Best way to copy a corrupted HD to a new HD?

CCC or SuperDuper will work fine. They basically do the same thing. However this will be an exact copy, so if there is any software issues then it won't help. All you have to do is plug the new disk into the 2.5" adapter and hook it to the computer. Once the new drive is formatted using Disk Utility, just open up CCC and do the transfer. Rip open the macbook, replace the drives, boot up, and you are in business.

If you want to test the new drive before you spend the time taking the computer apart, restart and hold down the option key on startup. You can then select your new drive and see if it boots correctly.

Ideally, you don't want to copy corrupted data. That's why you maintain a backup, so you have another copy of the data, in case something goes wrong with the first disk.

You might try CCC, SD, or Migration Assistant first, to see if you can get away with using them.

It may work, it may not.

If you have a drive that you suspect is corrupted -- or has corrupted data on it -- perhaps the best way to get things off of it would be "manually".

That is to say, copy a folder (or group of folders) at a time, and keep careful HANDWRITTEN notes as to what you have copied (so you don't go in circles).

You really don't need to copy the entire OS -- just data files and folders.

I would start with the home folder.
You CANNOT copy folders such as "pictures", "movies", "music" (i.e. the "main folders" within the home folder -- these may be symbolic links?), but you can copy everything else (files and folders) that reside "beneath" these main-level folders.

Once done, check her home folder on the NEW Mac, and see that things are where they should be.

After that, you can manually work on folders/files that reside OUTSIDE of the main OS X folders.

The reason I suggest the above approach is that during an automated process such as CarbonCopyCloner, SuperDuper, or Migration Assistant, the process may "choke" if it comes to a file (or group of files) that are corrupted and can't be copied.

However, if you are "manually copying", and receive an error that a file can't be copied, you can take note of it, and "work around it", copying _good_ files and leaving the bad.