Data Backup and OSX install help please.

[mikehende]

Hey guys, I can some help with this older imac please.Nothing written on the unit anywhere for references. Info shows:

imac 7.1
Intel core 2 duo
2 ghz
4gb ram
Serial Number: W873478TX85

I need to first backup the data on this unit then install whatever latest software it can take as it has OSX 10.4.11 on it.

First issue, how you right click with this mouse please?

 

[mikehende]

It's ok, I figured it out in the Mouse properties by assigning the right side as secondary. The pics on this unit which I am seeing so far is around 60gbs. the owner wants a permanent backup but this would require too many dvd discs, any other option aside from an external drive?

 

[mikehende]

Also, this is a Seagate external drive, I wish to first format it for BOTH mac and pc but under the ERASE tab, the Volume Format option only shows 4 Mac OS Extended options, what can I do here to get the Fat32 option please?

 

[pigoo3]

...the owner wants a permanent backup but this would require too many dvd discs, any other option aside from an external drive?

"Cloud" storage or some large USB stick/thumb drives. I've seen some of these USB thumb/flash drives as big as 256gig and 512gig.

What's wrong with an external hard drive? This is usually a pretty inexpensive an convenient way of backing stuff up.

- Nick

 

[mikehende]

Since HDD can fail at any time he's seeking a more secure backup. Anyway before I cna backup, any ideas about this please?

Also, this is a Seagate external drive, I wish to first format it for BOTH mac and pc but under the ERASE tab, the Volume Format option only shows 4 Mac OS Extended options, what can I do here to get the Fat32 option please?

 

[harryb2448]

An iMac 7.1 can run up to the latest release, OS X.10.1, but you do need more than 2GB of memory. That model can run up to 6GB, 1 x 4GB and 1 x 2GB despite Apple at the time of release saying only 4GB.

For such an old model, now just on eight years old, I would run its own external hard drive in a caddy. As it has FW800, that would be the best option for backing up.

 

[mikehende]

Alright, I am guessing no way to get exfat option on 10.4? Tell me this, since I can upgrade to 10.6.8 which meets Mavericks requirements then why won't it upgrade to mavericks?

 

[harryb2448]

Coz you need Snow Lopard OS X.6.6/8 to access the App Store to download Mavericks etc. Don't think Mavericls is any longer available in the App Store, only current Yosemite.

 

[MacInWin]

Alright, I am guessing no way to get exfat option on 10.4? Tell me this, since I can upgrade to 10.6.8 which meets Mavericks requirements then why won't it upgrade to mavericks?

Working from memory here, it's been a long time since 10.4.1, but...

In Disk Utility, is there a Partition tab on the menu when you select the HD (Not one of the existing partitions, or partition, but the drive itself)? That's where you can choose the format for the drive, IIRC.

 

[alicepattinson]

I do also want to know how to do it. I hope someone gives tips on how to do it.