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since I have had problems with MacBook Pro updating the OS (twice) ( Big Sur), I am thinking of a backup protocol. The question is what to fellow Apple users thing is the best external drive to use with Time Machine application?

Since I have had problems with MacBook Pro updating the OS (twice) ( Big Sur), I am thinking of a backup protocol. The question is what to fellow Apple users thing is the best external drive to use with Time Machine application?

Posted on Mar 6, 2021 8:59 AM

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Posted on Mar 6, 2021 1:47 PM

OWC makes some nice Mercury drives with aluminum enclosures.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/storage


FYI, you should always have frequent & regular backups.


Are you trying to upgrade to Big Sur from macOS 10.15 or earlier? Or are you trying to install a patch for Big Sur?


You should try installing the upgrade or update while booted into Safe Mode.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 6, 2021 1:47 PM in response to SedonaZ

OWC makes some nice Mercury drives with aluminum enclosures.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/storage


FYI, you should always have frequent & regular backups.


Are you trying to upgrade to Big Sur from macOS 10.15 or earlier? Or are you trying to install a patch for Big Sur?


You should try installing the upgrade or update while booted into Safe Mode.

Mar 6, 2021 5:43 PM in response to HWTech

Thanks folks, I will look at OWC drives. The original question was prompted when I was notified a few weeks ago to leave Mac turned overnight so that upgrade to 12.2.?? could be done. The day after the update was done the Mac went to total battery mode and died at4:40pm. A contact to Apple support cleared up the problem by pressing an odd configuration of buttons to "OPEN SOME PORTS". The Mac came up and there were no further problems until 3-3 or 3-4 when I was notified to leave Mac up so update to OS 12.2.2 could be made. When I tried to access the Mac in the morning, the update had not been done and all I had was a BLACK screen. Another call to support. During this time of talk and me banging on mouse and pad, the Mac came up to there was an error in update. Support had me shut down and Mac tried several times to restart (about 5 times) until finally updating. SOOOO there was nothing I did incorrectly to cause the updates to go awry. I was just looking to find a way to backup system in case this would happen again and maybe I could recover my data if Mac decided to go South.

Thanks for the support, very good suggestions.

Mar 6, 2021 6:46 PM in response to SedonaZ

FYI, you should always have frequent and regular backups. While backups have always been important, backups are even more important when using an SSD since it is impossible to recover accidentally deleted data from an SSD after the Trash has been emptied plus an SSD can fail at any time without any warning signs. With many newer USB-C Macs it may not always be possible to recover data if the Mac has a hardware failure and many times that will involve an expensive professional data recovery service.


The more important the data the more backups/copies you should have since external drives can fail or become corrupt or damaged.


Good luck.


since I have had problems with MacBook Pro updating the OS (twice) ( Big Sur), I am thinking of a backup protocol. The question is what to fellow Apple users thing is the best external drive to use with Time Machine application?

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