(The bits that do matter on C:, like user-specific application settings, are backup-ed on a daily basis anyway through other means. All user-data is on D:, C: is just OS + applications. If your nitpicking: I don't backup C: at all.īut that is fine as the PC's in question are in a software distribution system which makes a re-install if needed painless. (Encryption is then done on the fly which only adds 2-3% to the copy time.) Then copy the data back from the external media. Unless you require special protection in which case use APFS (Encrypted.) Do not try using CCC to clone your HFS+ backup to a newly formatted APFS drive because CCC will revert it to HFS+ in order to make the restored system bootable. It is actually faster to just copy the D: (and E: if present) partition to another disk (SSD on USB3 or eSata to make this as fast as possible).ĭo a quick-format of D: and then decrypt (as D: is empty the decrypt is almost instantaneous, here is the big speed gain). Converting from HFS+ to APFS will require reformatting the disk to APFS. The encryption software gets in the way of partitioning tools so a full decrypt before and a re-encrypt afterwards is required. I run into a similar sort of scenario regularly when needing to resize partitions on encrypted drives.
So copying the data to another medium is sort of mandatory anyway to make the backup. Converting in place is (as far as I know) not possible if HFS+ is involved.īesides, this sort of thing should never be done without a proper backup of the data.