[BUG] SuperDuper does not work on Bootable CD

[MicroSlob]

I find it extremely odd that SuperDuper is the ONLY backup utility that doesn't work from an OSX Bootable CD.

• Created a custom OSX boot Cd with BootCD from http://www.charlessoft.com/
• Attempted to run SuperDuper from the CD when started up from it's OSX

And this was all I got from Console:

===== Wednesday, April 12, 2006 5:30:21 AM Canada/Eastern =====
2006-04-12 05:30:27.362 SuperDuper![1214] LOGGED EXCEPTION: NSInvalidArgumentException, reason: launch path not accessible, userInfo: (null)

2006-04-12 05:30:27.362 SuperDuper![1214] Exception raised during posting of notification. Ignored. exception: launch path not accessible
2006-04-12 05:30:34.792 SuperDuper![1214] LOGGED EXCEPTION: NSInvalidArgumentException, reason: launch path not accessible, userInfo: (null)

2006-04-12 05:30:34.792 SuperDuper![1214] launch path not accessible

I tried six other backup tools, and only SuperDuper failed from my custom BootCD.

Is there a work around for this or will there be an update to address this?

Thanks.

[dnanian]

Sorry. We don't run from Read-only media... we need to set up our folder in Library/Application Support and expect to be able to write to our log, settings and preferences.

A CD won't allow for that, and thus we won't run.

Note, though, that you can use Disk Utility to restore a SuperDuper! backup if you can't boot from the backup itself. The technique is documented in the User's Guide.

Since a bootable CD isn't really something that Apple supports, and using Disk Utility to restore should work fine, fixing this isn't really a high priority. That isn't to say we won't ever look at it, just that it's way back in line...

[MicroSlob]

No problem, I'll try using some symbolic links like I had with some other tools.

BootCD creates 2 ramdisks to store exactly that, all writable files. Adding a few links won't hurt to try.

Thanks for the tip!

As for Apple's recommendations on BootCD's, I'd follow it, but for one fact, their CD does little when things hit the fan and I live on a farm 3 hours from any Apple dealer.

[dnanian]

If you have your OS CD (like a Tiger or Panther CD), it'll still work as an emergency restore mechanism -- no Apple Dealer necessary.

You might be able to convince SD! to run if you point things at the ramdisk: you'll want your Home folder/library up there (which you can set in Netinfo)...