Backup to a Disk Drive

Backup allows you to backup your files to any internal or external hard disk drive connected to your Mac, including USB and FireWire devices. Backing up to a hard disk is the fastest way to archive large amounts of data. Your storage capacity is only limited by the size of the disk you backup to.

Tip

It's a good idea to backup your data to a different disk drive than the one it's on because many data-loss disasters happen to an entire disk at one time.

1.	From the pop-up menu, choose Back up to Drive.
2.	Checkmark items in the backup list that you want to back up.
3.	Click the "Set" button (above) to specify a backup location. A sheet slides down (right) prompting you to create a new backup file, or chooose to open an existing backup. The backup file you create (or open) is a special file (shown on the right)not just a folder of copies of files. To open a Backup file, use Backup's Restore function (page 316).
4.	If you click the "Create" button, a drop-down sheet prompts you to choose a location for your backup file (below-left). Type a name for the backup file in the "Save As" field. Click "Create" (below-right) to continue.
5.	Click "Backup Now" to start the process.