Techsurvivors
Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Raven on April 14, 2024, 11:45:05 AM
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I asked this last year and did not find a solution... My wife has a Mac mini OS 12.6.2. She uses Super Duper 3.7 to back up which is supposed to happen daily. Now she asked me again about upgrading to OS 14.
Last year, I tried to back up first using Super Duper, it said to "Convert to APFS". I tried, and it went all night long, so I had to Force Quit Super Duper next morning!
Now I tried to back up and upgrade again, but the same "Convert to APFS" came up.
I also checked her back up drive, and it looks like nothing has been backed up since the last upgrade to OS12. Ooops!
So, how to convert to APFS so we can upgrade?
Is there a way to upgrade without converting to APFS and NOT backing up first?
Makes me nervous to go that route.
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This article may refer to your situation: How to Upgrade to APFS if Not Done in macOS High Sierra Installer (https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/upgrade-mac-apfs-after-high-sierra/) even though your wife's OS is not precisely the same, but it may apply. Otherwise, look at this search page (https://duckduckgo.com/?kp=-1&q=convert+to+APFS+disk-utility+mac+11.7&ia=web)
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When I go to Disk Utility to try to convert to APFS, the EDIT menu only gives me ADD APFS volume? is this the correct option? I haven't been able to back up my wife's files on OS12.6, so I am a bit hesitant to make sure it's the right thing to do. Somewhere I read if I do it wrong it cannot be undone.
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Did you boot into Recovery Mode, as the article says, instead of simply launching Disk Utility while booted normally? I haven't tried this myself, so I'm just asking.
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Jchuzi,
When I read those links and comments, I see other people had problems with "reformat disk, reinstall OS, unmount drive, flashing folder". Wow! Is that the chance I have to take? That would totally create chaos as I would not know how to fix that.
Aside, if I upgrade my wife's Mac mini from OS12.7.4 to the latest OS14 Sonova, will that process automatically convert to APFS?
It's just that it seems I cannot back up using SuperDuper without having APFS first. Chicken or egg?
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Aside, if I upgrade my wife's Mac mini from OS12.7.4 to the latest OS14 Sonova, will that process automatically convert to APFS?
I believe that this is true. I suggest that you call Apple Tech Support to confirm it.
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When I go to Super Duper to back up, It says "APFS conversion required".
When I go to Disk Utility to do that, it shows Macintosh HD/Type - "APFS Start up Snapshot".
Has my internal drive already been converted to APFS?
When I go to Partition, it shows Format - APFS greyed out.
So why can I not back it up? It was supposed to back up daily with Super Duper, but there have no back ups for a year!
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Even more questions :Thinking: :confused:
In Disk Utility/EDIT it shows "ADD APFS Volume". Not "Convert".
Is that different?
If I go that route, will it matter?
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Please give us step-by-step actions you are taking to open Disk Utility.
1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?
5. Started Disk Utility
Add or leave out steps as needed.
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:toothgrin:1. clicked DU icon at bottom of screen.
2. DU window opens up
3. EDIT in menu bar brings this drop down field
As per image.
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I don't know what "screen" you are talking about. Is that the small screen you see after restarting in Recovery Mode? :Thinking:
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Mac Mini monitor screen.
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I can assume it is a screen on some kind of Mac. :p The important part of my question is the steps you take to get there. Specifically, "Is that the small screen you see after restarting in Recovery Mode". It is critical, when answering questions, to be as specific as possible, particularly when offered links and/or actions to take. John has asked you several questions (#2, #4, #6) but I cannot see any answers to most of them. :wallbash:
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Sorry for the delay to reply. I get confused when I start trying to fix this after reading numerous Apple community user comments. And I don't have access to my wife's Mac mini easily when I ask her not to use it for a while.
I had gone into Recovery Mode as jchuzi explained.
Then I double clicked the Disk Utility icon at the bottom of the Finder.
When I look at the DU window side bar, I see this list and I am not sure which one I should be selecting:
This is what I see from TOP down…
1. Apple SSD… media
2. Container Disk 3
3. MacIntosh HD - APFS Volume Group
4. MacIntosh HD - APFS System Volume APFS ( this line is greyed out)
5. MacIntosh HD - APFS Start up Snap shot
6. Data - APFS Data Volume APFS
7. Extra Volume - APFS Volume APFS (this line is all greyed out)
When I chose one (3.Mac HD - is that the right one?), and go to Menu Bar/Edit - it only shows "ADD APFS Volume". Yet Super Duper said to "CONVERT to APFS".
Then the message is the "conversion may fail and cannot be undone."
IF I ADD, where and how large of an addition? Every step seems to have another question. I'm sure this is simple for all you TS experts, it just makes me nervous to screw up my wife's Mac during the time she is preparing our income tax. Yadda. :unsure: :sweatingbullets:
And how do I know when I am in Recovery Mode or not?
