When it comes to Mac backup , most Mac users think of Time Machine . But as part of abackup program , it ’s a good idea to affix Time Machine with another backup method acting , such as disk cloning , using an online service , or range a third - company backup program . Apple actually has another backup practical app yell Backup that ’s uncommitted to MobileMe users . This course of study is inadequate on features and lacks the flexibility found in other third - company backup programme , which is why you would n’t want to apply it as your primary fill-in strategy . Backup saves only information that ’s in your home folder — it will not economise system file cabinet ( thus you ca n’t make a bootable backup).Read more about Backup ’s restriction .
In this clause , I ’ll show how to utilize Backup to make unnecessary your home pamphlet . You need a MobileMe history to download the phonograph record image of Backup . you could alsodownload Backupfrom Apple ’s Website , but if you use the software on a Mac that ’s not join to your MobileMe account , the software imposes a backup limit of 100 MB . Backup require Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later , or 10.6.2 or afterward ; and a PowerPC G4 or later processor , or an Intel Core or later processor .
( The rumor mill has recently been churning furiously with meditation includingnew featuresand apossible revamp of MobileMe . I do n’t have any information regarding MobileMe ’s future , but if MobileMe is changing , the future availablity of Backup is in dubiousness . Whether Apple will continue to support Backup remains to be catch . )
Locate and download Backup
Step 1: Download and install Backup
enter to your MobileMe iDisk report , either through the Finder ( select Go - > iDisk - > My iDisk , or press Shift - Command - I ) or through theme.comWebsite . In iDisk is a leaflet called Software ; when you open up this booklet , you ’ll find a folder telephone Backup , which contains a disc icon for Backup ( the current variant is 3.2 and takes up 7.1 MB ) . Copy / download the Backup phonograph recording image to your laborious driving .
Locate and download Backup
After download the disk mental image , double - come home it to mount it to the desktop . ( Youcanmount the disk epitome to your desktop without downloading it first , but this can significantly slow down the instalment . ) launch the Backup 3 icon on your desktop , and peruse the Read Before You set up Backup 3.2 filing cabinet . When you ’re ready , you may set up Backup by doubly - penetrate the Backup.pkg file . The Backup software program will take up about 21 MB of warehousing space .
Backup’s backup plans
Backup ’s backup program
Step 2: Pick a plan
Backup resides in your Applications leaflet . When you open Backup for the first time , the software guides you through the creation of a backup programme . The software system presents four different backup programme , each describing the types of file that are back up . In this tutorial , I ’ll set up a architectural plan for my Home Folder . The outgrowth for the other four listed plans is very interchangeable .
In the Choose Your Backup Plans windowpane , select Home Folder . This will back up the contents of your dwelling house folder . flick Continue .
Step 3: Make adjustments
After you click Continue , a new window appear . This window has the details of your backup plan . When this window is opened to the Back Up check , the program figures out what files to back up ; you ’ll see a progress measure labeled Scanning , which will be replaced by a totality of the files ’ size . The History tabloid lists the particular date and time a computer backup was perform . And the Restore tab is where you go when you need to furbish up data .
Plan overview windowpane
When you first set up the programme for your home plate folder , it ’s set to the default preferences : a daily backup to your Mac ’s inner hard drive , and a monthly backup to a CD or DVD . you may delete these options to your liking .
Plan overview window
One lay you ’ll definitely require to change is the destination of your day-to-day backup . You do n’t want it to reside on your Mac ’s inner drive — keep it on an outside campaign . So lease ’s switch this context . ( If you have enough space on your iDisk , you could use it for your backup , but carry through to cloud storage can be time consuming . )
Under the Destination And Schedule segment , you ’ll see entries for the day-after-day and monthly backup . To change the day-by-day backup placement , double - click the casual entry . Under Choose A address , select the pop - up menu for address , and you may select another storage equipment , such as an outside hard drive , or even your iDisk . tap the Folder pop - up menu , and you’re able to create a new brochure on your destination crusade that will be the locating for the real championship datum .
Modify plan configurations
Modify plan settings
Under Choose A Schedule , tick the Back Up pop - up menu , and select how oft the back up should occur . The Keep pop - up carte tells the software system how long it should keep older backups .
Under Choose A twenty-four hours And Time , you’re able to designate the days and time a backup should hap . ( Since I want to perform a everyday backup , the On protrude - up fare is clean . )
come home OK when you ’ve end tailor-make the configurations . If you desire to add another destination , penetrate on the plus - sign ( + ) button under the Destination And Schedule section . If you want to delete a finish , select it and select the negative - sign ( - ) button .
Step 4: Perform a backup
If you still have the backup - design window open , you may click Back Up Now to execute a backup immediately . Subsequent backups will occur at the scheduled times .
you’re able to also do a backup in the Backup windowpane , which is the windowpane that appears whenever you launch the software . Select the backup programme in the window , and chatter on Back Up to start a back up . The first backup will take a while , because it call for to copy all the designated filing cabinet over .
If you cease the Backup lotion , the relief will be cancelled . The package does n’t have to be unfastened to perform schedule backup ; it will automatically set up at the designated time .
There is one major quirk with the Backup software that you ’ll want to look out for , specially if you ’ve schedule an automatic backup . The Backup diligence will continue to look for a designated destination even if it ’s not plug into to your Mac . For example , I use a MacBook Pro as my desktop computer , and I ’ve place a 1 TB extraneous screen background arduous private road as a Backup address . When I ’m on the route , I do n’t have my 1 TB strong drive connected ; nevertheless , Backup will still launch and wait for the extraneous drive . I have to cancel that backup manually . This is a nonaged annoyance , but it would be nice if the software system could finish looking for the drive after a certain amount of fourth dimension .
Other backups with Backup
There are other plans you may use in Backup .
If you habituate Time Machine and Backup , you ’ll have two easy ways to protect your data . Time Machine offer a prompt and easy way to retrieve specific file , while Backup can protect you in case your Time Machine data point cash in one’s chips tough . If possible , keep your Time Machine and Backup datum on separate drive .
[ Roman Loyola is a Macworld senior editor . ]
