Which External Hard Drive for Backup and Which Backup Program is Best?

[honestone33]

OP wrote:
"I see Super Duper is a free download. Does the free download allow backing up and cloning of the system hard drive?"

SuperDuper will run FOREVER "in free mode", but there's a caveat:
You can only do "full and total" clones this way.

If you want to do an "incremental" backup (only changed files get copied), you have to register the app.

As I mentioned above, I actually just use SuperDuper! once a week, to backup/clone each of my Macs to external SSDs (I do this twice for each machine, to 2 different SSDs). That new backup just replaces the one made the prior week. But even though I did not need to register it, I did anyway, and thus support a fine company.

OP:
Why are you making things so hard on yourself?
Dragging this thread on and on...?
Cloning a drive is... well, it's literally "child's play" on the Mac.

Exactly!
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I keep reading one person saying one backup program is better or the other is better. I'm just trying to get as much information as possible before I buy a program. I have an old Mac because that's what I can afford at the moment. I can't afford to buy both programs to try. I wish I could right now. I apologize for asking and didn't intend on dragging this out. Thanks for the information and help.

But we keep telling you the SAME thing: either of these fine programs will do the job.

As for ease of use, it's unfair for me, for example, to say that SuperDuper! (SD) is easier to use that Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC), as I have never used CCC. Similarly, I would expect that a CCC user would say the same thing regarding CCC and SD.

 

[crowe-t]

I had decided to use CCC for my backup.

I reformatted the new(backup) hard drive and made 2 partitions(1 for my internal system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive that I keep files on.

I set up the 2 tasks and hit the run button, one for my system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive and then I hit the clone button for the system hard drive.

Should I have not set up a task for my system hard drive if I hit the clone button?

The CCC backup for the external drive is the same size(290 GB). However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[honestone33]

I had decided to use CCC for my backup.

I reformatted the new(backup) hard drive and made 2 partitions(1 for my internal system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive that I keep files on.

I set up the 2 tasks and hit the run button, one for my system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive and then I hit the clone button for the system hard drive.

Should I have not set up a task for my system hard drive if I hit the clone button?

The CCC backup for the external drive is the same size(290 GB). However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more

Am I doing something wrong?

How much space did you allocate to each partition?

Myself, I use SuperDuper! for my backups to two separate external Samsung 840 Pro 512 gig SSDs. For my late 2012 Mac Mini, the size of the internal Samsung 840 Pro SS is 256 gig, but I am only using about 75 gig or so of space. On those two external SSDs, I have each of them partitioned with 3 partitions: two of the partitions are 100 gig in size each, and the third one is the remaining 312 gig. When I run the SuperDuper! backup for the Mac Mini, the result is correctly reported: the partition for that SuperDuper! backup/clone is 100 gig in total size, but only 75 gig of space is being taken up/utilized. (The same is true for the other SuperDuper! backup partition, which I use for my 2018 Mac Book Air (with a 252 gig internal SSD, but again only using about 75 gig of its space).

 

[crowe-t]

How much space did you allocate to each partition?

Myself, I use SuperDuper! for my backups to two separate external Samsung 840 Pro 512 gig SSDs. For my late 2012 Mac Mini, the size of the internal Samsung 840 Pro SS is 256 gig, but I am only using about 75 gig or so of space. On those two external SSDs, I have each of them partitioned with 3 partitions: two of the partitions are 100 gig in size each, and the third one is the remaining 312 gig. When I run the SuperDuper! backup for the Mac Mini, the result is correctly reported: the partition for that SuperDuper! backup/clone is 100 gig in total size, but only 75 gig of space is being taken up/utilized. (The same is true for the other SuperDuper! backup partition, which I use for my 2018 Mac Book Air (with a 252 gig internal SSD, but again only using about 75 gig of its space).

I have a Western Digital 4 TB hard drive I'm using for my backup. I made 2 partitions(2 TB each). My external hard drive has 290 GB used and that's what CCC backed up on the WD partition. My internal system hard drive has 310 GB used but it actually put 594 GB on the WD backup.

In addition CCC is stating errors during the backup.

