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Question

External Hard Drive

Jun 29, 2016 9:41AM PDT

Hi there, I have an i mac and recently upgraded from Lepeord and then again to El Capitan in quick succession. I back up using a WD Student external hard drive. Since the change of OS I can no longer restore anything further back than the end of January 2016. Would appreciate any help I can get for the reason for this. With thanks. Victoria

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Have you ask anyone in school...
Jun 29, 2016 8:03PM PDT

that might know how the system work?

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External Hard Drive
Jun 30, 2016 1:14AM PDT

I don't need insults, just a bit of help. Thank you. Victoria

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Sorry, you take it that way.
Jun 30, 2016 8:01AM PDT

That was not my intent.

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External Hard Drive
Jun 30, 2016 8:31AM PDT

That's OK but I still don't understand the referance to school. Thanks Victoria.

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Maybe
Jun 30, 2016 8:55AM PDT

It's that Student word in your post?

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It's my misunderstanding of your question.
Jun 30, 2016 11:59AM PDT

I thought it has something to do with the school system. Again, sorry.

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Answer
Re: restore
Jun 30, 2016 2:28AM PDT

- Can you give the time schedule. "Recently" and "then again" don't really tell much in relation to "end of January 2016".
- What program for backup did you use in Leopard?
- What program for restore do you use now?
- What error or error message do you get when you want to restore such a older file?

Post was last edited on June 30, 2016 2:29 AM PDT

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External Hard Drive
Jun 30, 2016 8:50AM PDT

Hi Kees-B, thanks for reply. I've only ever used Time Machine to restore from hard disk. This problem only started when I upgraded to Yosemite last year. I then upgraded to El Capitan in the hope that it would solve the problem. I go into Time Machine and can restore anything I want but I cannot go back further than the end of January this year. I can't even use the side bar to go back but have to keep clicking on the top of the image to go back, when it gets to the end of January it stops and everything greys out.
Thanks Victoria.

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Answer
You just made my case for non proprietary backups.
Jun 30, 2016 8:18AM PDT

There's a saying by CNET moderators that goes "We only lose what we don't backup." but that doesn't cover the issue of proprietary backup systems.

Also it doesn't cover the last copy issue. If you want to backup, you would do so to TWO locations at a minimum. One backup is not enough if you must be sure. Also, if the backup is with a proprietary method, it's also in danger when it comes time to restore.

-> But what to do if you have an iffy situation like this? In this case and I'm guessing that Apple's Time Machine was used. For that you would not delay and ask Apple directly.

Post was last edited on June 30, 2016 9:29 AM PDT

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Externa Hard Drive
Jun 30, 2016 9:05AM PDT

Hiya, thanks for reply. I'm not quite sure what a proprietary method is unless it's a branded hard drive and I can't think why I would need to back up twice. There are reasons why I need to get back further. I will explain. When I upgraded to Yosemite I restored all my files from this WD hard drive. Everything went fine and all my files were sitting just where they should be but there is one big problem. In 2012 I bought Adobe Suite CS4 and I bought it on line when I bought my I mac. I had no problems with this until I upgraded and now I cannot open the suite. I cannot even uninstall it as the originals are way back in the hard drive. I have checked the drive in disk utility and all seems to be fine so I presumed it was Time Machine. Tried to get help from Apple online which was a waste of time so went down to Apple's flag ship store in London three times and the only answer I could get was "well it should be working and I don't think we can help" which is why I've ended up on forums in the hope that someone might be able to. Thanks Victoria.

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Time machine is proprietary.
Jun 30, 2016 9:33AM PDT

And you've fallen into a tough spot where you have to use your other backups. A single backup is rarely good enough (in my opinion never good enough) for backups.

This is usually how folk learn what good backups are. Time Machine is OK but when it fails you know to turn to classic backup systems.

As to CS4, I've read folk explode over losing it in situations like this. That's why you keep your installs and keys on backups that are non-proprietary.