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OS X equivalent of Norton Ghost?

M

matt9b

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 23, 2008
71
0
Being told many times that I can do anything on OSX that I can do on Windows, I made the switch from PC to brand new Intel Mac Pro! =)

Now, I'd like to backup my hard disk. It has a Windows (bootcamp) partition and an OS X partition.

On a PC, this would be an easy one-click job with Norton Ghost. What is the equivalent of Ghost for Mac OS X? What can I use to backup my entire hard disk?

So, to re-iterate, I want to backup an entire physical hard disk that has a windows partiion and an OS X partition. I'd like to back it up to another physical hard disk. This way I have 2 identical hard disks and can just swap them over in the event of failure.

I don't want to mess around with copying a partition at a time, since this will be a quick regular backup, I want a simple and reliable software like Norton Ghost to do the job for me.

How can you do this on OS X?

And please don't tell me there is no way to do it, because I'm tired of mac fanboys insisting that OS X can do anything, and then finding out many things that are simple on PC are "not possible" on OS X. Its making me a bit peed off with the fanboys!

Here's hoping there's a simple solution to this one! :)

Thanks
 
You can do that with Time Machine for the OS X partition (Just swap the HD after the Time Machine backup and then plug the external HD with the Time Machine backup and restore from there and it would be the same.)

For the XP partition... It's not possible with Time Machine. I'm also looking for a solution since I'm looking to replace the HD on my MacBook.
 
You could try CopyCatX.
Never used it myself (don't give a toss about my BootCamp partition to be honest :D), but their website talks about the ability to backup OSX as well as Windows. So how smooth it works I couldn't tell you.
 
Lone Deranger said:
You could try CopyCatX.
Never used it myself (don't give a toss about my BootCamp partition to be honest :D), but their website talks about the ability to backup OSX as well as Windows. So how smooth it works I couldn't tell you.
Click to expand...

"When set to duplicate volumes, CopyCatX can only work with Apple’s HFS+ file system format. "
 
To back up your Mac OS partition, you can use Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper.

To back up your Windows partition, you can use WinClone.

So to backup a Mac with a HFS+ and NTFS partition, I would do the following:

1. Connect the external HD via FW800 that I am going to use for backup.
2. Use CCC to clone the internal Mac partition (HFS+) to the external HD.
3. Use WinClone to create an image of the NTFS partition and save the image file to the external HD.


Personally, I use CCC and WinClone almost weekly due to my job. Both work great. YMMV. :)
 
matt9b said:
So, to re-iterate, I want to backup an entire physical hard disk that has a windows partiion and an OS X partition. I'd like to back it up to another physical hard disk. This way I have 2 identical hard disks and can just swap them over in the event of failure.

I don't want to mess around with copying a partition at a time, since this will be a quick regular backup, I want a simple and reliable software like Norton Ghost to do the job for me.

How can you do this on OS X?
Click to expand...

Use superduper. it's free.
 
ncmason said:
I use iBackup:

http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/

It's free and a very handy app!
Click to expand...
iBackup is a good app.

However, there is an important difference between iBackup and cloning a HD. Carbon Copy Cloner and Super Duper make clones of the HD. So if I make a clone with Carbon Copy Cloner (my preferred app) to an external HD. And my internal HD dies. I can immediately boot with my external HD.

With iBackup, I cannot do this.
 
@Sushi,
I'm well aware of this. I don't have the need, currently, for a cloned drive.

I just use iBackup to copy personal files (Photos, Documents, and Sites).

I'm actually about to start trying out some new backup methods — the new online backup services are becoming a lot more promising now.

But, yes, I would definitely get CCC for cloning your Mac's HD. I like the developer who made the app, he's a good guy :D
 
ncmason said:
@Sushi,
I'm well aware of this. I don't have the need, currently, for a cloned drive.
Click to expand...
Sorry. My comments were directed to the OP and not you.

ncmason said:
I just use iBackup to copy personal files (Photos, Documents, and Sites).

I'm actually about to start trying out some new backup methods — the new online backup services are becoming a lot more promising now.
Click to expand...
I've tried iBackup and it works fine for what you mention.

If you are interested in on-line backup, that works similar to iBackup, you might want to check out Carbonite. I've been using it for about a month. Like it.

ncmason said:
But, yes, I would definitely get CCC for cloning your Mac's HD. I like the developer who made the app, he's a good guy :D
Click to expand...
Completely agree.
 
matt9b said:
Being told many times that I can do anything on OSX that I can do on Windows, I made the switch from PC to brand new Intel Mac Pro! =)

Now, I'd like to backup my hard disk. It has a Windows (bootcamp) partition and an OS X partition.

On a PC, this would be an easy one-click job with Norton Ghost. What is the equivalent of Ghost for Mac OS X? What can I use to backup my entire hard disk?

So, to re-iterate, I want to backup an entire physical hard disk that has a windows partiion and an OS X partition. I'd like to back it up to another physical hard disk. This way I have 2 identical hard disks and can just swap them over in the event of failure.

I don't want to mess around with copying a partition at a time, since this will be a quick regular backup, I want a simple and reliable software like Norton Ghost to do the job for me.

How can you do this on OS X?

And please don't tell me there is no way to do it, because I'm tired of mac fanboys insisting that OS X can do anything, and then finding out many things that are simple on PC are "not possible" on OS X. Its making me a bit peed off with the fanboys!

Here's hoping there's a simple solution to this one! :)

Thanks
Click to expand...

If a PC had an OS X formatted partition on it could Norton Ghost copy it?
 
StingerT125 said:
If a PC had an OS X formatted partition on it could Norton Ghost copy it?
Click to expand...

That was the question I had too

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
StingerT125 said:
If a PC had an OS X formatted partition on it could Norton Ghost copy it?
Click to expand...

Interesting idea. I would expect so, since I think norton ghost can use a low level raw copy, which doesn't depend on file structure - but I don't know for certain.

I still have not found a solution to the original issue, and none of the suggestions here really address the real issue - part of the problem is that most mac users don't seem to fully understand. iBackup does not do the trick, and neither does any other software suggested on here. CCC does not clone a win partition. WinClone I tried, but it has not made the win partition bootable on startup. The developers won't reply to emails.

So, still searching...
 
matt9b said:
Interesting idea. I would expect so
Click to expand...

I am gonna guess not... I don't believe you can do what you are asking on the Mac side on the Windows side either (i.e. clone both OS partitions at the same time). Perhaps someone can validate this, but regardless, I don't think you will find what you are looking for on the Mac, at least not yet.

You will have to back up/clone the 2 partitions separately, and you have been given solutions to do that with Carbon Copy Cloner/Super Duper and WinClone. If you want a bootable clone of your Windows partition, perhaps you can run Ghost from BootCamp to another Windows formatted drive. I don't have a need for this, so I have not attempted it.

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
I've used dd to clone hundreds of drives, don't see why it wouldn't work in this situation.
 
tekio said:
I've used dd to clone hundreds of drives, don't see why it wouldn't work in this situation.
Click to expand...

I think the OP is looking for a software solution with a simple UI, not Unix command line solutions, but I won't speak for the OP. He/she can answer for him/herself.

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
SuperDuper is the way to go! It is easy and quick but powerful if you know how to do some extra steps within it. The Paid version gives you the ability to schedule backups too so worth it if you want that aspect.
 
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