Partitioning: GUID Partition Table or Apple Partition Map
 

Earlier this year, I purchased SuperDuper for my eMac using Panther OS 10.3.9 and a LaCie external firewire drive. I configured the firewire drive with three partitions, using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.

I have just purchased a new Intel iMac with Tiger OS 10.4.11. I cloned and Smart Updated this Intel iMac to the same external drive and it worked perfectly, and I can boot off the firewire drive (just for test purposes).

Now, I have become aware that Disk Utility provides the Option for partitioning using either a “GUID Partition Table” or “Apple Partition Map”. From the perspective of SuperDuper being able to restore the internal drive in an emergency situation, does it matter that my external drive was partitioned prior to my using the Intel iMac or should the external drive be repartitioned using the “GUID Partition Table?

Thanks for a fine product.

Although Intel Macs can start up from APM partitioned volumes, the preferred partition scheme is GUID. So, if you can partition it that way, I would.