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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Backing Up Home folder

c.hustle - Mar 17, 2006 - 11:38 pm

I have a powerbook G4 that I bought from apple store refurbished. It has a warped frame so I am getting a replacement. I need to back up my files, I guess this means only my home folder. However, when I try to do this, I get an error saying I do not have sufficeint privledges to copy a certain file. I have checked the info for the Home folder file and it is set permission to read and write. I am the only user of the computer and I have administrative privledges obviously. I have also tried to archive the home folder first and get the same error message. What else can I do? Am I doing something wrong? Thank you for your help.
Charles Davis

ishan - Mar 18, 2006 - 6:24 am

Backing up is more complicated with System 10.x than System 9 because of the underlying Unix system of permissions. Do it the easy way by using either Carbon Copy Cloner (freeware) or SuperDuper 2.0 (worth every penny of $27.95, IMHO). You will then be able to selectively back up your drive or clone your whole drive to another drive so you always have an up to date identical data source if your main drive fails. Carbon Copy Cloner also works well, but it's not as slick as SuperDuper. However, the new version of CCC is a definite improvement in terms of user interface. Use either program and you should not have to worry about the permissions issue.

HTH and please let us know what happens. Thanks.

c.hustle - Mar 18, 2006 - 11:03 am

I downloaded Carbon Copy Cloner but my external USB hard drive does not appear in the Select Target Disk menu.

ishan - Mar 18, 2006 - 6:33 pm

Try SuperDuper 2.0. The free version allows you to do backups, just not schedule them or do incremental backups.

c.hustle - Mar 18, 2006 - 9:31 pm

Well, I tried Super Duper and its not allowing me to copy to my external USB hard drive. It seems to think that its formatted for windows (MS DOS FAT32). It tells me I have to erase the disc first and reformatt it. I can't do this because I have too many other files on it already. I'm not having too much luck with this so any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ishan - Mar 19, 2006 - 5:26 am

Is your external drive formatted differently from your internal? If it is, then follow Kris' advice. However, I have a feeling that the simple drag copy won't work either. There's something wonky about either your external drive or the connection to it. Hard to diagnose via the 'net