Using SD when needing to resize partition ??

[jont-uk]

Hi - hope you can help ...

I've ploughed through most of the forum threads and product details but can't quite get to put a set of answers or process together ...

What I want to do is to copy an existing OSX install from one HD to another, reformat and partition the original HD to be larger, then copy back the OSX install ...

The questions I have are:

I presume from what I've read SD will do this but will it only copy back to a 'same size' partition as it copied from ?

What is the best way to run SD - will it run on the OSX install to be backed up or do I need to boot from an external source ?

AS this is a 'one-off' exercise I don't need to do incremental backups, etc ... what setting for copying the OSX install do I use - is it backup or disk image ?

Any answers appreciated and then I can get on and buy SD and get this backup done !!

Thanks

Jon

[dnanian]

SD is more than happy to copy to a volume that's larger or smaller than the original, actually. So, that's no issues.

The best thing to do is to use "Backup - all files" to copy to the other drive. Name the drive the same as the original drive, then start up from it. Repartition and copy back the same way.

Should be pretty easy...

[jont-uk]

Dave ... thanks for your reply ... my only concern is that the backup drive already has other data on it and from looking at the manual a 'backup-all files' erases the destination drive first ?

Am I correct in thinking this ? ... as I said this is a one time exercise and I can't clear the backup drive ...

rgds

Jon

[dnanian]

Ah, you didn't say the backup drive had data on it. Well, that makes it more difficult, but you can use an image, then start up from your OSX install disc. See "Recovering from a disaster" for the restoration technique to use.

[jont-uk]

Wow - what a speedy reply - thanks again Dave ...

Sorry I didn't say the external HD has data (it is my personal data and therefore not part of the OSX install to be copied/repartitioned/restored)

Where is 'recovery from a disaster' ? I can't find a reference in the manual ...

rgds

Jon

[dnanian]

It's a section of the User's Guide -- should be right in the Table of Contents...