Create a bootable backup - just OS + Apps

[Sigi]

Hello,

I have an imac with a 500 GB internal drive and Tiger.
In order to create a bootable backup on an external FW drive which folder do I have to clone exactly. I have only one partition and 4 user accounts on the mac.

What I would like to have is:

1. Have a bootable backup on a FW 160 GB drive - just OS + Apps
2. All my data is safely backed up on a Drobo - this is sorted out.

I just do not know how to create this "just OS - Apps" bootable backup (with all the preferences if possible)

If I look at Macintosh HD I see:
Applications
Library
Mau1.1.2 Update Log
System
User Guides and Information
Users

Thanks

Sigi

 

[chscag]

There's more involved than just finding out what files are needed. Since modern Intel Macs use EFI, you'll have to copy whatever is required to make the external hard drive boot. I suppose you could always use third party software such as rEFIt to boot the drive....

http://refit.sourceforge.net/doc/c1s1_install.html

How full is the 500 Gb drive? If what's on the drive will fit on the 160 Gb drive, you can always use a program like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner to create a bootable backup on the external drive. That's what I would do instead of trying to be selective.

Regards.

 

[longwood]

i believe with carbon copy cloner you can pick and choose what you want on your backup which will be bootable.

 

[Sigi]

create a bootable backup - just OS + Apps

Hello,

sorry, I have been unclear in my question. I should have added that I want to use SD or CCC - have not decided yet.

I know that I can just make a clone of my internal hard drive (500 GB) this would be easy if I hae a 500 GB external drive - which I do not.

I want to have a bootable back-up on my 160 GB drive and I do not know which folders to select in SD or CCC for this back-up

Thanks

Sigi

 

[sickmacdoc]

It would seem to me to be unnecessary to actually sort this out unless you have a lot of added apps on your original disk that you want to clone over. The reason I say that it would appear to be much more efficient to just do a fresh install of OSX on the 160Gb drive (and then install the updates) which would leave you with an up to date and essentially virgin install.

If you try to pick and choose which files are necessary to create a boot disk that will be very difficult, as there are many, many "hidden" files (look in the left hand column of Carbon Copy Cloner for example to see the huge number of system files that you are not seeing when you look at the directory in the Finder). In addition, if you have a bunch of added apps then you will then be forced to copy the "Users" directory as well all other the others to make sure that preference files, Application Support files, some license files etc. are still usable from the backup.

As was asked above, how much space is actually used on your 500Gb drive?

 

[Sigi]

I use righ now about 350 GB

 

[Cave Man]

You must have at least one user for a proper boot disk. Best thing to do is to run your installer DVD on the external drive (make sure it's initialized as GUID), then after it's done select only the Applications from Migration Assistant. You'll still need to input a user, though.