Backup without using TimeMachine?

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Level 1

4 points

Backup without using TimeMachine?

I am using Big Sur 11.7 as a higher update was not possible (in the Apple shop) they wanted to do it in 2 steps, but after the first step all my data was gone from my MacBook Pro (2019) - and since then I cannot do a backup with TimeMachine, its just not doing it. Apple Support recommends an upgrade but the last time everything was gone and its some time now and the old backup is missing a lot. Also there was not everything recovered, they said that the backup was probably never done properly. So how can I save my data before upgrading?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Oct 23, 2024 12:22 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Level 10

212,672 points

Oct 23, 2024 1:42 PM in response to Mika-Ella

emails are never included in a backup; they are saved on the email server.

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Answer 2

Oct 23, 2024 12:27 PM in response to Mika-Ella

Your post is not entirely clear. It sounds as if you're saying you have already lost the data. If there is no backup, the data is gone.

If you want to back up your Mac without using Time Machine you can certainly do that. You can manually move everything you want to save to an external drive. Or you can use software like CarbonCopyCloner. Note that backing up now will not recover any data already lost.

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Answer 3

Oct 23, 2024 12:28 PM in response to Mika-Ella

If your data are gone, they may already be gone. But alternatives to Time Machine are things like SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. Both of them create complete clones of the internal drive onto an external drive, if that’s all you need to do the free version will work fine (the paid version typically does incremental back ups scheduled back ups, etc.).

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Answer 4

Oct 23, 2024 4:27 PM in response to Mika-Ella

<< there was also a problem from my email-provider, I had still an old pop account, >>

That's not a problem with your provider, that is operator error -- Yours.

POP emails are indeed stored on your computer. But you should NOT be using POP today, because it can not handle multiple readers (e.g., iPhone AND Mac).

When using IMAP, as you should be, the emails are safely stored on upper providers server, and are not sent you until you choose one to reading in its entirety.

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

146,630 points

Nov 8, 2024 3:50 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

emails are never included in a backup; ...

The emphasized word (never) renders that statement untrue. Read All my INBOX @me.com emails suddenly disappeared ... - Apple Community for one example.

If you're curious the reason for the message's spontaneous and inexplicable disappearance was never resolved.

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Answer 6

Mika-Ella Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2024 12:36 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I had a backup when I did the first update, but there were problems with Emails, so they guys in the apple shop said, that backup maybe has never been backed correctly, but data was there. But that is a while ago (I know shame on me) and I am now afraid to do a upgrade and the same happens again, that the data is gone again and the backup on timemachine is old. Sorry for being unclear. I will check out the software you recommended and see if I can do it. Thanks!

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Answer 7

Mika-Ella Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2024 12:38 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Sorry, already clarified! after first upgrade data was there from timemachine, but not everything (emails were missing, but found on the server of my provider). Now timemachine is not doing any backup - for a while now and I dont dare to upgrade, without backup. So I will check out your recommendations. Thank you.

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Answer 8

Mika-Ella Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2024 2:11 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Yes! thanks - they should have been, and some were, but there was also a problem from my email-provider, I had still an old pop account, so the automatic synchronization didnt happen, and we did find a file with some emails, but only because someone from the apple support made an extra effort. I was on(line) in apple support from friday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon during their working hours, when we - respectively "She" found a file through various ways through the system for which I will be forever grateful! (10.000 emails!) these are now saved in a sub-folder in my email account and are supposed to be included in the backup! at least I have been told so! and they would be gone, if data is again gone after update.

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Answer 9

Oct 23, 2024 4:31 PM in response to Mika-Ella

Time Machine's biggest "claim to fame" is that it is the backup that gets done. It does not ruin performance of the rest of the computer while doing its backup operations. You do not have to set aside a "Special Time" when you only do backups. When you need it, your Time Machine Backup is much more likely to be there.

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