Backing Up The OS. ? (and "top bar" question)

[Robert4]

Hello,

New iMac desktop.

a. I have lots of my items backed up to USB sticks, but should
I also be backing up the basic OS also ?

Have nightmares re it getting corrupted, and perhaps
needing a re-install.

If so, how would I go about doing this backup,
and making sure it has "everything" that would be required to get it going again ?

b. This isn't too important, but would like to do if possible, so might as well ask here.

The top bar (not sure what it is called) is very narrow and indistinct.
My eyesight is pretty poor now.

Any way to make the bar itself, and/or the lettering, bigger and more distinct ?
Perhaps something approaching what the Dock size is.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[MiniMoke]

For backups, just use Time Machine, it's built into MacOS, completely hassle-free and set up is a breeze. Just connect an external hard disk (chose one preferably double the size as your internal storage), and the OS will ask you if you want to use it for Time Machine backups. Just say YES and you're good to go.

If you're on a desktop machine just (iMac, Mac Mini or such) leave the external disk connected all times. Backups will run automatically. If you have a MacBook of some sort, just connect the external disk as soon as you are home with it for the backups to run.

 

[belvdr]

I'm a huge fan of getting backups offsite. There are plenty of products out there that do so. I've used CrashPlan for years without issue. It runs continuously and there's no need for additional hardware.

Backing up your data is most critical. I wouldn't worry about the OS personally. You can recover that easily.

For the menu bar, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display. There's an option for "Menu Bar Size".

 

[russell_314]

I would say time machine and some form of cloud backup. I wouldn’t back anything up on USB sticks. Those are meant for quick file transfer between computers. I mean better than nothing but it would make me nervous

 

[rpmurray]

You can use Carbon Copy Cloner (or SuperDuper) to make a complete backup of your system, but it is really pointless to backup the OS. With the latest macOS the operating system is in its own sealed read-only volume. It's no different than what you'd get from doing a clean install of the OS. Everything else, including applications, that makes your Mac uniquely yours is in the Data volume, and that is what you'd want to back up.

The bar at the top of the display is called the Menu Bar. Read How to Change Menu Bar Size in MacOS for details on how to change the size. You may also want to read up on how to use the Zoom options in Accessibility.

Edit: If seeing the menus is difficult, you my also want to check out an application called MenuWhere. It lets you pop-up the menu bar wherever your cursor is and it has the capability of making the font size anything between 10 and 30.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get an external USB3 SSD that's the same size as your internal drive.

Now, use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create a cloned backup.
If you do it right, the backup will be bootable, too.

A cloned backup "stays the same size" as the data stored on the internal drive, and doesn't keep "growing and growing and growing" (in size) as would a time machine backup.

Both CCC and SD are free to download and use for 30 days.
SD is a little easier to use these days.

Having a cloned backup will have "all your stuff" in ONE place.
You can mount the drive right in the finder, it will be an exact copy of the internal drive.
If you need something, just connect the backup, copy it back over.

 

[Robert4]

Hi

Thanks for thoughts.

Bob

 

[russell_314]

Get an external USB3 SSD that's the same size as your internal drive.

Now, use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create a cloned backup.
If you do it right, the backup will be bootable, too.

A cloned backup "stays the same size" as the data stored on the internal drive, and doesn't keep "growing and growing and growing" (in size) as would a time machine backup.

Both CCC and SD are free to download and use for 30 days.
SD is a little easier to use these days.

Having a cloned backup will have "all your stuff" in ONE place.
You can mount the drive right in the finder, it will be an exact copy of the internal drive.
If you need something, just connect the backup, copy it back over.

I’m also curious about backups because I’m usually terrible about doing them. Is CCC or SD something you would run in place of Time Machine or can it run along with it?

Does it have versioning were for example if I want to look at a file from two days ago versus ten days ago can I do that? Will they work with a Synology NAS?

My plan was to hook up a Synology NAS to the network then use Time Machine.

I also thought about buying a base Mac mini and an external HD just for back ups and using that because it would probably be cheaper than the NAS.

Not trying to hijack the OP’s thread but I figured this is relevant to what he’s asking so maybe helpful for him too.