchell_pgh · Feb 25, 2005, 10:19 AM

I wouldn't use DVD-Rs... I would simply go out and buy a firewire hard drive first.

You are MUCH more likely to back up on a frequent basis if it's easy.

just my 2�

USNA91 · Feb 26, 2005, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I wouldn't use DVD-Rs... I would simply go out and buy a firewire hard drive first.

You are MUCH more likely to back up on a frequent basis if it's easy.

just my 2�

Very true, and I already have an external drive. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten it to work with Firewire yet, and it's about 2000 miles away, so I won't be for a bit.

The reason I burn to DVD/CD is because it's permanent. Even an external drive can suffer loss of data due to malfunction or magnetic field. That said, some CD's of music I burned a while ago slowly degraded to the point I couldn't play them anymore. Maybe my assumption on longevity is incorrect.

BTW, I'm pretty upset that, after buying Impression, I discover that it saves the files as an archive rather than simply burning them directly to the disk. Have I missed something, or did I just flush $25?

philc · Feb 26, 2005, 12:04 PM

The reason impression saves the files as an archive is that it is creating an 'image' of your backup selection. eg. One large file.

I looked at it as well and it looked OK for the price but I was able to duplicate the core functionality with some simple Unix commands (no nice GUI).

USNA91 · Feb 26, 2005, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by philc:
[B]The reason impression saves the files as an archive is that it is creating an 'image' of your backup selection. eg. One large file.

Well, if I suffer a catastrophic crash, how can I restore the image without reinstalling Impression first? (I'm assuming Impression will die along with the drive, so if I don't have it burned onto a CD normally...)

Or am I completely missing something basic, here? (Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest....)

philc · Feb 26, 2005, 02:59 PM

No you are not missing anything Impression will not yield a bootable backup. It is not the right solution for your needs.

USNA91 · Feb 26, 2005, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by philc:
No you are not missing anything Impression will not yield a bootable backup. It is not the right solution for your needs.

[banghead]

There goes $25 up in smoke....

That'll teach me to pay more attention.

TheIceMan · Feb 26, 2005, 05:56 PM

USNA91: Apologies. I was the one who suggested Impression.

asxless · Feb 26, 2005, 08:19 PM

Originally posted by USNA91:
...I'd like to create a set of CD-ROMs containing my files, iTunes music, etc., such that to do a complete system restore all I have to do is install OSX and then start copying from my CDs....

You've set the bar pretty low by allowing the restore of a hosed hard drive to require a fresh install of OSX.

In this case you can backup non system files using any number of methods -- including just dragging them to a blank CD and/or DVD. Then burning it from within the Finder.

OTOH one of the dirty little secrets of OS X is how difficult it is to backup _and restore_ a fully configured and bootable copy of OS X itself _without_ using a 2nd hard drive (or Mac). Even when using a 2nd hard drive you may need to partition your PowerBook's hard drive so that the partition containing OS X is small enough to easily fit on the 2nd hard drive.

So here's a little tougher backup challenge...
I have a new PowerBook w/ superdrive. I'm going on a very long trip and want to travel light. So I will be taking only my PowerBook and backup on DVDs (i.e. no firewire drive). And I certainly don't want to risk taking my one and only copy of that dual layer Restore DVD that came with my PowerBook

How can I backup my PowerBook so that I can restore it to the same condition it was just before I left on the trip, in case my PowerBook's drive fails and I have to install a raw drive? From time to time I will use the Finder to burn DVD backups of any work I do while on the trip.

-- asxless in Land

USNA91 · Feb 27, 2005, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by TheIceMan:
USNA91: Apologies. I was the one who suggested Impression.

Oh, hey! Don't sweat it!

I'm sure I'll be able to use it for something!

USNA91 · Apr 27, 2005, 09:36 AM

Resurecting my own thread for a CCC question....

I've got an external HDD on a firewire connection which I want to perform a complete clone of my system drive to before asking Apple to swap them for me.

Unfortunately, I am unable to get CCC to do the clone. Something about files in use or something.

What am I doing wrong?

Since EBCDIC · Apr 27, 2005, 12:12 PM

I'd like to re-frame the question into two phases: how to mirror my internal drive to an external, and how to backup that external to DVD.

Both SuperDuper! and Qdea Synchronize Pro do the former pretty well.

But I haven't found a good way to represent the mirror on DVDs. Retrospect seems too slow. Is there something else which will back a drive up across DVDs?