Macworld: Copying in OS 10.2 ...

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7 Replies Last post: Mar 17, 2004 9:08 AM by d00d

Larry_Plachno

103 posts since
Feb 10, 2003

Mar 16, 2004 6:52 PM

Copying in OS 10.2

Is there a trick to copying files and backing up in OS 10.2? In OS 9.2.2, I only have to move the file to another drive or put it into Toast. With OS 10.2, I keep getting error messages about certain files not copying properly and cannot seem to copy a CD in OS 10.2. Is there an answer to this?

Larry

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

1. Mar 16, 2004 6:59 PM

in response to: Larry_Plachno

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

What exactly are you trying to copy? System files generally don't respond well to attempts to be copied in OS X and the most successful method to do so would be to use Carbon Copy Cloner. To copy a CD, use Disk Copy to make a disk image of the CD and then burn that to a CD.

Larry_Plachno

103 posts since
Feb 10, 2003

2. Mar 17, 2004 5:23 AM

in response to: d00d

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

In OS 9.2.2 I can set up retrospect express to back up an entire computer to our backup comuter without any problems. With OS X, it does not want to back up certain files, particularly the operating system. Same problem when working on computers . . . I can effectively copy the OS 9.2.2 operating system from one drive to another, OS X will not copy properly. You mentioned Carbon Copy Cloner as a solution. Where do I find it and how do I use it? Better still, why does Apple want to create problems for us by doing this? We were better off with 9.2.2.

As far as CD's are concerned. Again, I have no problem with 9.2.2. I have made copies of OS CDs and game CDs so I can keep the originals safe and use the copies. However, OS X game and OS CDs do not want to copy properly. Where do I find Disk Copy and how to I use it?

Thanks

Larry

Grant_G

5,630 posts since
Jan 12, 2001

3. Mar 17, 2004 5:46 AM

in response to: Larry_Plachno

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

You're attempting to compare "Apples" to oranges, to make a very bad pun

. OS 9 and OS X are NOT the same thing at all. Apple has progressed well beyond the confines of the old OS 9 environment, and I hate to use another clich, but "get used to it."

Carbon Copy Cloner can be obtained here. As you can readily see, it is an OS X only utility. I also understand that newer versions of Retrospect will now properly handle OS X, so if you wish to stay with something familiar, give them a try. Lots of people prefer them to CCC, even with its added cost. But for my money, CCC is perfect and I have used it not only to back up, but to reverse clone back onto a drive that had gotten corrupted and had to be reformatted. Well worth its small shareware fee IMHO. Good luck to you!

G

DPG4450Guy

1,856 posts since
Sep 14, 2003

4. Mar 17, 2004 7:38 AM

in response to: Grant_G

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

it's Donationware, but help out Bombich anyway.

drmbb

2,353 posts since
Jun 14, 2001

5. Mar 17, 2004 8:23 AM

in response to: Larry_Plachno

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

What version of Retrospect Express are you using? I don't know much about the "express" version, but Retrospect, if using the most recent version, works fine with OS X (we use it nightly to back up several dozen workstations and xServes, all running OS X 10.3). Older versions of Retrospect will indeed fail to backup OS X systems properly.

Grant_G

5,630 posts since
Jan 12, 2001

6. Mar 17, 2004 8:31 AM

in response to: DPG4450Guy

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

You're right of course, but then, what is donationware but "uncrippled shareware," to use Bombich's own definition? And I wholeheartedly agree, donate. CCC is well worth it as are others of the "Bombich Collection."

G

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

7. Mar 17, 2004 9:08 AM

in response to: Larry_Plachno

Re: Copying in OS 10.2

In reply to:<hr />
Better still, why does Apple want to create problems for us by doing this? We were better off with 9.2.2.

<hr />

Apple doesn't want to create problems. Permissions generally keep users from hurting themselves. "What's this? I don't use it. <places vital system component in trash>" Those permissions also keep one from copying the OS directly. Also, Apple hid quite a few system directories (which CCC can see) so the same thing would happen. Having to use a small app to copy your OS is a small price to pay. Besides, OS X won't fit on a single CD for a typical install.

In reply to:<hr />
As far as CD's are concerned. Again, I have no problem with 9.2.2. I have made copies of OS CDs and game CDs so I can keep the originals safe and use the copies. However, OS X game and OS CDs do not want to copy properly. Where do I find Disk Copy and how to I use it?

<hr />

Disk Copy is in Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Copy. There's a command for "Make new image from device" if I remember correctly. The reason you can't just copy the items in a disk to copy them is there are many times hidden items. Game developers do that now to try to prevent rampant piracy. I've already explained why the OS does this. In fact, as I remember it, I had to use Toast and Disk Copy to do this back in OS 9 for many CDs I backed up. That's especially for OS CD backups which need to be "blessed" before it will be bootable.

Honestly, for my own backups, I use CCC and an external firewire drive. It's quick, complete, and efficient. Before I had the firewire drive, I simply backed up my documents. Whenever I reinstalled the OS (when upgrading to a new version), I erased the drive, installed the OS, my apps and then just restored my documents. Backing up everything wasn't really necessary.

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Mar 16, 2004 6:52 PM

Copying in OS 10.2

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