macOS file backup and restore question.

[Louis Photo]

Hi there, I'm in the process of downgrading my iMac from Mojave to High Sierra. I don't have an earlier backup(I upgraded from Yosemity to Mojave). I now want to make a backup of certain folders, NOT backup the complete disk. This is my question: Can I drag over the Macintosh HD/user, applications and library folders to a backup disk, and once my new High Sierra is installed just drag the three folders back into the same place? Thanks!

 

[thehuman]

I would copy important files to a external harddrive

 

[Louis Photo]

I would copy important files to a external harddrive

Thanks. All my important data, RAW files and LR catalogues is safely stored on externals.
Do you know if I save the Macintosh HD/user, applications and library folders to a backup disk, and when my new OS is installed, if can drag the three folders back into the same place? Will all my applications still work without having to reinstall anything?

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

Thanks. All my important data, RAW files and LR catalogues is safely stored on externals.
Do you know if I save the Macintosh HD/user, applications and library folders to a backup disk, and when my new OS is installed, if can drag the three folders back into the same place? Will all my applications still work without having to reinstall anything?

Some apps would work fine. Some won't. The ones that install libraries to other locations might not work.

 

[Louis Photo]

Some apps would work fine. Some won't. The ones that install libraries to other locations might not work.

Thanks for the reply. Even if I save the library and user folders together with the applications folder?

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

Thanks for the reply. Even if I save the library and user folders together with the applications folder?

That might work. I've never tested that before.

Just remember there is a library folder within the system folder as well.

 

[Arthur]

If I had a Mac this is what I'd use. It's been a lifesaver on my PCs since 2003. Acronis True Image. Works on Windows and Mac.

 

[SauRoNZA]

You Home Folder you can safely move (and it's associated hidden Library folder).

Applications you'll have some success with, but I wouldn't replace any files that exist in the older OS path as you will have **** then.

The main System Library I wouldn't move into the new system, but I would back it up in case you want to pull select things out of there as you'll likely have some issues with licenced applications that use installers.

Can I ask why you wouldn't use Time Machine for this? It will take any gamble out of the matter.

 

[SauRoNZA]

If I had a Mac this is what I'd use. It's been a lifesaver on my PCs since 2003. Acronis True Image. Works on Windows and Mac.

There is no reason to use anything other than Time Machine which is built in.

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

There is no reason to use anything other than Time Machine which is built in.

Yeah but he wants to downgrade his machine.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Also why on earth would you want to go back to High Sierra which is now three version old and cut yourself off from the world effectively?

I could understand being reluctant about upgrading to Catalina, but I can't see why anyone would want to go three versions back.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yeah but he wants to downgrade his machine.

Yes but you can still just pull the files across out of Time Machine, no need to make a new backup.

Also no sense in downgrading to begin with.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Thanks for the reply. Even if I save the library and user folders together with the applications folder?

Replacing the Library folder inside the Home folder is reasonably fine.

Replacing the System Library folder in it's entirety from a much older version with the Library of a much newer version is going to fail hard and likely in not such obvious ways hence why I said back it up and have it at hand so you can possibly pull stuff across on a file by file basis, but don't replace the entire thing that is looking for trouble.

Your Application Support and Preferences folders are the only things inside the System Library that I would consider moving back onto an old version and that I would be VERY selective about and do as a last resort only.

Time Machine + Migration Assistant could potentially work as well, but I'm not sure if it will be happy going back with such an old version but it might.

Again I ask what your motivation is for downgrading, because likely without a fresh install you are in for a bit of trouble worse than the reason you are thinking of downgrading.

Have you tried an in place reinstall of the current MacOS to resolve whatever problem it is you are having?

 

[Louis Photo]

Imac is significantly slower with Mojave than it was before with Yosemite. I'm downgrading because High Sierra run 32bit applications without any compromise, whereas Mojave runs 64bit applications without compromise and only tolerate 32bit. All my important applications I use daily are still 32bit. I can anytime in the future upgrade to Catalina when I have more RAM and use 64bit applications.

I can't backup my entire HD(like with time machine), firstly because all my important work is safe on externals anyway, and secondly; restoring Mojave will defeat the object of the exercise because I want to get rid of Mojave.I would like to save the applications because it will be a schlep to download and install them again.