protecting your valuable data

[ankhseeker]

I have been reading some threads here and still have a few questions. I have a MBP (see specs aside) I recently bought CCC, an external hd and case for it. I installed the HD in the case, connected the USB and made a clone of the mavericks 10.9.5 that runs on this machine.
I also saw where you guys talk about making a bootable USB device. I bought an 8gb also. ( I do have the OSX installer downloaded. Is diskmaker the $20 program one I want? 1.) If the hd in my MBP were to fail, I could just swap out the hd's from the enclosure to the mbp but would it boot? Do I need that thumb drive or does CCC do it all? The external disk and the internal one are the same size. (500gb). I just want to have all my ducks in a row before that day comes. I also have another external that I use for time machine volumes/backups. Thanks! Not sure where to place this thread. Change if necessary please.

 

[bobtomay]

CCC should be making a bootable clone - if you are not testing your backup, you should be.

Never "assume" just because a backup software says it is done - it is - always test and check it out.
I boot to my clone once every week or two, just to make sure all is good.

Connect the external drive, reboot your computer and press/hold the option key as soon as you hear the chime - you should be provided with an option to boot from the external - do it - play with it, make sure everything is there and it is working. It naturally will not be as fast running from an external drive.

Are they charging $20 for diskmaker now?
If so, just use the "createinstallmedia" command via Terminal.
There are all sorts of tutorials for doing that on the web - some easier to understand than others.
It's not hard - even if you're not that familiar with Terminal - just need to spend a few minutes wrapping your head around what they're saying to do.
Think I had to read 3 or 4 of them before it clicked - I am "not" a Terminal guy.
Apple even has a tutorial on how to do it - link.

 

[ankhseeker]

ok! That sounds easy. Question: How do I get the installer to the USB stick, or does that createinstallmedia command do it?
Thanks Bob!

 

[bobtomay]

The createinstallmedia does it. After you create it - you will also want to restart the machine (holding down the option key) and just make sure you can boot to the installer on the USB stick. If you can, then restart normally and put your stick aside for safe keeping.

 

[ankhseeker]

Bob, Thanks! The Clone works great, but MAN, is it slow via USB ;-) hehehe.

 

[bobtomay]

Figured it would be - never booted to mine via USB, only Firewire - it's still slow compared to the internal. When I finish paying for the new computer my wife got (after spilling coffee on two others in two months) I'll get one with USB 3 and check that out.

edit:
Ooooooh, just went and checked, Kanex now has a Thunderbolt to eSATA & USB 3 - need to get me one of those to test out with my eSATA drives.

 

[ankhseeker]

The USB stick made bootable via that link works slick! Thanks again. OWC had a dual USB stick that plugs into a lightning or a USB. Pretty slick. ;-)