Thread: Let's talk about Backing up existing installs

Anyone do it successfully?

What is your process for upgrading? Do you re-build osx86 altogether or what?

Do you back up your existing install? If so, How?

I have a 10.6 install but want to upgrade to 10.6.5. I don't want to do it on my current build (as it has become my main desktop).

I've tried cloning my existing drive but it doesn't seem to like to boot. Any luck with this?
Or should I just set up a new install of 10.6 and use a time machine backup or what?

I'm torn...

I backup with SuperDuper! which makes a bootable complete copy of my drive, and since Chameleon is on a bootstick, my OSX drive is completely vanilla. This system has been flawlessly great. Recently saved my butt, too.

I usaly have 2 working installations on 1 drive 2 separat partitons.
Xcopy will copy a drive compleet inc the boot sector. trouble is you nead osx working to put it back.
thats why i have a 10GB partition for my second osx version so i can always but back a backup
used to run it form usb a 8 GB sick can hold Iportable. just remomber to get a good program that copys the hidden files!
OSX is remarcable you can IMport all your date from a not working installation just bij importing your account all your programs games foto;s document alll in 1 go. to your new installation.

I have Linux on another partition so I just went in and used dd to make an image of the OS X partition on my external hard drive. Then I mounted the image and copied my /User and /Application directories back over.

Carbon Copy Cloner is IMO best app for backing up existing installs. Just plug in external HDD, format as GUID and let CCC do his thing. Backup (drive) will be bootable.