How to backup software on to external HDD
Feb 14, 2008 | 10:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,159
How to backup software on to external HDD
I recently lost some software which at the time I did not think I needed but then found out that I needed it so I had to piece it together from an old backup.
I know many of you back up software to a rewriteable DVD but can you make a copy of it to an external HDD and then when you need it you can write that copy to an external DVD?
Can you do that? Is that recommended? I am in OS X. Thanks
Also if you make a copy to an external HDD can you use that to install from? I think I tried this once on OS X but it would not because OS X needs to be installed from a DVD or CD player. Is that true of all software?
I know many of you back up software to a rewriteable DVD but can you make a copy of it to an external HDD and then when you need it you can write that copy to an external DVD?
Can you do that? Is that recommended? I am in OS X. Thanks
Also if you make a copy to an external HDD can you use that to install from? I think I tried this once on OS X but it would not because OS X needs to be installed from a DVD or CD player. Is that true of all software?
Feb 14, 2008 | 10:50 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 960
it will make a fully bootable clone of your hard drive, and in the event of disaster, just boot off the external. the main difference between the free and paid versions is that the paid version will copy only changed files for subsequent clones. it's one of the best ways to back up on os x.
Also if you make a copy to an external HDD can you use that to install from? I think I tried this once on OS X but it would not because OS X needs to be installed from a DVD or CD player. Is that true of all software?
Feb 14, 2008 | 11:12 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
Have you tried Apple's TimeMachine, part of OSX?
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/timemachine.html
It sounds like it would meet your needs as long as you have a backup drive large enough.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/timemachine.html
It sounds like it would meet your needs as long as you have a backup drive large enough.