Setting up new ext. hard drive

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Level 1

20 points

Setting up new ext. hard drive

After checking the forum, I ended up purchasing an Iomega 250 GB USB/FireWire hard drive. Since this is new to me I would like to address some questions to you experts. I would like to have a clone of my Intel Imac on the hd along with storage of photos etc. In partitioning the drive, should I split down the middle or do something else? Can I mark Applications etc. on my Mac hard drive & all would copy over to new hd? I don't want to mess things up. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Than you, Lisa

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.6), nano 4G

Posted on Aug 22, 2006 11:31 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 22, 2006 11:38 AM in response to Lisa Conley

SuperDuper!.

Antonio

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Answer 2

Aug 22, 2006 3:36 PM in response to Lisa Conley

As Antonio so succinctly put it - SuperDuper is many Mac users' app of choice. I have used it for a few years now and I love it.

The feature I like best is the smart update which allows me to update the clone with only the files that have changed since my last clone. It saves so much time.

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Answer 3

Steve M.

Level 5

4,758 points

Aug 22, 2006 3:57 PM in response to Eric Kracinski

I vote for SuperDuper for cloning too.

As for partitioning, I made two partitions on my FW HD. One is the size of the internal HD in my iMac (I use this for cloning) and the other is made up of the remainder of the FW HD. I use this for bulk storage. I don't know if this is ideal (it has worked for me) so maybe others will comment.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 4

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 22, 2006 4:24 PM in response to Steve M.

Antonio,Eric & Steve, My father, who a long time ago served about three years in Italy per U.S. Army, was trying to understand " Super Duper ". Now that we know the meaning we found a write up in the August issue of ' Macworld ". Thank you, Lisa

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Answer 5

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 22, 2006 5:59 PM in response to Lisa Conley

Friends, my mac hd capacity is listed as 233.44 GB with a used capacity of 29.95 GB. Would a partition of perhaps 60-80 GB for a clone sound reasonable?

Thank you, Lisa

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Answer 6

Niel

Level 10

741,881 points

Aug 22, 2006 6:07 PM in response to Lisa Conley

In your situation, yes. The size of a clone partition should be at least 1GB more than the size of the data you will be putting onto it, and more if you intend to use the exact copy of the clone to start up your computer at some point in the future. If you will be updating the clone later, you may want to make the clone partition at least twice the size of the data currently on the hard disk.

(15473)

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Answer 7

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 22, 2006 7:24 PM in response to Niel

To all, I have just downloaded Super Duper & tomorrow I'll set up the new hd. Thanks to all for your kind & excellent advice. Lisa

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Answer 8

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 23, 2006 6:00 PM in response to Lisa Conley

To all who helped this beginner with the hard drive : THANK YOU !! I just finished moving the Mac hd to the clone half. I think I now have three back-ups. Niel I partitioned 80 GB for the clone as you suggested. Eric, I must say your command of the king's english when you used the word " succinctly " probably put a smile on many faces as it did to mine. Again, thanks to the forum from Texas to Italy.

Lisa

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Answer 9

Aug 23, 2006 6:31 PM in response to Lisa Conley

Glad that we could help and make you smile. I am just glad that I spelled it correctly - LOL!

Peace.

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Answer 10

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 24, 2006 6:00 AM in response to Lisa Conley

Last night, I encountered a problem shutting the power off to the new hd. I had to remove power to everything. Afterward, I disconnected the line from the hd to the Mac & turned the main switch back on and then I the hd switch worked shutting the hd off. When I reconnected to the Mac it was as before i.e. could not shut the hd down. Must be something in the program. Any ideas?
Thank you, Lisa

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Answer 11

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 24, 2006 6:54 AM in response to Lisa Conley

Shirt Sleeve just told me there is no power connection with their Super Duper program. Lisa

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Answer 12

Steve M.

Level 5

4,758 points

Aug 24, 2006 9:35 AM in response to Lisa Conley

Lisa,

I believe that you purchased an Iomega 250 GB FW/USB HD. I think I have the same or similar drive. I have an Iomega 250 GB Black Series Triple Interface HD.

The power management of this drive is a little different than you might expect and it has nothing to do with the cloning process. I have confirmed the working of this with Iomega and they assure me that it is a feature and not a bug.

The Iomega that I have cannot be powered off while connected to the Mac with Firewire. The power coming from the Mac through the FW cable keeps the blue power light on on the Iomega. If you want to power the Iomega off completely, you must first unmount the drive from the desktop (always do this before disconnecting the FW cable), then disconnect the FW cable, and then depress the power button on the Iomega (or unplug the power cord). I just depress the power button and leave the power cord plugged in. That way, the next time I use the Iomega, I just plug the FW cable into the Mac and the Iomega spins up.

I think this is a strange way of handling power on and off for the Iomega drive. As I've stated, I went through a very long series of emails and phone calls with Iomega last winter and they were unwavering in saying that this is the way it is supposed to work.

Let me know.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 13

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 24, 2006 11:14 AM in response to Steve M.

Steve, I was half right saying "Shirt Sleeve" when I should have said "Shirt Pocket". ( Sorry about that ) Yes, I have the Iomega 250GB Black Series Triple Interface HD. The Firewire 400 was used after I purchased a cable locally. I was going to contact Iomega but since you have I guess we will have to adhere to what Doris Day long ago sang, what will be will be. This is a poor arrangement. My father doesn't like to keep changing cables because of wear & tear & this will be done almost every day if I keep the automatic update set as is.

Thank you Steve, Lisa

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Answer 14

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 24, 2006 12:04 PM in response to Lisa Conley

Steve, this is Lisa's father. Have you looked for a switch that could be inserted in the cable line? I don't know if such an item exists but that would be much better than inserting/removing the plug. Perhaps someone can tell us.

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Answer 15

Lisa Conley Author

Level 1

20 points

Aug 24, 2006 12:25 PM in response to Lisa Conley

Steve, Shirt Pocket Support just sent this:

" Be CERTAIN to eject the drive before taking out the cable! ( as you said)
Note that I actually suggest that you leave the power on, but eject the drive. That'll let it spin down (saving the drive), and if you schedule your backups, SuperDuper will automatically mount, copy, and eject the drive for you! "

The above is their words. I'll try this tonight.

Lisa

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