I have not tried this, but exactly how is the original Leopard Install disk used as a bootup disk? Is there a way to exactly duplicate this disk in case the original becomes unusable?
Thanks
to boot from it you insert the disk and restart the computer. hold "c" at the chime you'll boot into the installer.
to create a backup of the install DVD you can create a .dmg from that disk in disk Utility. Select the dvd in DU, then go to File menu->new->disk image from disk. selct DVD/CD master for format.
you can then burn this image to a dual layer DVD+R (or -R). however, some of these dual layer DVD+-R can be flaky and that copy may not work well. an alternative is to make a small partition on your HD and restore the DVD to that partition using DU. this will give you a very quick installer.
To duplicate the disc you will need a dual-layer DVD-R and a Mac with a DL burner (check System Profile to assure you have a compatible optical drive.)
Duplicate a CD or DVD
1. Insert the DVD/CD;
2. Open Disk Utility, and select the DVD/CD from the left side list (select the DVD/CD icon on top);
3. from the DU File menu select New | Disk Image from Disk 1;
4. Choose to format the disk image as DVD/CD Master, name the disk image and click Save;
5. When the .cdr file is finished select it with mouse and press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info and check the box to lock the file;
6. Choose the .cdr file from the left side list, click Burn, and insert a new, blank DVD or CD.
It is also possible to create a bootable partition on an external drive that functions exactly as the DVD. You need an external drive partitioned using the GUID partition scheme and formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) You would then clone the DVD to the partition on the external drive as follows:
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the external volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the external volume from the left side list and drag it to the
Destination entry field.
6. Insert the OS X Installer DVD into the optical drive and wait for it to mount on the Desktop.
7. Select the OS X Installer DVD from the left side list and drag it to the
Source entry field.
8. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Kappy,
I followed the directions exactly as you listed them to put my Leopard Install Disk on a partition of my external hard drive. It took about 1/2 hour and the space used was 7.12GB. That all sounds normal. When I open to this directory on the hard drive, it shows all of the files including the same icon as on the disk "Install Mac OS X.app". When I click on this, I get an error message: "The application "Install Mac OS X" cannot be used from this volume. To install Mac OS X, please use the application provided on the Mac OS S Installation disc."
Any suggestions as to why I cannot start from the hard drive program?
Herschel I've been using a restore partition for a year or so now and this "error" was introduced only with the advent of OS 10.5.2 or 5.3. Regardless, you can boot from it from the Startup Disk Prefpane.
That's the only workaround I know. You could probably write an AppleScript that does this.
I'm not sure what you mean by "Startup Disk Prefpane". I see the partition if I go to the Preferences/Startup Disk. If I click on it here, it asks if I want to start the computer from the partition on the hard drive. Is this what you mean.
However, in the case where I have corrupted files, have to reformat the mac and then reinstall OSX from the hard drive, how will I be able to do this?
I wonder if I made an image (.dmg) file of the Install Disk and brought it over to the hard drive. Would that work?
Kappy,
As you can see in this thread, I could not get the Install OSX to work from the hard drive when I brought it over as noted in your instructions. Apparently, "matchstick" had the same problem However, I did find a way to do it.
I inserted the disk into the mac, opened Disk Utility and created an image file (.dmg). I then clicked on this in the hard drive and it took a little while to verify it, then everything worked fine. The next time, it does not have to go through the verification process and opens right away. Your instructions were a big help in starting me through the process.