 

[honestone33]

I have a Western Digital 4 TB hard drive I'm using for my backup. I made 2 partitions(2 TB each). My external hard drive has 290 GB used and that's what CCC backed up on the WD partition. My internal system hard drive has 310 GB used but it actually put 594 GB on the WD backup.

In addition CCC is stating errors during the backup.

You seem to definitely have some issues. Myself, I always keep my Macs "lean, mean, and clean". I do that by 1) doing a good amount of disk cleanup on my own, and 2) using the excellent programs Onyx (free) and Tech Tool Pro (commercial) to assist with cleanup, plus maintenance, and when necessary (rarely ever), repairs. In fact, I run Onyx and Tech Tool Pro on both of my Macs right before I do my SuperDuper! backups, and never have had an issue. Not sure why CCC is reporting problems.

As for that third, 312 Gig partition on each of those external SSDs, I manually moved files there. Most of them are Movies and TV series. I do not use SuperDuper! for that partition.

Just to get one thing clear: you have 2 2TB partitions. Here is what you originally stated:

"I set up the 2 tasks and hit the run button, one for my system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive and then I hit the clone button for the system hard drive."

For SuperDuper!, I do not see any option to distinguish between backup and clone. I suspect it is smart enough to know that given I am backing system files, etc., that it is a clone, and thus makes a bootable backup/clone.

You also state:

"The CCC backup for the external drive is the same size(290 GB). However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more"

You need to break that down, as follows:

1. For the cloned CCC backup, how much is on your internal system device that you want CCC to backup/clone? If it is, for example, 300 Gig, then on that 2 TB partition, it should show that partition with a total size of 2 TB, but with 300 gig used.

2. It seems that the other "piece" you are backing up is from a device that just contains various files, and hence the resulting backup does not need to be bootable (makes sense). Apparently, the size of that backup, 290 Gig, on the other 2 TB partition is fine.

Maybe someone who uses CCC has an explanation, especially about pressing 2 buttons, one for "run", and the other for "clone". Again, I don't see such a distinction with SuperDuper!.

2. Similarly, for the other

 

[crowe-t]

You seem to definitely have some issues. Myself, I always keep my Macs "lean, mean, and clean". I do that by 1) doing a good amount of disk cleanup on my own, and 2) using the excellent programs Onyx (free) and Tech Tool Pro (commercial) to assist with cleanup, plus maintenance, and when necessary (rarely ever), repairs. In fact, I run Onyx and Tech Tool Pro on both of my Macs right before I do my SuperDuper! backups, and never have had an issue. Not sure why CCC is reporting problems.

As for that third, 312 Gig partition on each of those external SSDs, I manually moved files there. Most of them are Movies and TV series. I do not use SuperDuper! for that partition.

Just to get one thing clear: you have 2 2TB partitions. Here is what you originally stated:

"I set up the 2 tasks and hit the run button, one for my system hard drive and the other for my external hard drive and then I hit the clone button for the system hard drive."

For SuperDuper!, I do not see any option to distinguish between backup and clone. I suspect it is smart enough to know that given I am backing system files, etc., that it is a clone, and thus makes a bootable backup/clone.

You also state:

"The CCC backup for the external drive is the same size(290 GB). However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more"

You need to break that down, as follows:

1. For the cloned CCC backup, how much is on your internal system device that you want CCC to backup/clone? If it is, for example, 300 Gig, then on that 2 TB partition, it should show that partition with a total size of 2 TB, but with 300 gig used.

2. It seems that the other "piece" you are backing up is from a device that just contains various files, and hence the resulting backup does not need to be bootable (makes sense). Apparently, the size of that backup, 290 Gig, on the other 2 TB partition is fine.

Maybe someone who uses CCC has an explanation, especially about pressing 2 buttons, one for "run", and the other for "clone". Again, I don't see such a distinction with SuperDuper!.

2. Similarly, for the other

1. I want CCC to backup 310 gig that is used on my internal system device. However currently the CCC backup has 595 gig used. It must have doubled up some stuff. Maybe since I ran the task and then hit the clone button it's doing a double back up. Maybe not.

2. The other external hard drive does not need to be bootable. It has various files.

Maybe I should just give Super Duper a try. I heard so many good things about CCC. I contacted them and they said the way I set it up is OK but I don't think they really understand.

