SuperDuper! Cloning question

[hoodafoo]

Hi, I would like to clone my existing internal SSD (Sonoma) to an external SSD using SuperDuper! End game is that I would like to keep a working copy of my existing setup (to a BOOTABLE external SSD) and to format my internal SSD to do a clean install of Sequoia. Is this possible? I've heard that if I blow out my internal SSD and reinstall it that it will render my cloned external SSD unreadable or unbootable. Can anyone with exp with this utility let me know one way or the other? Thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

Yes, it's possible. But...

BE AWARE that cloning doesn't always work. Seems to work for some, and not for others.
I realize this statement sounds nebulous, but it is what it is.

ANOTHER WAY you could accomplish what (I think) you want:
- have your external SSD formatted (APFS) and connected.
- boot to startup options, choose options
- this should give you access to the OS installer
- since you're still on Sonoma, I will GUESS that the version of the OS it offers at this point is Sonoma. If it offers you Sequoia or Tahoe instead, there are "other ways" to get to where we need to be (not discussed yet)
- open the installer, but be careful when it asks you to WHERE you want to install.
- "aim it" at the external SSD and let it go to work
- do you get a "good install" on to the SSD?

OK, then, begin setup on the SSD, but again, be careful.
You don't want to create a "completely new" account on it.
Instead, use setup assistant to migrate the contents of your internal drive to the external.

When done, you'll have "all your stuff" on an external SSD running Sonoma.

It's not really "a clone".
But the results should be nearly identical.

As I said above, the SuperDuper cloning process may work.
That's the easy way.
But if it doesn't work for you, my "alternate method" SHOULD work.
Sometimes one just has to do, what one has to do...

 

[hoodafoo]

Thank you very much for the suggestion, but I really need a working clone as the programs I have installed are a bit finicky and also I had to jump thru hoops to install drivers for a really old printer.

It just sounds weird to me that the SuperDuper clone will work fine as long as the original system is intact. I wish there was a way to really test this without taking the jump of faith (formatting the original system). I guess in theory, I can clone the external SSD back to the internal SSD?

 

[Bigwaff]

It just sounds weird to me that the SuperDuper clone will work fine as long as the original system is intact.

Assuming you are using Apple Silicon Mac, boot process always starts from internal SSD. This is related to boot volume group ownership and security policies.

How external bootable disks work with Apple silicon Macs

Working with external bootable disks: how to create and add them, ownership and LocalPolicy, how that can be changed, and what happens with errors and failure.

eclecticlight.co

 

[hoodafoo]

Assuming you are using Apple Silicon Mac, boot process always starts from internal SSD. This is related to boot volume group ownership and security policies.

How external bootable disks work with Apple silicon Macs

Working with external bootable disks: how to create and add them, ownership and LocalPolicy, how that can be changed, and what happens with errors and failure.

eclecticlight.co

Very informative, thanks!