How to create an image of mac osx partition????

[TeckEnthusiast]

before i try and upgrade to 10.5.6 i want to create an image of my mac osx partition just in case something happens. How do i do this. I have heard of Time Machine. But doesnt that option force me to format a whole hard drive(something i dont want to do because its going to erase everything on that hard drive and i dont have another).
PC SPECS= http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00070421
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
THANX

[xXrkidXx]

u dont have to make a new image... you can just backup your kext files :)

i backed up System.kext(didnt need it but oh well safe than sorry), and seatbelt.kext(+the .orig file) I also should have backed up my video card driver, and my sound kext.

then edit the com.apple.boot.plist in the Extra folder, find where it says, Mach_kernel(I use voodoo so this is what its like for me) then change that line to mach_kernel.voodoo(if your using that kernel.)

then just Run the updater!, i recomend booting with -v -f -x and the first boot after installing it, then just replace your kexts. I only replaced the seatbelt.kext and it was okay, then I just redownloaded and installed my video driver kext and my audio, which is all successfully working! :)

good luck btw, reboot and pray ;)

EDIT:

it would also be helpful if you would put your computers specs and what version of OS X your using, and all your computer info so we can give better details for your hardware :), if you dont understand what I mean, look below at my sig and see what details I included

[Ali C.]

Time Machine doesn't always format your drive. You can use Migration Assistant with its backups, as well.
Disk images, by nature, wipe your drive and replace it with the data in the image. However, if this is the way you want to go, use Carbon Copy Cloner. It serves the imaging thing well.

[TeckEnthusiast]

u dont have to make a new image... you can just backup your kext files :)

i backed up System.kext(didnt need it but oh well safe than sorry), and seatbelt.kext(+the .orig file) I also should have backed up my video card driver, and my sound kext.

then edit the com.apple.boot.plist in the Extra folder, find where it says, Mach_kernel(I use voodoo so this is what its like for me) then change that line to mach_kernel.voodoo(if your using that kernel.)

then just Run the updater!, i recomend booting with -v -f -x and the first boot after installing it, then just replace your kexts. I only replaced the seatbelt.kext and it was okay, then I just redownloaded and installed my video driver kext and my audio, which is all successfully working! :)

good luck btw, reboot and pray ;)

EDIT:

it would also be helpful if you would put your computers specs and what version of OS X your using, and all your computer info so we can give better details for your hardware :), if you dont understand what I mean, look below at my sig and see what details I included

where can i find my kext files?

[TeckEnthusiast]

Anything!!!!!
Anyone!!!!!!!
doesnt anyone have something to say
come on help me out here

[Voyn1x]

You can find them here:

/System/Library/Extensions/


If you want to make a full backup of your installation with Time Machine, you will need another drive, either internal or external.

To do a full backup with disk utility, boot from the install disk and open it from the top menu. You can then make a new partition and save a disk image of your main partiton to it. Alternatively you could use it as a recovery partition by installing to it - in the event you brick the other, you can just boot the other working install and try to repair it. On my old hack I made a 10gb partition for this very purpose.

[TeckEnthusiast]

You can find them here:

/System/Library/Extensions/


If you want to make a full backup of your installation with Time Machine, you will need another drive, either internal or external.

To do a full backup with disk utility, boot from the install disk and open it from the top menu. You can then make a new partition and save a disk image of your main partiton to it. Alternatively you could use it as a recovery partition by installing to it - in the event you brick the other, you can just boot the other working install and try to repair it. On my old hack I made a 10gb partition for this very purpose.

Thanx for your help