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macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 30, 2006
792
0
I have an external USB 2.0 HHD that I want to use to create a disc image of my current hard drive.

Using disc utility (Apps>Utilities) can I create a bootable start up disc on my external device and use it during set up of my new Macbook?
 
Ok to be clear here to you want a disk image or a bootable clone? An image is basically a single file that represents an entire disk, where as a clone is just that, a clone of the drive.
 
AFAIK, you cannot create a bootable image using DiskUtility. You can format that external drive as a bootable drive and clone your internal to it (if it has enough room).

Look up CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.

I'll let others confirm the bootable image thing.
 
I guess I am wanting a clone then, it needs to be able to utilize the "transfer your files from another mac" screen at the initial start up when I get my new macbook.
 
My main concern is, will the copy I make from CarbonCopy be usable to restore my files at initial set up of my new mac?
 
My main concern is, will the copy I make from CarbonCopy be usable to restore my files at initial set up of my new mac?

Yep. Go ahead and make a copy, then navigate to the external HD in Finder and you'll see all of the files and folders replicated on the external. It's a good idea to play with it a little to get comfortable before relying on it for real anyhow.
 
I guess I am wanting a clone then, it needs to be able to utilize the "transfer your files from another mac" screen at the initial start up when I get my new macbook.

Hmm... as far as i know that step where your new mac asks you about transferring files from another Mac works using FireWire, and might not work with your USB drive.

Any folks out there with experience in that specific part?
 
Hmm... as far as i know that step where your new mac asks you about transferring files from another Mac works using FireWire, and might not work with your USB drive.

Any folks out there with experience in that specific part?

I think they've lifted this restriction, since you can boot from an external drive using USB now and not just FW.
 
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