Backup your Mac with Data Backup 3

Most of our blog topics cover data recovery efforts with Data Rescue 3 and hard drive utilities like Drive Genius 3. However, I would like to focus on back ups because if done on a regular basis, you may never need a data recovery application to bail you out.

Data Backup 3 is a powerful utility that allows you to backup, restore and synchronize your valuable data with minimal effort. Whether you are a new computer user or a seasoned professional, Data Backup 3 offers you just the right amount of power, flexibility and ease-of-use to help you protect your files fast.

Data Backup 3 includes many flexible features like:

Backup to any mounted drive including: FireWire, USB, ATA or networked drives.
Backup to CD/DVD disks automatically span on multiple disks.
Creates an exact copy of a folder or a drive, including bootable OS X backups.
Synchronize folders – perfect if you use more than one computer.

One of my favorite types of backups using Data Backup 3 is its clone feature.
Data Backup 3 can make a bootable clone back up of your Mac to another drive which in turn can be booted externally. This is a great way to back up your Mac before upgrading to Lion or Mountain Lion or simply on a daily basis. If the install goes south for some reason or your Mac fails to startup you can easily do an “option boot” from your clone and utilize your backup as you would your internal boot drive. The clone will preserve all of your personal data , applications and operating system with its settings.

Here is a how to guide on how to create a bootable clone backup for free. You can use Data backup 3 in demo mode to do this.

Data Backup 3 bootable Clone instructions

You can download Data Backup 3 and run in demo mode to create a clone backup.

A formatted drive / volume with a GUID or APM partition is required depending on your Mac and CPU type that is equal to or larger than the used space of your “Mac HD” is required.

Follow the steps below to create your bootable clone drive

1. Launch Data Backup 3 from your Applications folder.
2. Click on the triangle next to “Show Backup Options” to expand the drop down menu.
3. Now, hold down the “command” key and the “N” key to create a new backup set.
4. Select Backup Type, then select Clone.
5. Click on the “+” symbol under Sources and select Mac HD from the Devices list in the Finder window.
6. Click the “Select” button to choose your destination volume in the Finder window and press open.
7. To finish hold down the “command” key and the “S” key to save your backup set.
8. If your ready click the “Start” button to begin making your bootable clone.

Data Backup 3 backup software for Mac

Booting from your clone backup
1. Close all files and applications as you would to prepare for a system shutdown.
2. Open the System Preferences
3. Listed under “System” select “Startup Disk”
4. Select your destination drive and click “restart”
You Mac will now reboot from your Newley created “Clone Backup” Volume.

Booting from cloned image

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Mike Fiato

Technical Support at Prosoft Engineering Inc.

I have been working for Prosoft Engineering for 4 years by supporting our Mac & PC users with hard drive utilities and data recovery applications. My focus is continually updating our award-wining products with new versions, by listening to our customers and researching market conditions. I am seasoned high tech professional with 10 plus years of experience in hardware and software as a Technical Support Manager, Field Application Engineer and Product Manager. Specializing in Mac & PC workstation hardware/software support, performance computing, benchmarking, technical marketing and product sales training. I have attended numerous trade shows, provided technical onsite training , supported Tier 1 & 2 OEM's and have submitted performance workstations to SPEC.org for benchmarking verification results. My hands on approach has kept my experience diverse and relevant to the markets I support directly over the years. In addition to my experience listed I genuinely have a special interest in technical trends, advances in mass storage, data recovery, graphics cards and mobile computing. When I have time and can schedule it, I like to go low tech and visit the outdoors, lakes, rivers and oceans to fish for variety of species. I also enjoy traveling, remodeling my house, wood working and online FPS games. Having multiple hobbies is great way to disconnect from work and the everyday schedule to unwind and relax.

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