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First of all, are you backing up to the same hard drive as the one with original data? Not very helpful unless all you are interested in is going back with Time Machine to a previous state. Otherwise if you have a problem with the hard drive you really have nothing, no backup at all. I backup to several external drives. They're cheap enough these days. :D
That said, it appears as though your drive is already APSF. When you are in DU, click on the View at the top so you see ALL Devices. Post a picture here of that with the listing down the left side. It will help us see just how your drive is divided. Your listing it helps but visual confirmation of which volume is subbed under which will further help.
If you have to convert a drive or volume to APSF do it within DU and not SuperDuper. SD is notorious for taking forever to do it and often fails. I tried once using SD, then gave up after a long period and then did it within DU very quickly. But really can't suggest action til actually see more about your drive setup. Can't suggest sizes etc til see actual drive size and what's available. However, I strongly advise getting external SSD drives and this problem would be mute. You'd just format externals (if SSD) as APFS and SD will comply in backing up.
:)
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I agree with Kris, if the choice of "Convert to APFS" is greyed out, that format is already functioning.
However, to answer your question: "And how do I know when I am in Recovery Mode or not?"
In my opinion, always use the complete Shutdown and startup process instead of the "Restart" function.
So:
1. Shutdown the Mac.
2. Wait 23 seconds.
3. Hold down the Command and the "R" key with one hand.
4. Press the power button with the other hand.
5. Be patient. Keep the Command and "R" key down.
6. You will probably see the Apple Logo pop up. However, it may only be brief.
Keep the Command and "R" key down.
7. You should now see a progress bar. There may not be an Apple logo at this point.
Keep the Command and "R" key down.
8. The progress bar may only get to about 20%. Keep the Command and "R" key down.
9. The short progress bar wil be replaced by another progress bar with the Apple Logo.
10. You can now release the Command and "R" key.
11. You will eventually see the following:
A. A black background screen
B. A smallish window with a list of four items:
a. Restore from Time Machine
b. Reinstall (an operating system)
c. Safari
d. Disk Utility
12. Click "Disk Utility" (either with a double-click or just once and then use the "Continue" button)
13. Select any Volume shown.
14. Select The Edit menu and see if the "Convert to AFPS" is allowed.
A. If it is allowed you can convert that Volume to AFPS.
B. If that option is greyed out, the Volume is already formatted as AFPS or it is damaged.
If you don't see the steps above through #11, you are NOT in Recovery mode.
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Here are screen shots. I may not have explained my issue properly. My apologies. Hope this info helps. In order of the images...
1. Super Duper showing my EHD that I am tying to back up to.
2. SD message which started me trying to "convert".
3. Disk Utility window showing EHD
4. Edit Menu with all APFS text greyed out. Where's the "convert" option?
5. EHD Get Info. Format is "Mac OS Extended". Oops, won't load any more images.
Is this what I am trying to convert?
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I'm not sure why SuperDuper says you have to convert the external to APFS other than this I found at the Shirt-Pocket website from Dave Nanian:
"Since the source is APFS, and there are features of APFS that cannot be replicated on HFS+, such as sparse files, it's wise to use the same format. It's not required, but, for example, a 2TB "sparse file" on the source that might only have 200K of data in it will take up 200K on the source and 2TB on the backup...and will be 2TB once restored, if you use HFS+."
That said, you may be able to keep the existing data as HFS+ and create a separate partition on the external that is APFS. This link explains with pictures how to do that (2nd choice).
https://recoverit.wondershare.com/harddrive-tips/convert-external-drive-to-apple-file-system-apfs-format.html (https://recoverit.wondershare.com/harddrive-tips/convert-external-drive-to-apple-file-system-apfs-format.html)
Some caveats: if your previous attempt to convert with SD failed, it may have corrupted the data presently on the EHD. You may have to erase the disk anyway and start from scratch. Not terrible if you only had a previous User Folder and nothing much else.
But once again, I recommend having more than one external bkup, one SSD with a complete clone, one for Time Machine or timed SD backups and one strictly for data that can be HFS+(OS extended) so it can be used with an older Mac OS if you have legacy machines.
Here is a thread at Shirt-Pocket that confirms my suggestion as well as another at Apple with similar thoughts:
https://www.shirt-pocket.com/forums/showthread.php?p=34675#post34675 (https://www.shirt-pocket.com/forums/showthread.php?p=34675#post34675)
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253532971?sortBy=best (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253532971?sortBy=best)
Hope this helps you get to your goal. :)
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OK, I think I finally understand the problem. It is not being unable to convert the computers volume to APFS. That was done when you updated to the OS, that was part of the install process whether you saw it or not.
The problem is with Super Duper and is known by that developer. I stopped using SD years ago and have no recent experience with it, so I'll leave the thread. :notworthy:
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Years ago, I switched from SuperDuper to Carbon Copy Cloner and have had no issues.