Clean Install of OS 10.4
 

I currently have a PowerMac G5 with a 160GB internal hard drive. I back up to a 500 GB external firewire drive (with SD, of course). I am awaiting a new 500GB internal hard drive to install into the G5. I would like to use the new internal as my main hard drive, use the 160GB has an additional backup, mostly for photos over 10,000, and obviously continue to use the external 500GB for the SD backup. Finally the question(s): (1) Do I need to do an install of 10.4 onto the new internal hard drive or do i clone the external using SD from the external to the new internal hard dive. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

To quote Dave N. when I asked a similar version of the same question awhile ago:

"You'd only need to use Disk utility to properly partition the drive (as "GUID") and format it (as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)").

Once that's done, just clone from your external back to your new internal and you should be good to go. SD! will copy all the system files, etc. You will end up will a full-functioning 500GB internal with 10.4 and all your apps already installed and ready to roll.

Actually -- since this is a Power PC based Mac, you need to use "Apple Partition Map" as the partition scheme... no need to install OSX unless you *want* to...

Man, I must have been half awake when I posted that. Can't believe that I missed the PowerPC part. Oops.

Follow Up
 

Thanks both for the information.

Is there any advantage of doing a clean install of the operating system on the new internal hard drive?

Not really.