Cloning SATA Hard Drive

[Chasealicious]

I've got a 160GB SATA hard drive that has an entire system on it with users, applicationsl, iTunes, photos etc...

I've got a 300GB SATA drive that we would like to transfer all the data to from the 160.

There has to be a way to make an exact clone of the drive with all users and software intact - how?

I have access to a G5 tower with two drive bays if that would be necessary to do this.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Carbon Copy Cloner
SuperDuper!

2 apps that will enable you to do this.

Mind you, some applications that have activation schemes will recognise the new hardware and will restrict functionality until re-activated. QuarkXpress 6.x for instance.

 

[TLRedhawke]

Actually, under Tiger, Disk Utility has the same functionality as CCC, so you don't even need to download it. Under Panther or below, I'd go with CCC. It's one of my favourite Mac apps, and fun to say 5 times fast....

Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner......

 

[CanadaRAM]

The primary issue the OP is wanting to address, I think, is the fact that they have an iMac G5 and no second internal SATA connection.

With access to a G5, you could install the new drive in the G5's second bay, do a Firewire Target Disk Mode on the iMac G5, and then proceed to use one of the recommended programs to clone the (firewired) iMac to the blank SATA drive.

Alternatively you could buy a SATA-Firewire enclosure. This would allow you to install the old drive into the enclodure to use as a backup drive/emergency boot drive / transfer drive.

 

[iPhil]

The primary issue the OP is wanting to address, I think, is the fact that they have an iMac G5 and no second internal SATA connection.

With access to a G5, you could install the new drive in the G5's second bay, do a Firewire Target Disk Mode on the iMac G5, and then proceed to use one of the recommended programs to clone the (firewired) iMac to the blank SATA drive.

Alternatively you could buy a SATA-Firewire enclosure. This would allow you to install the old drive into the enclodure to use as a backup drive/emergency boot drive / transfer drive.

Chase,

I'd do what Ram is saying and CCC to clone the drive..

but later i'd buy a SATA-Firewire enclosure just in-case of back-up

Use CCC or SuperDuper to clone, I know SuperDuper is free for personal use unless you want the full version then its like 20 bucks or so ..

but you got 4 more people (including myself) on clone apps

 

[Counterfit]

CCC works, SuperDuper works, Tiger's data import works, and Disk Utility's Restore feature works.

 

[Chasealicious]

So...just in case you guys were wondering...MacRumors is awesome. Yay for the internet and dorks like me.