Back up procedure

Required Materials:

• External drive with capacity at least equal to your MacBook's storage
• Power adapter for your MacBook
• USB or Thunderbolt cable for the external drive

Procedure:

1. Prepare the External Drive
   • Connect the external drive to your MacBook
   • If prompted to use the drive for Time Machine, select "Use as Backup Disk"
   • If not prompted, go to System Settings/Preferences → Time Machine
   • Click "Select Backup Disk" and choose your external drive
   • Choose to encrypt backups if desired for sensitive data
2. Verify Power Sources
   • Connect your MacBook to power to prevent interruption
   • Ensure external drive has stable power if separately powered
3. Initial Time Machine Setup
   • Once drive is selected, Time Machine will ask to begin backup
   • Keep "Back Up Automatically" checked
   • Click "Continue" to start the backup
4. Monitor Backup Progress
   • First backup will take several hours depending on data size
   • Do not disconnect power or drives during backup
   • You can continue using MacBook during backup
   • Check progress in Time Machine menu bar icon or preferences
5. Verify Backup Completion
   • Wait for "Backup Complete" notification
   • Open Time Machine and verify files are visible
   • Try restoring a test file to confirm backup integrity
6. Pre-Repair Documentation
   • Note your macOS version (Apple menu → About This Mac)
   • Document any unique settings or configurations
   • Keep record of your backup drive's name and location
7. Safe Shutdown
   • Only after backup is 100% complete
   • Properly eject external drive
   • Shut down MacBook completely