How to clone or copy HD drive and partitions

foster · #1 11-24-2008, 02:30 AM

I am upgrading a 500GB to 1TB hard disk

I need to copy the data from each partition to the new drive
I do not want to have to install each OS again.

500GB partitioned as follows
Darwin is installed on the MBR for the HD and handles booting system
into Vista, Mac OS X, or the Factory repair or restore software (this has helped me fix the Vista boot after a install of Mac OS X)
It will boot into all three partitions properly from Darwin bootloader.
1 333GB NTFS Windows Vista 64
2 121GB HFS+ Mac OS 10.5.5 originally Leo4All 4.1
3 12GB NTFS factory restore software

I have created the partitions on the new HD already.

Do to system limitations I can not boot a linux distribution from the DVD drive
Only 2 SATA connections on Motherboard.

Aydinz · #2 11-24-2008, 05:10 AM

you can use your Hackintosh install disk, boot up the install, but instead of installing, go to the utilities menu up the top and choose the disk utility, then select the partion you want to clone, and click the new image icon on the toolbar, this will save that partion as a .dmg which you can later restore onto your new 1TB hard drive, if you have any problems just ask.

nfoav8or · #3 11-24-2008, 07:14 AM

Be careful when using the method Aydinz is suggesting. it looks like you are using an MBR partition scheme on your disk since you are using windows on it as well... this being the case, simply restoring an image to a partition will cause you to lose your windows bootloader. This problem can be addressed different ways. You can use this method but reorder your partitions by placing your OS X partition first and then your others to follow, then install chameleon to enable your OS X system to boot up and then it will act as a bootloader of sorts for the others...

other ways of doing the same thing are to use a linux distro to edit the mbr table or recreate a new bootloader. By the way...

Quote:

Do to system limitations I can not boot a linux distribution from the DVD drive

how did you get linux installed? I guess this option is out the window.

Another way is to use your Windows install disk to do the same things. Good luck, and remember not to delete the data from your 500GB until you have working systems. :-)

Aydinz · #4 11-24-2008, 09:08 AM

oh yeah, i forgot about the whole bootloader problem, so are you saying if i reorder my partions and put OS X first it should show XP in the bootloader if i reinstall chameleon after reordering my drives?

foster · #5 11-24-2008, 10:23 AM

I only have 2 sata connectors both hard disks are conencted to them. DVD drive is currently disconnected is why I can not use any thing from DVD right now.

nfoav8or · #6 11-24-2008, 03:47 PM

thats fine... you can do it all by using the OS X system installed on your 500GB right now.

It would be more ideal to remove the 1TB drive and use the OS X install DVD to create the images of the HD to be placed back on the 500GB drive (assuming you have the room). If you don't have the room then use the DVD to at least create an image of the OS X partition because you can do the rest from within a running OS X system for the other two partitions.

By using chameleon, you won't get a traditional bootloader... if you don't press anything during the countdown it will automatically run OS X. Likewise, by pressing any key during the countdown, you can see a list of the partitions (via their names, not by which system is installed) so name accordingly.

Reply back to let us know how smoothly it went.

EDIT: Aydinz, for sake of simplicity, yes... there are plenty of places this can pitfall, but doing it right has worked numerous times for myself just by using Disk Utility and the chameleon installer once in the system. Remember that a timed-out Install DVD bootup will allow you to get into the 1st partition actively flagged as well.