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Paint Guy
02-26-2010, 12:20 PM
Hi, In reading through the manual I have 2 questions. Of these 3 options for subsequent backups I am unsure which one is best. If you could tell me which option would be best I would appreciate it.
I backed up all of my files a while ago so now I want to perform a subsequent backup. I have added "new" files to my source drive and I have "updated" some of the old files in my source drive (they still have the same file name).


Question 1
What is the best backup option (of the 3 below) to choose if I have both: "Newly Created Files" and "Updated Files" on my source drive? I am thinking "Copy different files from Macintosh HD to Backup" is the best option but I want to make sure this is the best choice!

"Smart update Backup from Macintosh HD"
is similar, in that the result is an exact copy of the source. The difference is that it only copies (or deletes) files and folders as necessary. This takes much less time after the first backup, doing in minutes what could otherwise take hours.

"Copy newer files from Macintosh HD to Backup"
When Copy newer is selected, the file on the destination is replaced with the one from the source if the file on the source has a newer (more recent) modification date.

"Copy different files from Macintosh HD to Backup"
Copy different replaces the file on the destination if the source file is different (not necessarily newer) in date, size, HFS+ metadata, attributes, etc. So, the file on the destination is replaced if it?s not exactly the same as the source file. In both cases, files on the destination that are not on the source are left as is.


Question 2
What happens if I cleaned off some files from my source since my last update. Will the files I removed from my source drive still remain on my destination drive until I delete them there? That would make sense to me but I am unsure.



Thanks
pg
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dnanian
02-26-2010, 12:28 PM
In general, you should be using "Smart Update". If you use that, deleted files will be deleted from the backup as well. With "Copy Different", they won't... but your drive will not match the source, won't be bootable and can't really be restored in full.
Paint Guy
02-26-2010, 03:49 PM
In general, you should be using "Smart Update". If you use that, deleted files will be deleted from the backup as well. With "Copy Different", they won't... but your drive will not match the source, won't be bootable and can't really be restored in full.

Thanks for the Reply. Sorry you confused me a little. Are you saying that if I choose "Copy different files from Macintosh HD to Backup" my Drive won't be bootable?

I read in the manual that if I choose "Backup - all files" that this type of backup is bootable and creates a complete backup of the selected volume. So if I choose "Backup - all files" my destination drive will be bootable.

Now if I understand you correctly, you are saying if I want my "destination" drive to be bootable that it also depends on what sub-menu (below) I choose? I thought as long as I had "Backup - all files"chosen that my drive would be bootable? Confused!!

"Smart update Backup from Macintosh HD"
"Copy newer files from Macintosh HD to Backup"
"Copy different files from Macintosh HD to Backup"


pg
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dnanian
02-26-2010, 04:09 PM
Correct. "Copy Different" will not maintain a bootable backup. Smart Update or Erase, then copy will.

A single copy to a blank drive made with Copy Different would be bootable. But over time, since you're never removing any files, your drive would diverge significantly from your source, and would become unbootable... and certainly not terribly useful if restored in full.
Paint Guy
02-26-2010, 04:19 PM
So just to confirm before I do this. :) I MUST choose "Backup - all files", then choose "Smart update Backup from Macintosh HD" for my Destination drive to be bootable I I ever have to boot from it? Is this Correct?

Thanks
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dnanian
02-26-2010, 04:23 PM
And the drive has to be partitioned properly, and supported for boot by your Mac and OSX, of course.
Paint Guy
02-26-2010, 04:44 PM
And the drive has to be partitioned properly, and supported for boot by your Mac and OSX, of course.

Well I have already backed up to this drive before. This is a subsequent (2nd) backup, that's why I thought I could use any of the 3 options, but I guess not. :)

So, yes, the HD has already been partitioned etc.


pg
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