getting ready to install leopard...what next

[sartorius81]

I'm anxiously waiting for my package to arrive and i'm wondering what i need to do in preparation for the upgrade. I've never upgraded software before and have read that backing up your computer is a good idea.... do i have to do this?

 

[6string]

You must backup!
Not only if anything goes wrong (and it can) as rare as it may be, but as a safeguard to any problems that may arise in the future with the OS, the hardware, including and especially the HD.
Time machine is a good option, but CCC or SuperDuper are your best options.
These create bootable clones of your system, unlike Time Machine which creates complete backups, but if your HD fails, you can't boot from it.
See CCC and SuperDuper
Time Macine Video Tutorial

 

[sartorius81]

How big of an external HD do i need to purchase

 

[6string]

They're that cheap now days, so its really depending on what you want.
Time Machine, deletes the oldest backups when the drive gets full, and the cloning software that I mentioned make exact clones of your HD.
What I have is an 160GB external HD that I have partitioned into 3.

1.Time Machine (100GB)
2.CCC (50GB)
3.Bootable copy of my install Discs to keep my originals in as new condition in storage (10GB)

I should get another external for my clones, and use the one I have for the Time Machine backups, but I have been a bit lazy.
The price I paid for my external HD years back, I could now get 3 external HDs.

So, it is really upto you

 

[sartorius81]

I read the find print and i think this applies to me... am i right? where do i get one of those? if I just want to keep my pictures and school papers do I really need to back it all up still or is there an easier way?
Note also that USB drives do not allow booting Power PC based Macintoshes under any version of Mac OS X: this is not a SuperDuper! limitation, but one of the OS. If you would like to boot from a backup stored on an external drive, and have a Power PC based Mac, please purchase a Mac compatible FireWire drive. Intel Mac users can boot from either USB or FireWire drives.

 

[6string]

Oh, PPC.....
You will need a firewire external which is your best option anyway, as it will allow you speed in use.
You can choose what you want to back up, but a bootable clone is the best safeguard you can have.
Any computer shop, or online ... check out Seagate or WD external Firewire HDs

 

[6string]

I left out do you really need it......
IMHO everybody needs it!

 

[sartorius81]

well **** it.... i guess i'll have to wait to upgrade lol thanks a lot for the disappointing but great advice.

 

[6string]

Just be sure to format the external if it's not formatted for Mac out of the box.

 

[sartorius81]

oh man.... howw exactly would i do that? sorry, i'm pretty sure these are all basic questions

 

[6string]

It's easy... you just go to disk utilities when you plug it in, and format it as HFS+ which is mac OS extended (journalled).
As I don't use firewire HDs, and from experience can't recommend which one to go for, I am sure that someone will come along shortly with cheap recommendations, and where the best place is to get them online, and more than likely that will be formatted for Mac already.
Just sit tight and stay tuned.

 

[6string]

meanwhile..... OWC

 

[chas_m]

If the OP is looking for Firewire hard drives in order to create bootable clones of his boot drive, he will want to look at the MyBook line from Western Digital (not all models have Firewire but some do), or the LaCie triple interface drives (not my favourites), or possibly entertain the idea of just buying a "bare" drive and a firewire case (like the ones OWC sells, or Coolmax) and put those together (very very easy to do).

It usually costs a few bucks more for a Firewire drive than an equivalent USB-only, but the speed difference more than makes up the minor cost differential.

 

[6string]

Thanks chas_m.... appreciate the help, and I'm sure the OP does too

 

[sartorius81]

Finally got the right hard drive. Went to an apple supplier and they gave me the right one but i'm not sure how to format at it. Its a lacie brand 360g. I was told go to disc utilities? for the hd or my computer?

 

[sartorius81]

nevermind guys.. i figured it out.

 

[chas_m]

Good job! Now start making backups!

If you're not yet on Leopard, I can recommend SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner (either one, they are essentially the same thing).

If you have moved up to Leopard, you also have the option of Time Machine, which is pretty awesome. It's built in.