External hard drive

[Dazzle]

At last, I have bought my self a hard drive to back up pics / music off my macbook, question is how do I do it, copy them drag them ?
step by step pls as I am a numpty with computers.

thanks Dazzle

 

[robroy]

Hi Dazzle,

What version of OS X are you using? If it's Leopard (the latest) you can use the built-in Time Machine backup functionality

These instructions look good.


Regards
Rob

 

[Dazzle]

No I have 10.4 Tiger, I had it long enough I really should know, but never do today what you can put off till tommorrow

 

[TaffyMc]

Hi Dazzle,

10.4 is before time machine but you can find instructions here on what to backup and how (important system files for example). It is fairly manual though in these days of automation so may not appeal.

Also check out this link which talks about freeware and some not so free-ware solutions for 10.4 for backing up all types of files on your mac automatically on a schedule.

TaffyMc.

 

[steveuk]

plug the hard drive in. drag and drop the files you want to store on it.

"eject" the hard drive by dragging the EXTERNAL hard drive icon over the trash icon...

don't drag you're "real" Macintosh hard drive into the trash........ that would be bad.

 

[Dazzle]

Cheers guys do I make a copy/duplicate of files and transfer that or transfer the original.

 

[steveuk]

drag the original.

the original will then remain on your computer and automaticaly a copy will be made on the external hard drive.