What should I back up my data onto?
We recommend an external hard drive at least twice the size as your internal drive for incremental backups, such as Time Machine. Select your hard drive and hold down Command-i to see your hard drive’s capacity. FireWire is better than USB, if your Mac has a FireWire port.
After you’ve got that setup you have lots of options. CDs and DVDs are great ways to store data cheaply and are easy to transport. USB flash drives are ultra-portable and are a great way to keep your documents with you. If you have a fast upload speed on your Internet connection (or are very patient) you can use an online storage service like MobileMe, Crash Plan, or Drop Box. A free alternative (if you can remember to do it frequently) is to email yourself files to a service like Gmail. If you travel often or just don’t have a lot of space, take a look at a portable external hard drive.
Published March 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Last modified on June 22, 2010 2:09 PM
Related Links
Time Machine: How do I restore my user account?How to create a bootable clone backup
How do I choose a backup strategy?
What is a backup?
Time Machine: I can’t see any of my backups.
Why should I back up?
Time Machine: When I try to backup, it fails immediately or after copying some of the data.
What makes hard drives prone to failure?
Time Machine: I use FileVault and Time Machine doesn’t seem to work.
Why does directory damage occur? Can I prevent it?
Time Machine: I use Aperture and I’m having backup issues.
Time Machine: I use Anti-virus software and I’m having issues.
Not only computers need backing up...
How often should I back up?
Why should I make multiple backups?
How to reformat and partition a new external hard drive for backup.
Start a bootable clone backup with SuperDuper!
How to startup your Mac from an external hard drive.
Time Machine: How do I start using it?
Time Machine: How do I restore individual files?
Time Machine: How do I restore my entire system?
Time Machine: What should I do when my backup drive fills up?
Time Machine: Fills up my backup drive too fast.
< Return to Mac FAQ Home