SuperDuper! can't see ExFAT and FAT32 volumes?

[baryon]

So I'm trying to find a simple backup solution and it seems like it's not that simple. I've given SuperDuper! a try and it just simply won't see any of my ExFAT volumes. It doesn't even see FAT32 volumes. It can only see HFS+ and APFS.

Is this normal? I can't imagine modern software intentionally not supporting common file systems. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?

It's ironic how everyone's talking about how we should always backup our data yet backup software either doesn't work or costs a lot of money (and still doesn't work in my experience).

Time Machine only backs up one volume,
BackupBuddy is a piece of junk,
SuperDuper! doesn't support the most common file systems in the universe,

I'm running out of options here!

 

[chown33]

Try putting the backup on a new Disk Image that you place on the ExFAT volume. If it were me, I'd make the dmg either a sparse image or a sparse bundle, if it allows you to choose such options.

If that works, well, it's a work-around, not an ideal solution. I'd probably ask on the vendor's website:
https://www.shirt-pocket.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I've given SuperDuper! a try and it just simply won't see any of my ExFAT volumes. It doesn't even see FAT32 volumes. It can only see HFS+ and APFS.
Is this normal?"

I could be wrong, but I believe that IS "normal" for SuperDuper.
SuperDuper is a Mac application, and it probably expects the drives you wish to clone will be in a "Mac format" -- HFS+

You might try downloading CarbonCopyCloner (FREE to download and use for 30 days), and see if it behaves any differently.

What follows is my opinion only:
If you have Mac files that you value, DO NOT keep them on "Windows-formatted" drives such as exFAT.
Use a Mac format instead -- HFS+ with journaling enabled.
Things just go better that way.

 

[baryon]

What follows is my opinion only:
If you have Mac files that you value, DO NOT keep them on "Windows-formatted" drives such as exFAT.
Use a Mac format instead -- HFS+ with journaling enabled.
Things just go better that way.

I think the OS I use has little to do with the file system on my portable hard drives. Portable hard drives are often shared with people. Those people may use Windows (statistically very likely), I have no control over that. Using ExFAT means I don't have to care about what system other people use, because everyone can read/write to it.

Even Apple's own Time Machine can backup FAT32, ExFAT, and NTFS volumes, and Time Machine is really the least feature-rich backup solution there is. I think anything you'd pay for should at least do what Time Machine does and more, not less.

I now bought "Get Backup Pro 3" and it seems pretty cool! It's very cheap and does quite a lot!