I’ve got an RMA on my Deck over a sticky button issue, so I ordered a 1TB external drive online to back it up before wiping and sending it off.

What’s the bare minimum you would recommend I back up if I just want to preserve my desktop settings, apps, and some non-steam game content (since much of that is already tied to my account)?

  1. Is it just a matter of copying folders over in desktop mode or is there an official (or recommended) backup tool I should use?
  2. Would Syncthing, which I use to transfer files normally, be a reliable method to use my Mac as a potential backup location?

Thank you for any advice.

  • PlasticExistence@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    11 months ago

    I would setup the external drive with Clonezilla and take a drive image of the internal Steam Deck drive. That will preserve everything and it will restore everything once you get the Deck back from Valve. I did a Clonezilla image when I upgraded my internal drive, and it worked out great.

    • Eggyhead@kbin.socialOP
      6·
      11 months ago

      I am looking at Clonezilla. I’m a little worried because 1) I do not have a keyboard, and 2) there’s a glitch on my system that requires me to log into Steam every time I restart the system or switch between desktop and gaming mode. It started when I installed Daggerfall Unity using a tutorial that instructed me to add a shortcut link to an otherwise hidden steam folder to my home folder and call it “steam”, which apparently broke something, and I don’t think there’s any way to fix it short of a system restore. I don’t know if Clonezilla would end up preserving that glitch, but I’d rather it not.

      • PlasticExistence@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        11 months ago

        Doesn’t sound like Clonezilla would be a great option then. The keyboard is necessary for that as it will be how you navigate menus and input your clone image name.

        You can use the Steam Link App from your computer to help manage desktop work, assuming it works on Mac. It would allow you to have a keyboard to use on it remotely.

        What I think you’ll really want to do is to grab a copy of your user’s home folder, which IIRC will also have all your Steam Library games. Once you get your external drive, this should be easy enough.

      • smort@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 months ago

        Yeah sounds like you want to do a system restore anyway. If you have individual files you need to save off the deck, do that. Just not system files