How to backup Macbook air to external hard drive that has files on it?

[Fawad N]

I have macbook air, its headphone port is damaged.

I want to get it replaced from the apple and before I do that I need to backup my macbook air.

I have external hard drive that already has some files on it and its the only drive I have, however if I create a backup on it using time machine it will reformat my drive and I will loose my data, is there any other way to back it up?

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, Fawad N!

You have several options:
1. If you insist on using Time Machine, there's no way to back up your MacBook without formatting the drive.
What you can do instead, is simply copy the files from your external, format the drive and back up the files/docs with everything else on your Mac using Time Machine.
2. You also have the option to back up manually, basically copy-paste of your most important data.
3. Or here's another solution: http://www.wikihow.com/Back-Up-a-Mac-Without-Time-Machine
The link will take you to a step-by-step on how to back up your Mac without using Time Machine.

Let me know if this helped you!