Booting from External

[Neoraven456]

I checked the knowledge base and booting a PowerPC will not work but my setup is as follows:

Pre-SR MacBook Intel 120GB Toshiba HD
External: 500GB WD MyBook (USB 2.0 only)
New Internal: 2.5" SATA WD 320GB

Concern: Once I reformat the MyBook to Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), and I use your software to back up to the drive. What are the chances I'll be successful in detecting the bootable MyBook and restoring it to the new Internal? Any known conflicts?

[Jeffus]

Hi Neoraven456, please be careful. I have just been reaquainting myself with the user guide that comes with Super Duper! and they recommend a FIREWIRE drive to back up to NOT USB. You can't boot a Power Mac up no matter what software you use and USB drives have limitations.

Hope this helps, Jeffus.

[dnanian]

Well, the big issue here is that you won't be able to test the backup at all. That's never a good thing.

[Neoraven456]

Originally Posted by dnanian

Well, the big issue here is that you won't be able to test the backup at all. That's never a good thing.

I cannot just wipe the external, back up using the software and then re-start and attempt to boot from the external?

Since I'm switching the a new HD this old one will stay intact so if for any reason things don't go according to plan, worst care scenario is I have to put my smaller HD back in -_- right?

Also do you know if i can partition a disk with two file systems (i.e. 120GB of Mac OS X and 380GB of FAT32?)

[dnanian]

No, because you can't boot from a USB drive. And, while you *can* partition with two file systems, you need to use "GUID" (for Intel Macs) or "APM" (for Power PC Macs) as the partition scheme if you want to be able to start up from the drive. Windows can't recognize either, and needs "Master Boot Record"... which can't start up a Mac.

[Neoraven456]

Originally Posted by dnanian

No, because you can't boot from a USB drive. And, while you *can* partition with two file systems, you need to use "GUID" (for Intel Macs) or "APM" (for Power PC Macs) as the partition scheme if you want to be able to start up from the drive. Windows can't recognize either, and needs "Master Boot Record"... which can't start up a Mac.

So your saying an Intel mac cannot boot from a USB2.0 device Regardless of formatting and other variations?

[dnanian]

Sorry, my mistake -- I reacted to the reply rather than to your original, which clearly stated you have an Intel mac. As such, you can boot from it as long as it's properly partitioned as a "GUID" partitioned drive.

But, if partitioned as "Master Boot Record" so it can be understood by Windows, you can't start up from it.