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3.) I just don't see how anyone could download 8GB unless they are at home and can leave their Internet connection on for a day or two?!


I could probably download 8 gb in under 3 minutes, probably less. Internet has come a long way. haha.
 
I'm getting stressed again... :(


So if I download either Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper, then they will easily make a bootable "clone" of my new MacBook Pro and save it either in DVD or USB drive??

And to clarify, a bootable "clone", is something I could pop into my new MacBook pro with a new HDD, and I would get a prompt, click on stuff, and have a completely re-built laptop with Mountain Lion and Apps all ready to go, just like my original computer??

Does that sound right??


Debbie
 
100 MB/s or 100 Mb/s down? I just visited the site and the biggest number they mention is 175 Mb/s, which is less than 22 MB/s, which is still plenty of fast. Many USB 2.0 flash memory thumb drives are slower.

MB/s and Mb/s has always confused me, sorry.

It's 100 Mb/s. I may have exaggerated slightly, but it certainly doesn't take a day. I've downloaded files that big a few times and it's seemed pretty damn quick.

To be conservative I'd go with maybe 10 minutes to download it, but then again I've never timed it.


I did the math and I guess it would take 1.5 minutes per gb at 100 mb/s. So for 8 gb's that would be 12 minutes. Not 3 but not too bad ;)
 
simsaladimbamba,

Where do I have to go online to download Mountain Lion?

What is involved?

Will I get stuck paying $20?

Can I do a download over my secure AT&T Hotspot? (Everyone mentioned Wi-Fi before...)

Do I download it like any other file, or do I have to download it to a special location or do anything special?


What about using an Apple Store? Ask an employee for help, they offer this service and they probably have an updated version already lying around.

You think they'd actually help me out for free and at least download it?

(Personally, I have never had anything but horrible experiences with rude Apple people at the stores...)

Sincerely,


Debbie
 
I'm getting stressed again... :(


So if I download either Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper, then they will easily make a bootable "clone" of my new MacBook Pro and save it either in DVD or USB drive??

And to clarify, a bootable "clone", is something I could pop into my new MacBook pro with a new HDD, and I would get a prompt, click on stuff, and have a completely re-built laptop with Mountain Lion and Apps all ready to go, just like my original computer??

Does that sound right??


Debbie

Not really.

You have the OS and probably your data residing on your internal HDD.
Then you use cloning software like CCC or SD to make a 1:1 copy of the internal HDD to an external HDD (a DVD will not work and a USB flash memory thumb drive might be too small and slow).
If you do this regularly (once a day, can be setup via scheduling options in both CCC and SD) and your internal HDD crashes, you then restart your Mac and hold down the OPTION key to get to the boot selection screen to select which volume (internal or external HDD (the external HDD needs to be connected for this)) you want to boot from.
Since the internal HDD crashed or got corrupted, selecting the internal HDD on that screen (if it shows up) will probably work, but you will not be able to boot from it.
Therefore you select the external HDD (the one you cloned to your internal HDD regularly) and press ENTER.
After a minute or two, you will have a fully functioning computer only limited by the interface (USB 2.0 is quite slow, but workable) and then can either try to repair the internal HDD (if it just got corrupted) and format it and then clone the external HDD back to the internal HDD (or a new internal HDD if you had to replace the internal HDD).
While the cloning software does that, you can go on doing stuff you normally do with your Mac.
After the cloning is done, you restart your Mac, hold down the OPTION key again and select the internal HDD to boot from.
Once you verified via looking everywhere you think is important (bookmarks, photos and ...) that the cloning process was successful, you go on working with your new or repaired internal HDD and continue regularly backing up to the external HDD.

Writing this post has taken me longer than to restart a Mac and selecting the external HDD to boot from and booting from the external HDD and reformatting the internal HDD.

Anyway, was the above understandable? And since you use computers, do you backup your valuable data?
 
I'm getting stressed again... :(


So if I download either Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper, then they will easily make a bootable "clone" of my new MacBook Pro and save it either in DVD or USB drive??

And to clarify, a bootable "clone", is something I could pop into my new MacBook pro with a new HDD, and I would get a prompt, click on stuff, and have a completely re-built laptop with Mountain Lion and Apps all ready to go, just like my original computer??

Does that sound right??

Debbie
I'm suggesting keeping a bootable clone HDD or (even better) SSD with you. If you were to put an SSD in the laptop, and have a second HDD/SSD clone that is updated regularly, you could swap in the other HDD/SSD and boot up to the exact same system you had before, all programs and files intact.

One way is to physically swap the internal drive. It would only take you the few minutes required to unscrew the back, unscrew the drive bracket, swap disks and put back together.

The other way is to get a USB3 enclosure like this one that is bus-powered, and contains your clone. Then, you can just plug in the clone via USB3 and boot from that until you have time/good place to swap the internal drive.

I have this external drive with an SSD clone myself. It's great, because it's SSD-fast and requires no extra power, just the USB3 cord. $38 for an empty enclosure and peace of mind.
 
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MB/s and Mb/s has always confused me, sorry.

It's 100 Mb/s. I may have exaggerated slightly, but it certainly doesn't take a day. I've downloaded files that big a few times and it's seemed pretty damn quick.

To be conservative I'd go with maybe 10 minutes to download it, but then again I've never timed it.


I did the math and I guess it would take 1.5 minutes per gb at 100 mb/s. So for 8 gb's that would be 12 minutes. Not 3 but not too bad ;)

No problems. I just was curios, but still, 100 Mb/s is still plenty of fast for many people, I have around 10 Mb/s and am still astonished by the speed.

