Time Machine Backups?

[pax-eterna]

I just want to create one backup to restore my MacOS 26 system to my own default startup, if I ever need it. I run separate data hard drives so do not need to back that up.

1.Is it possible using Time Machine to create one backup and then disable time machine?
2. Can I then use that backup once I re-install the OS via system restore and turn Time Machine on?

 

[Fishrrman]

You could use time machine to create a backup of your drive, but it only backs up your "personally-installed" apps, data, settings, account, etc.

The OS... the "system"... now resides in its own protected partition (Sealed System Volume) and I don't believe tm backs that up. It exists in its own world.

But...
I think you'd do better to do this:
1. Get TWO SSDs.
2. Use the first one to create a CLONED backup of your initial setup (use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper). Then disconnect it and put it into a drawer for safekeeping.
3. Use the second SSD (and CCC or SD) to maintain a "working backup" of your internal drive. Update it weekly, bi-weekly, or whenever. That will become a much more useful backup to you "in a moment of need".

 

[pax-eterna]

You could use time machine to create a backup of your drive, but it only backs up your "personally-installed" apps, data, settings, account, etc.

The OS... the "system"... now resides in its own protected partition (Sealed System Volume) and I don't believe tm backs that up. It exists in its own world.

But...
I think you'd do better to do this:
1. Get TWO SSDs.
2. Use the first one to create a CLONED backup of your initial setup (use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper). Then disconnect it and put it into a drawer for safekeeping.
3. Use the second SSD (and CCC or SD) to maintain a "working backup" of your internal drive. Update it weekly, bi-weekly, or whenever. That will become a much more useful backup to you "in a moment of need".

Thanks - I used to use "cloned" drives often back in the day (on Microsoft systems) but I thought they had really gone out of favour. I did like them as they allowed a total "snapshot" of a system drive.

My thoughts with this was that as the MacOS26 already has a re-install option built in, I only really needed a backup of installed files, but you have given me pause for thought!

I'll check out those apps you mentioned and look at a clone rather than a backup.

 

[Imac Sam]

Thanks - I used to use "cloned" drives often back in the day (on Microsoft systems) but I thought they had really gone out of favour. I did like them as they allowed a total "snapshot" of a system drive.

My thoughts with this was that as the MacOS26 already has a re-install option built in, I only really needed a backup of installed files, but you have given me pause for thought!

I'll check out those apps you mentioned and look at a clone rather than a backup.

Carbon Copy Cloner, is worth it. It has saved me in the past and once you purchase or upgrade it, you can run it on all of your machines without additional costs.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I just want to create one backup to restore my MacOS 26 system to my own default startup, if I ever need it. I run separate data hard drives so do not need to back that up.

1.Is it possible using Time Machine to create one backup and then disable time machine?
2. Can I then use that backup once I re-install the OS via system restore and turn Time Machine on?

Looks like Time Machine settings has this option:

I am a little puzzled because in checking this I found mine was set to "manually" but had been backing up every hour😐

 

[Bigwaff]

1.Is it possible using Time Machine to create one backup and then disable time machine?
2. Can I then use that backup once I re-install the OS via system restore and turn Time Machine on?

To specifically answer your questions -

1. @Mike Boreham answered. Set TM to manual.
2. Yes, you can use the one-time TM backup to restore the backed up files.

When most refer to macOS "clones", they are referring to "bootable clones". These are a thing of the past. Even CCC doesn't create a "bootable clone" anymore.

Bootable backups have been deprecated for several years - Bombich Software

bombich.com

 

[Imac Sam]

.....Even CCC doesn't create a "bootable clone" anymore....

That is incorrect. I just made one this morning as my backup regiment of my SSD to a spinning HD.

 

[throAU]

I just want to create one backup to restore my MacOS 26 system to my own default startup, if I ever need it. I run separate data hard drives so do not need to back that up.

1.Is it possible using Time Machine to create one backup and then disable time machine?
2. Can I then use that backup once I re-install the OS via system restore and turn Time Machine on?

In theory yes. You can do that.

But... why?

In reality by the time you want to restore that setup you'll want the updated apps (as whatever you had installed will be massively out of date) and the data will also be out of date - just restore that from iCloud or whatever backup you choose to use for data.

 

[svenmany]

That is incorrect. I just made one this morning as my backup regiment of my SSD to a spinning HD.








View attachment 2630109

Here's a pretty recent post discussing some of the subtleties:

https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-us/articles/20686422131479-Creating-legacy-bootable-copies-of-macOS

One quote at the very top:

Copying Apple's system is an Apple-proprietary endeavor; we can only offer "best effort" support for making an external bootable device on macOS.

And another quote that addresses the OP's actual situation of using a backup to restore things:

Please bear in mind that you can restore all of your documents, applications, and system settings from a standard CCC backup without the extra effort involved in establishing and maintaining a bootable device.

And this link has a section which discusses the procedure to use Migration Assistant and a CCC backup to restore the startup disk:

https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-us/articles/20686469175575-How-to-restore-from-your-backup

 

[PotentPeas]

CCC still supports bootable clones. (It was broken for a bit with Sequoia, 15.2 I think?)

You don't need that.

You can do a one-time Time Machine backup. It won't back up the system volume, but that's fine.

To restore, just do a disk wipe and macOS reinstall using the standard process, and then when Migration Assistant pops up, give it your Time Machine backup to restore from.

As long as the version of macOS that you reinstall is the same as or later than the one that you used to make your Time Machine backup, it will restore fine. If you want to be able to restore a specific version of macOS, go through the steps to grab the full installer for that version and prepare bootable USB install media.

 

[Imac Sam]

Here's a pretty recent post discussing some of the subtleties:

https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-us/articles/20686422131479-Creating-legacy-bootable-copies-of-macOS

One quote at the very top:



And another quote that addresses the OP's actual situation of using a backup to restore things:



And this link has a section which discusses the procedure to use Migration Assistant and a CCC backup to restore the startup disk:

https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-us/articles/20686469175575-How-to-restore-from-your-backup

I am currently using Intel Based machines at this time. I have M4 Pro MacBook Pro that I will have to try this on.