 

[honestone33]

I have no idea what the "repercussions" were when you first pressed the run key, then the clone key. Never heard of anyone having such an issue with CCC.

Maybe start from the beginning, ie, erase that CCC partition, restart CCC, and then press the clone key only,

 

[crowe-t]

I have no idea what the "repercussions" were when you first pressed the run key, then the clone key. Never heard of anyone having such an issue with CCC.

Maybe start from the beginning, ie, erase that CCC partition, restart CCC, and then press the clone key only,

I'll give that a try and if it doesn't work I'll try Super Duper.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more"

Do you also use time machine?
If so, could there be "local backups" or "local snapshots" (or whatever they're called) on the internal drive (these are invisible in the finder)?

Do you have the option for local snapshots enabled in CCC?

 

[crowe-t]

OP wrote:
"However the cloned CCC backup for my system hard drive is 500 GB. My system hard drive has 310 GB. It's almost 200 GB more"

Do you also use time machine?
If so, could there be "local backups" or "local snapshots" (or whatever they're called) on the internal drive (these are invisible in the finder)?

Do you have the option for local snapshots enabled in CCC?

I don't use Time Machine.

I don't see an option for snapshots.
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I have no idea what the "repercussions" were when you first pressed the run key, then the clone key. Never heard of anyone having such an issue with CCC.

Maybe start from the beginning, ie, erase that CCC partition, restart CCC, and then press the clone key only,

I just started running CCC again and this time I pressed the clone key only for my system hard drive.

 

[honestone33]

I just started running CCC again and this time I pressed the clone key only for my system hard drive.

Cool! Assuming it works, when the backup/clone completes (assuming you do not get any error messages), try and restart your Mac from that bootable backup. If all of that works, you are good to go.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I just started running CCC again and this time I pressed the clone key only for my system hard drive."

One other thing:
Is "safety net" enabled (in CCC) ?

 

[crowe-t]

OP wrote:
"I just started running CCC again and this time I pressed the clone key only for my system hard drive."

One other thing:
Is "safety net" enabled (in CCC) ?

Is this what you are referring to?

 

[honestone33]

Can't believe how complicated this seems to be getting! For SuperDuper!, after it is launched, I select my source drive (typically the internal SSD on either of my Macs), then the destination device (typically a partition on one of my external SSDs), then select Backup - all files (one of the Standard scripts within SuperDuper!), and after a couple of more non-obtrusive questions, away it goes, faithfully making a bootable backup/clone of the source drive.

 

[crowe-t]

I have no idea what the "repercussions" were when you first pressed the run key, then the clone key. Never heard of anyone having such an issue with CCC.

Maybe start from the beginning, ie, erase that CCC partition, restart CCC, and then press the clone key only,

The CCC backup finished and worked this time. The system hard drive and it's backup matches in size.

When I ran this I only hit the clone button. I don't have a task set up for the system hard drive.

I suppose I should set up a task for my system hard drive so it'll keep backing up any changes. Will setting up a task cause it to save almost double the data as it did before?

 

[honestone33]

The CCC backup finished and worked this time. The system hard drive and it's backup matches in size.

When I ran this I only hit the clone button. I don't have a task set up for the system hard drive.

I suppose I should set up a task for my system hard drive so it'll keep backing up any changes. Will setting up a task cause it to save almost double the data as it did before?

OK, glad you got it to work. Did you take my suggestion above, and boot your machine from that backup? It would be a good idea to test that.

For my needs, I do not need to have changes I make to various files, folders, etc. backed up frequently, and I just do a full backup/clone for each of my Macs once a week. What I have SuperDuper! do is to first erase the prior week's backup, and then replace it with the "new" one. I don't need to set up anything for that, as that is a built-in option.

But for your question, from what I understand, CCC can just "backup" changes you make, whether its files, folders, apps, etc. (SuperDuper! can do the same). Basically, you would be just replacing files, folders, etc. on the prior backup with updated information. The script either you can make, or it might already be available in CCC, would not be a full backup/clone.

