Running OSX 10.5.8 but cannot boot from Superduper copy on external HD

Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility

1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination

entry field.

5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.

6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

Drive Preparation

1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

I'm not going anywhere. Just giving you an alternative way to clone a drive that is built-into OS X and does not rely on third-party software. It will not fix a problem with the source volume. If you have such a problem, however, you need to fix it before you clone the volume. I've read your original question but did not see any mention of a defective source/boot volume. You can give this a try:

Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions

Boot from your Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.

If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

Now, erase your external drive and try cloning again. See if that works. I would encourage you to use the tool that is part of Disk Utility, but if you want to use third-party tools you certainly can give them a try.

Then I would do the disk and permissions repair suggested. Then try cloning the source drive using Disk Utility. But this time boot from your Leopard DVD and follow this:

Drive Preparation

1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

2. After Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. When it finishes erasing the drive follow the cloning procedure (you are still in Disk Utility):

1. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

2. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

3. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination

entry field.

4. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.

5. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

Now see if it works.

Rattling sounds are not good. Could be a sign of the drive failing.

Not really. Only the progress bar shows any evidence of something going on. It sure doesn't seem that anything is going on. If there are drive lights blinking to show read/write activity you'd know more directly, but that's probably not the case except on the external drive's enclosure. If there is no light activity, then the restore has died.

I suppose so. Don't really know what more to do since cloning a disk can only be done one way - using a backup utility of some sort.

Out of curiosity are you at all able to drag a file from the disk to the backup?