Backup dilemma

[LarryMcJ]

I would like to use SuperDuper! to backup "only" my /Documents, /Pictures, and /Music folders to an external drive that currently is being used for only Time Machine, and that's only about 30GB of storage (the drive is 320GB).

I DO NOT want to partition this drive, but would just like to add these folders and keep the backups synched with the folders on my Mac. The problem I'm encountering is when I setup SuperDuper! to do this, the first backup it wants to erase the entire drive...which would also erase my Time Machine backup.

The drive is formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled), which is what SuperDuper! wants to see...so why does SuperDuper! need to erase the entire drive just to do this backup? Other synchronizing backup software doesn't do this...but I've already paid for SuperDuper! so I don't want to change. Thanks.

Larry

[dnanian]

If you use Smart Update, and you're using v2.5, it won't erase or touch your Time Machine backups.

[LarryMcJ]

Originally Posted by dnanian

If you use Smart Update, and you're using v2.5, it won't erase or touch your Time Machine backups.

Dave,

Well...that's what I thought, too, but here's the configuration and what I'm interpreting:

1. "Copy: MacIntosh HD - To: My Passport" (name of the external drive)
2. "Backup - user files" (this should grab every subfolder in my home folder)
3. "SMART Update My Passport from MacIntosh HD"

Click on OK and SuperDuper says:

"Smart Update will copy and erase what's needed to make My Passport identical to your selections from Macintosh HD. The result will mimic "Erase, then copy", but will typically take a fraction of the time. Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

English was about the only thing I got a 4.0 GPA in <g>...and I read this to say that SMART Update is going to make My Passport drive look exactly like my Home folder. And since my Home folder doesn't include "/backups.backupsdb" then it will erase this Time Machine backup folder.

You could well be correct (and I hope you are) but if so, Shirt Pocket needs to reword the tutorial presented to the user just prior to pressing "Copy".



Thanks!

Larry

[dnanian]

Does the main "What's going to happen?" section of the UI indicate your Time Machine backups will be preserved?

[LarryMcJ]

Ahhh...there's the verbiage I needed. "...will preserve your Time Machine backups on My Passport..."

Thanks, Dave. I was reading only the tutorial on what will happen from the box that pops up just prior to pressing COPY. It, too, is on the "What's going to happen" dialog box, but in addition to what I was looking for. It's a shame both short tutorials couldn't be in both places, just in case someone missed the first one, as I did.

In any event I now know my Time Machine backups won't be harmed...so thanks much!

Larry

[dnanian]

When I tried putting it there as well, it just ended up being too long. The longer, the most people ignore it, alas.

[LarryMcJ]

You're right about that. Maybe bolding "will preserve your Time Machine backups on My Passport" on the main GUI? At least that doesn't take up any extra space.

I'm just glad you explained it to me. Only one other question but I'll post it separately so you don't have thread drift here.

Larry