I have one other question to ask you. From what you earlier stated, the amount of space that you are backing up, from the system hard drive, is about 310 gig. What is the total size of your system drive? If it's less than 1 TB (for example, 500 gig), then why did you allocate 1 TB for the backup? That seems like a waste, and that you could use some (maybe half?) of that 1 TB for something else.

Also, do you do any disk cleanup, maintenance, etc.? Or do you plan on filling up your system drive?

 

[crowe-t]

OK, glad you got it to work. Did you take my suggestion above, and boot your machine from that backup? It would be a good idea to test that.

For my needs, I do not need to have changes I make to various files, folders, etc. backed up frequently, and I just do a full backup/clone for each of my Macs once a week. What I have SuperDuper! do is to first erase the prior week's backup, and then replace it with the "new" one. I don't need to set up anything for that, as that is a built-in option.

But for your question, from what I understand, CCC can just "backup" changes you make, whether its files, folders, apps, etc. (SuperDuper! can do the same). Basically, you would be just replacing files, folders, etc. on the prior backup with updated information. The script either you can make, or it might already be available in CCC, would not be a full backup/clone.

I have one other question to ask you. From what you earlier stated, the amount of space that you are backing up, from the system hard drive, is about 310 gig. What is the total size of your system drive? If it's less than 1 TB (for example, 500 gig), then why did you allocate 1 TB for the backup? That seems like a waste, and that you could use some (maybe half?) of that 1 TB for something else.

Also, do you do any disk cleanup, maintenance, etc.? Or do you plan on filling up your system drive?

I was busy today and didn't have a chance to boot up from the backup.

My internal system hard drive is 320 gig. I got the Western Digital Elements 4 TB hard drive for $85. I just partitioned it so it would have one for the internal system hard drive and one for the external hard drive.

I don't have any other need for hard drive space other than backing up my Mac.

I'm planning on upgrading to a new Mac Mini in the next few months so I don't plan on filling these 2 hard drives up.

I just want to have my files backed up.

I didn't make a task for my system hard drive yet. I don't know if it'll work like it did the first time.

Does anyone know if creating a clone will do regular backups or do I need to make a task for it?

 

[crowe-t]

OK, glad you got it to work. Did you take my suggestion above, and boot your machine from that backup? It would be a good idea to test that.

I just booted my Mac from the backup and it worked.
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Does anyone know if creating a clone in CCC will do regular backups or do I need to make a task for it?

I'm concerned it might double the size of the backup if I add my system hard drive as a task since that happened when I first ran CCC and hit the clone button and added the system hard drive as a task. I did this at the same time so maybe that caused the problem of the backup size doubling.

 

[Joestanxx]

I used SuperDuper for a few years, but now use ChronoSync as it can be configured in a number of ways. I have never been sure of TM but ChronoSync will act in a similar way if you configure it to do so, it will also backup to a NAS box

Time machine will also back up to a NAS

 

[honestone33]

I just booted my Mac from the backup and it worked.

Cool!

Does anyone know if creating a clone in CCC will do regular backups or do I need to make a task for it?

I'm concerned it might double the size of the backup if I add my system hard drive as a task since that happened when I first ran CCC and hit the clone button and added the system hard drive as a task. I did this at the same time so maybe that caused the problem of the backup size doubling.

You seem to be undecided about 1) the "type" of backup you want to do, and 2) when to do the two backups.

Earlier, you asked about just backing up "changed" files, folders, etc. with CCC, and I provided an explanation about that. Now you are saying something to the effect of "creating a clone in CCC ". So, I'll pose some direct, pertinent questions:

1. For your "system device" (that is your internal device on your Mac, correct?), do you want to do a full backup/clone of it to one of the 1 TB partitions on your WD external drive, or do you just want to do a backup (not clone) of files, folders, etc. which have changed?

2. For your other external device, which (from what I understand) contains just files, folders, etc., but no OS files, again, do you want to do a full backup/replace of the prior backup you made to that other 1 TB partition on your external WD drive, or (again) just a backup (actually replacement) of files, folders, etc. which have changed?

Those are 2 distinctive tasks, and I suspect you can set up those two distinct and separate tasks in CCC. Assuming that is the case, and you want to schedule both of them, all you would need to do is to schedule them to run at different times. For example, for the backup, or backup/clone, of information on your "system device" (ie, your boot deice on your Mac, set up it to run, say, at 2 AM. Then, set up the other task to run, say, at 4 or 5 AM. That way, you will not be doing both of them at the same time.

