My Mac has died, options
Discussion
Not at the most convenient time what with this lock down.
Was hoping to get my accounts done and it's connected to so many things via gawd knows what because I bought it in 2011, so wouldn't know where to start.
It's connected to a third party hard drive via Time Machine but does this mean I'm tied to getting another expensive Mac.
It's only really used as a typewriter nowadays, accounts, web surfing, odd bit of YouTube.
Print stuff off for kids homework etc
Lots of pictures and video files backed up hopefully, but how to access them.
I have a ChromeBook at work and an iPad here with me at home.
Also, if I do have to get another Mac, will Time Machine literally turn it into an exact copy of my old one?
Cheers
Was hoping to get my accounts done and it's connected to so many things via gawd knows what because I bought it in 2011, so wouldn't know where to start.
It's connected to a third party hard drive via Time Machine but does this mean I'm tied to getting another expensive Mac.
It's only really used as a typewriter nowadays, accounts, web surfing, odd bit of YouTube.
Print stuff off for kids homework etc
Lots of pictures and video files backed up hopefully, but how to access them.
I have a ChromeBook at work and an iPad here with me at home.
Also, if I do have to get another Mac, will Time Machine literally turn it into an exact copy of my old one?
Cheers
My mother's 2011 iMac dies last year, took it into our local Mac specialist, a surge from lightning killed it. He was able to salvage the data on the hard drive etc, and she bought a refurbished one off them (2017 model) and the service included it all being set up, as exactly as it was before only a newer. larger model.
Seems the plug into the mains under the desk had half come out, no idea how.
But thanks for the answer re how the newer one was set up as this one is getting slower and slower. Lots of pinwheel moments when opening Word, Mail etc.
Still stands, is there a way to use the hard drive back up on a non Mac?
Ta.
But thanks for the answer re how the newer one was set up as this one is getting slower and slower. Lots of pinwheel moments when opening Word, Mail etc.
Still stands, is there a way to use the hard drive back up on a non Mac?
Ta.
How much data is there?
You should look at another means of backing up your machine in addition to time machine.
After all something might happen that damages both the mac and the time machine backup (fire, burglary, lightning)
options include:
- dropbox (or similar). Copy data to the cloud. As a bonus it'll then be accessible from any type of computer.
- Copy data to external USB drives. If you use several and leave one with a relative or at work then your data is much more secure. Update one drive and then swap with the offsite one periodically.
If you format your disk as exFAT then the backups will be readable on any machine.
If you don't have much data then a USB stick may provide enough space.
You should look at another means of backing up your machine in addition to time machine.
After all something might happen that damages both the mac and the time machine backup (fire, burglary, lightning)
options include:
- dropbox (or similar). Copy data to the cloud. As a bonus it'll then be accessible from any type of computer.
- Copy data to external USB drives. If you use several and leave one with a relative or at work then your data is much more secure. Update one drive and then swap with the offsite one periodically.
If you format your disk as exFAT then the backups will be readable on any machine.
If you don't have much data then a USB stick may provide enough space.
croyde said:
Seems the plug into the mains under the desk had half come out, no idea how.
But thanks for the answer re how the newer one was set up as this one is getting slower and slower. Lots of pinwheel moments when opening Word, Mail etc.
Still stands, is there a way to use the hard drive back up on a non Mac?
Ta.
Am sure you can copy the Word files and images off the Mac HDD onto another drive for use on a PC, and having taken a look at the Time Machine backups it would appear that you can copy those as well UNLESS you have encrypted the drive in which case you are stuffed.But thanks for the answer re how the newer one was set up as this one is getting slower and slower. Lots of pinwheel moments when opening Word, Mail etc.
Still stands, is there a way to use the hard drive back up on a non Mac?
Ta.
A friend of mine has said you can make a disk image of the drive which will make an exact copy, though I'm not to sure how to do that yet.
From what you have said and the age of the Mac it sounds like the internal HDD is dying so is probably a very good idea to make sure Time Machine has a recent backup, am pretty sure you can transfer the data stored on the Time Machine to another HDD but have never actually done it myself.
What I have done is replace the internal HDD for an SSD on my 2007 24" iMac which has given it a complete new lease of life and it's faster to boot (quite literally). Very nerve racking to do this but I did watch a few YouTube videos before embarking on the project!
What some other users on here have done is boot off an external SSD drive which is something I didn't know you could do, but in your case may be a good idea if you don't want to, or can't strip the thing down.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff