Changing primary drive

[CatharticFlux]

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I didn't have much luck searching for it so I apologize beforehand.

What's the easy way to change out my primary drive? I'd like to replace the stock 250GB drive on my MP to a raptor 150. I already use another 500GB SATA drive for my music and media, but my home directory, lightroom vault, iphoto library, docs, etc are still on my primary.

Is there a 'fast' way to copy the filesystem from one drive to another, or is the best idea to reinstall OSX?

Thanks in advance

 

[Eidorian]

Clone it

I'm not sure how the Mac Pro handles boot drives but you might only need to change it in the Startup Disk preference pane.

 

[chas0001]

I usually use disk utility (RESTORE) to clone the disk and then go into system preferences - Startup Disk, select the new drive and click Reboot.

 

[bigbird]

I've used SuperDuper to clone the primary drive to a secondary drive. Install and format your new primary drive. Then again use Superduper to transfer everything back to the new primary.

 

[CatharticFlux]

What does SuperDuper do that the OSX restore won't?

 

[Eidorian]

What does SuperDuper do that the OSX restore won't?

Cloning Vs. imaging.

You'll still have to copy all the data and make a disk image. After that you'll have to put the image on another disk. With Super Duper! the files are just cloned and you're done.

 

[CatharticFlux]

Thanks for the help! I appreciate it.

 

[Eidorian]

Thanks for the help! I appreciate it.

Copying the files is the most time consuming component. It takes a few hours for 22 GB so I can make a deployment image from my master machine. Imaging a new machine takes 12 minutes and 22 if I want to verify the imaged machine.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I did the same thing. I put in the Raptor150, used Superduper to clone the stock 250 to it, and then chose the Raptor as the startup disk.

Done. Easiest thing in the world.

 

[ziwi]

Here is a twist on that - what if say one used superduper on the primary on a G5 and then wondered if it was possible to restore it to a Mac Pro - is that doable or is it not possible or not recommended due to cross platform architecture?

 

[Eidorian]

Here is a twist on that - what if say one used superduper on the primary on a G5 and then wondered if it was possible to restore it to a Mac Pro - is that doable or is it not possible or not recommended due to cross platform architecture?

You can't boot an Intel machine using a PowerPC version of OS X and the partition scheme wouldn't work.

 

[irishgrizzly]

If I'm getting a new system can I just install the OS on to a the a extra drive using the startup/installation disks? and then delete the OS off the stock drive? I'd like to do this because I'd like to do a custom install.

 

[tyr2]

If I'm getting a new system can I just install the OS on to a the a extra drive using the startup/installation disks? and then delete the OS off the stock drive? I'd like to do this because I'd like to do a custom install.

Yes that will work fine.