One other thing: you neglected to answer my previous about disk cleanup, maintenance, etc. So, I'll ask again: do you do any disk cleanup, maintenance, etc.?

 

[crowe-t]

Cool!



You seem to be undecided about 1) the "type" of backup you want to do, and 2) when to do the two backups.

Earlier, you asked about just backing up "changed" files, folders, etc. with CCC, and I provided an explanation about that. Now you are saying something to the effect of "creating a clone in CCC ". So, I'll pose some direct, pertinent questions:

1. For your "system device" (that is your internal device on your Mac, correct?), do you want to do a full backup/clone of it to one of the 1 TB partitions on your WD external drive, or do you just want to do a backup (not clone) of files, folders, etc. which have changed?

2. For your other external device, which (from what I understand) contains just files, folders, etc., but no OS files, again, do you want to do a full backup/replace of the prior backup you made to that other 1 TB partition on your external WD drive, or (again) just a backup (actually replacement) of files, folders, etc. which have changed?

Those are 2 distinctive tasks, and I suspect you can set up those two distinct and separate tasks in CCC. Assuming that is the case, and you want to schedule both of them, all you would need to do is to schedule them to run at different times. For example, for the backup, or backup/clone, of information on your "system device" (ie, your boot deice on your Mac, set up it to run, say, at 2 AM. Then, set up the other task to run, say, at 4 or 5 AM. That way, you will not be doing both of them at the same time.

One other thing: you neglected to answer my previous about disk cleanup, maintenance, etc. So, I'll ask again: do you do any disk cleanup, maintenance, etc.?

1. I want to do a full backup/clone. However when I add something or make a change I'd like it to update it on the backup drive.

I'm still a bit confused. I'd like a backup that's automated and backs up on a regular basis. I hope this makes sense.

2. I ran a task for my other external hard drive and it's been backing up once a day. I wanted to backup all the files and have it update regularly which it's been doing.

Sorry I missed that. No I haven't done any disc cleanup.

 

[honestone33]

1. I want to do a full backup/clone. However when I add something or make a change I'd like it to update it on the backup drive.

I'm still a bit confused. I'd like a backup that's automated and backs up on a regular basis. I hope this makes sense.

OK, that's a better explanation. How often do you need a full backup/clone? You should be able to make a scheduled backup/clone in CCC. I have never needed to do that with SuperDuper!, but it is possible.

As for updating changes you make between backups, I suspect you can make a script for that, and (possibly) have it "triggered" either by you, or by some event. CCC might even come with a built-in script to do exactly what you want. Again, thoughI don't know how to do that.

2. I ran a task for my other external hard drive and it's been backing up once a day. I wanted to backup all the files and have it update regularly which it's been doing.

When you say "ran a task", how did it translate to doing a backup once a day? And when does it run?

Sorry I missed that. No I haven't done any disc cleanup.

You really need to do disk cleanup and maintenance. Owning a Mac is just like owning an automobile. You would not neglect cleaning your car, nor having maintenance done on it, right? Macs are no different. Plus CCC will not need to backup no longer needed files, folders, etc.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I want to do a full backup/clone. However when I add something or make a change I'd like it to update it on the backup drive."

That's how CCC works (SD, too).

The FIRST TIME you do a backup/clone, the ENTIRE DRIVE gets cloned.

After that, when you do a backup, only the "changed items" get added to the backup. And stuff that you deleted (on your internal drive) gets removed. Things go much faster.

Really, there's not much to this (there is, but it goes on "behind the scenes" and is invisible to the user).

Insofar as cloning software goes, one "just uses it"...

 

[SalisburySam]

I keep it simple: TimeMachine and an 8TB External HD: Seagate Backup Plus Hub. The extra two USB ports are great for charging, thumb drives, and connecting a camera. TimeMachine has worked well for me, and I partitioned the HD to keep its space consumption manageable.

 

[tarsins]

1TB Samsung T3 to CCC my 1TB MacBook Pro 16". Works well and is quick.