How to copy entire Powerbook G4 HD to external and then into new HD?

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 2423 times.

Bemopti123

I got a brand new 250 GB HD to be swapped into my venerable PB G4 12".   I figured out how to copy the entire contents into an external firewire drive.  I found a site that shows me how to swap the HD, but what I wonder is whether there would be something specific, with original DVD etc... that I need to do in order to copy the HD contents from the Firewire external drive to the new HD?  I was able to make the external firewire drive the boot drive, so I assume that I can simply swap in the new HD and then copy the firewire drive contents into the new internal HD. Is there something wrong with my way of thinking about data and content?

PS:  I am running OS Tiger. 


WGH

On a PC, there is software to do this.
I haven't messed with a Mac for a while.
The drive has to be formatted and a boot sector made.
Just transferring data might not make the drive bootable.

What make is the drive? (Seagate, Western digital, etc.?) Did you get an install disk or is it an OEM drive? The manufacturer's website might have software that will format, transfer all your date and make the drive bootable. Then you pull out the old and put in the new.

How about Carbon Copy Cloner?
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
Anyone give it a try?

barnz

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 4
Is there something wrong with my way of thinking about data and content?

PS:  I am running OS Tiger. 
I don't think there's anything wrong, but personally I would do it another way.  Being that you know how to copy the contents of your internal drive to a Firewire drive, I would temporarily put the new drive in the external enclosure, copying the data to that disc before putting any tools to my powerbook.  Once I'm confident that Ive got two copies of my critical data, then I would switch the drives. 

This might be a little paranoid, but whenever getting into a machine like that I like to go as slow and steady as possible.
If you aren't already maxed out, it's an ideal time to upgrade your RAM, which is certainly cheaper now then when you bought the G4.
I would also strongly suggest whenever you put your fingers or tools into your computer that you carefully ground yourself first to avoid static discharge, which can lead to very strange and impossible to solve performance problems down the road.  (You probably know that but it's always worth restating in my book!)  :)

nathanm

It sounds like you've got the right idea.  As long as the cloned firewire drive is bootable you should be able to clone it again onto the 250GB.  You won't risk data loss as long as you don't mess with your original drive.  Make sure everything is running smoothly on the new drive.

A cleaner but slightly more laborious process would be to re-install a fresh copy on the 250GB and then import your user folder from the cloned Firewire drive either during install or using Migration Assistant later.

jaywills

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 330
I've used Carbon Copy Cloner with great success over several Macs and several operating systems (no affiliation).  Never any problem making a bootable disc.

http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

Crimson

I've used Carbon Copy Cloner with great success over several Macs and several operating systems (no affiliation).  Never any problem making a bootable disc.

http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

Ditto.

Bemopti123

I've used Carbon Copy Cloner with great success over several Macs and several operating systems (no affiliation).  Never any problem making a bootable disc.

http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

Buddy (AKA:  SETman) and I tried to clone the HD through CCC, but it gave us this error message saying something like "The volume needs to have administrator privileges and it will need a password to copy" then, when we proceeded, it attempted to copy just 90% of all available data, making me suspect that it failed to copy some software files.  When we did SuperDuper, free version, it copied exactly 100% of the data, without a hiccup. 

I think the bootable nature of the external Firewire drive makes me think that it will serve as the reference drive from which to boot and later, copy its information to the virgin internal drive in the PB.  Hopefully it will work out.

Paul

bob stern

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 44
SuperDuper (free version) is the easiest solution.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/

It's counterintuitive, but you also can use the Restore function in Disk Utility to create a backup.  Simply "restore" your startup drive to another volume.

You definitely do NOT want to do a simple drag-and-drop copy in the Finder.  That will not create a bootable system.