----------

simsaladimbamba,

Where do I have to go online to download Mountain Lion?
You use a Mac running Mac OS X 10.6.6 at least and use the Mac App Store (MAS).

What is involved?
A Mac, with 10.6.6 at least (or Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion), the Mac App Store (MAS) and yourself.

Will I get stuck paying $20?
Not if you have purchased a Mac, that came with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and can prove it via receipt it came with it and have registered the Mac with your Apple ID.

Can I do a download over my secure AT&T Hotspot? (Everyone mentioned Wi-Fi before...)
Yes. As long as there is an internet connection, it does not matter how, except the requirements I posted above, twice.

Do I download it like any other file, or do I have to download it to a special location or do anything special?
Once in the MAS, you select to download it and then it will download to the Applications folder like normal. Once the download is complete, it prompts you to install OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, do not do that and save the downloaded file as described here.

You think they'd actually help me out for free and at least download it?
They offered it for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, and again, if you prove the successful purchase of a Mac with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion on it, you can download it for free. But again, the Mac needs to be registered to your Apple ID and the same Apple ID has to be used to login to the MAS.

(Personally, I have never had anything but horrible experiences with rude Apple people at the stores...)
They are just people, sometimes as ignorant and arrogant and rude as anyone else. Sometimes they are just as nice as almost anyone can be. Be cordial and nice and smile and get a person you think you might like and then it should all happen quite well.

At least that is my attitude and it helped me a lot, only here I can be quite an arse.
 
simsaladimbamba,

Sorry for being such a pain today. I have lots going on in my life, including getting ready to switch laptop and operating systems.

It probably also doesn't help that I haven't eaten since yesterday, but am trying to be coherent before you leave today.


Not really.

You have the OS and probably your data residing on your internal HDD.

Actually, I am just interested in getting a copy of Mountain Lion to make a bootable DVD/USB, or - in this case - make a clone of my virgin MacBook Pro so, in essence, I have a bootable external HDD, if you follow me?!


Then you use cloning software like CCC or SD to make a 1:1 copy of the internal HDD to an external HDD (a DVD will not work and a USB flash memory thumb drive might be too small and slow).

Right. (Sorry, that is my starvation kicking in.)


If you do this regularly (once a day, can be setup via scheduling options in both CCC and SD) and your internal HDD crashes, you then restart your Mac and hold down the OPTION key to get to the boot selection screen to select which volume (internal or external HDD (the external HDD needs to be connected for this)) you want to boot from.

Since the internal HDD crashed or got corrupted, selecting the internal HDD on that screen (if it shows up) will probably work, but you will not be able to boot from it.

Therefore you select the external HDD (the one you cloned to your internal HDD regularly) and press ENTER.

After a minute or two, you will have a fully functioning computer only limited by the interface (USB 2.0 is quite slow, but workable) and then can either try to repair the internal HDD (if it just got corrupted) and format it and then clone the external HDD back to the internal HDD (or a new internal HDD if you had to replace the internal HDD).

How does that compare to Time Machine for backup purposes?

(Again, my goal with the cloning is to just make a backup, so I can restore my virgin MacBook Pro if/when I install a new HDD or have a HDD crash. And, specifically, I will need to do this because I will immediately be replacing the installed 5400RMP 750GB HDD with my own Segate 7200RPM 750GB HDD.)


Writing this post has taken me longer than to restart a Mac and selecting the external HDD to boot from and booting from the external HDD and reformatting the internal HDD.

Sorry.


Anyway, was the above understandable?

I think so. (I suppose all of this will make more sense when I have my new laptop in front of me?!)


I have an external USB enclosure for a 2.5" HDD, but I'm not sure of the speed.

Since I just need to clone my new MBP, so I can install a new HDD, does the speed really matter for this one off thing?


And since you use computers, do you backup your valuable data?

I use Time Machine maybe every other week. (Yeah, I know, it should be more often. But it isn't practical for me to dig out my external HDD of my car and do a back every day. I do things more frequently after doing anything important, of course.)

Thanks for all of the help so far!!!

Sincerely,


Debbie
 
At least that is my attitude and it helped me a lot, only here I can be quite an arse.

No, you and everyone else here on MacRumors have been FABULOUS!!! :apple:

Thanks for all of the patience and help.

I need to sleep on things, but would say I am ready to upgrade to a new 13" classic MacBook Pro with a conventional HDD.

Hopefully after I remember the buying process and registration process, a lot of what we talked about today will make more sense?!

Sincerely,


Debbie

----------

I'm suggesting keeping a bootable clone HDD or (even better) SSD with you. If you were to put an SSD in the laptop, and have a second HDD/SSD clone that is updated regularly, you could swap in the other HDD/SSD and boot up to the exact same system you had before, all programs and files intact.

One way is to physically swap the internal drive. It would only take you the few minutes required to unscrew the back, unscrew the drive bracket, swap disks and put back together.

The other way is to get a USB3 enclosure like this one that is bus-powered, and contains your clone. Then, you can just plug in the clone via USB3 and boot from that until you have time/good place to swap the internal drive.

I have this external drive with an SSD clone myself. It's great, because it's SSD-fast and requires no extra power, just the USB3 cord. $38 for an empty enclosure and peace of mind.

Thanks for the suggestions and link!


Debbie
 
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