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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: sluggo on November 28, 2019, 07:08:10 AM

Title: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: sluggo on November 28, 2019, 07:08:10 AM
I've had Catalina for a fair amount of time with no real problems. This morning I went to run Carbon Copy Cloner for the first time. I use an OWC Mercury Elite Pro FireWire drive for a back up disc.
CCC informs me this morning that "This backup will not be bootable. Apple no longer supports booting Mac OS Catalina+ from a FireWire device".
I can still back up to that Mercury but it won't be bootable.
What can I do now to have a bootable backup?
Title: Re: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: jchuzi on November 28, 2019, 07:15:10 AM
Probably, the only thing that you can do is to connect the backup drive to either USB or Thunderbolt.
Title: Re: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: sluggo on November 28, 2019, 07:19:58 AM
Probably, the only thing that you can do is to connect the backup drive to either USB or Thunderbolt.

Just did a little searching on CCC's site. Looks like I will indeed have to go to a USB drive. The current FW drive does have a USB 3.1 port. I'll have to investigate that a little further.
Edit: A little pawing through the "tech" junk drawer netted me a new in package "USB 3.0 A-B" cable. Even though the port on back of the drive says 3.1, I plugged it in, plugged the other end into the Mac Mini and we are currently backing up. No idea how long it will take, but it's better than having no bootable backup.
Title: Re: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: jchuzi on November 28, 2019, 07:39:34 AM
USB 3.0 is way faster than Firewire, so I don't think that you will be disappointed. The only caveat is that the Mini has to have USB 3.0 or faster (3.1 approaches Thunderbolt speeds). Otherwise, it will work but at  the maximum speed of the USB chip. Which model Mini do you have?
Title: Re: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: sluggo on November 28, 2019, 08:15:22 AM
USB 3.0 is way faster than Firewire, so I don't think that you will be disappointed. The only caveat is that the Mini has to have USB 3.0 or faster (3.1 approaches Thunderbolt speeds). Otherwise, it will work but at  the maximum speed of the USB chip. Which model Mini do you have?

I have a late 2012 Mini. I'm happy to report that the backup was completed with the "new" cable in just under 40 minutes.
Title: Re: No bootable backup in Catalina
Post by: jchuzi on November 28, 2019, 08:34:04 AM
 :clap: