Mojave bootable backup permissions problem

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Level 1

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Mojave bootable backup permissions problem

I've got a Mac Pro 5.1 running Mojave 10.14.6, and I'm trying to create a bootable backup on a partition on another of my five internal drives (one of the reasons I went with the Mac Pro 5.1 so many years ago) using Intego's Personal Backup. But I get the same message, over and over, saying that I don't have permission.

Sure enough, the Mojave 10.14.6 partition's info doesn't even mention my user name, instead referring to System (with read and write permissions) and Wheel and, lastly, everyone. Those last two groups have

"read only" permission. (At least I found out what "Wheel" was all about . . . though I have no idea why it showed up on my Mojave partition.)

For some reason, that permission problem flew under my radar until now, seven years after I installed Mojave.

Q. Is there a way I can change the permissions to insert myself onto the list? I mean, I'm THE administrator of the Mac Pro, and have been for nearly 13 years.

OR . . . is there a way to create a bootable backup despite the permissions problem?

For what it's worth, I'm trying to back up Mojave and then *maybe* install a Linux distro on a free partition. (That's another kettle of fish, for sure.)

Posted on Sep 14, 2025 5:33 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

68,210 points

Sep 14, 2025 5:58 PM in response to nath261

If you want a bootable clone, then use Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC). I've never had an issue using it. Besides being able to make a bootable clone of a macOS boot drive, it is also able to perform backups, can make copying & archiving data into compressed read-only DMG archive files very easy (including a bootable clone image). Plus CCC can access & copy items associated with a different user because CCC will prompt you for your admin password.

The permissions issue you are encountering may be due to using different macOS user accounts, or rather more specifically, the macOS user accounts on the two boot drives are using different User IDs (every macOS user account is given a UserID....it is usually the UserID which is critical especially when accessing data on another boot drive). The first created user is assigned a UserID of 501, the second macOS user created will be UserID 502, etc.

I would be very careful changing permissions on another boot drive.

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Answer 2

nath261 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 16, 2025 7:40 AM in response to HWTech

I used CCC in trial mode, and it managed just fine in making a bootable copy of my Mojave partition. That means I can use the SSD I had other bootable partitions on for a Linux install if I decide to try that.

Still, the change in permissions for my Mojave drive and its clone are bothersome. You may be right about the UserID thing, but all my partitions and bootable partitions were created using my user account. And none of the other bootable drives/partitions on any of my HDDs or SSDs in my Mac Pro have permissions anything like that. I'm noted as the administrator having read/write permission on every such boot-up except Mojave. I don't understand how it came to be that Apple effected that change.

But the bootable clone created by CCC worked, which is good, and, I expect, the best I can expect.

Thanks again for your help, HWTech.

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Answer 3

nath261 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2025 7:25 PM in response to HWTech

I've downloaded CCC 5, and it's doing it's thing. 40 GB into the clone. So far, so good.

I hope to have good things to report later!

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Answer 4

nath261 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2025 6:34 PM in response to HWTech

Thanks, HWTech.

I tracked down the dmg I have for CCC (I save all manner of things), but I'm guessing it's not very useable since it's version 3.2.1 from 2009! So I'll track down the latest version that will work with Mojave. I haven't had problems with Personal Backup from Intego before, and have often booted into my Snow Leopard OS to use older Adobe apps, no problem. I don't think the problem I've encountered can be pinned on Personal Backup, but I don't have any problem with getting another cloning app, especially one of CCC's pedigree!

But I think I read of problems others have had with permissions in Mojave. Still, the problem is new to me since I just encountered it yesterday, and there really are so many things I don't know about various Mac OS iterations. I've stuck with Mojave the longest--after all, with my hardware, I can't upgrade to anything newer than Mojave--but I'm glad I have a Snow Leopard partition (as well as the original disc from Apple).

My user account is the only one I use, though I did create another user name and password years ago just in case something strange happened. I can't remember the last time I used it, though. But I can see how different user IDs might be confusing.

Anyway, if CCC actually lets me create the bootable backup Mojave drive, I'll let you know!

Thanks again!

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