Can I move OSX to new hard drive?

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Level 1

5 points

Can I move OSX to new hard drive?

I am trying to do a major upgrade of my hard drives. Right now I have the original 6GB drive and a 40GB secondary. I want to remove the 6GB drive and replace it with a 120GB drive. This should be straightforward, BUT - I have discovered that my OSX 10.2 discs have vanished, and the OS is currently locatd on the 6GB drive.
Is it possible to somehow transfer the OS from the old drive to either the current secondary or (better) to the new 120GB drive? I have tried moving the "system" folder from one drive to the other but have had no success with OSX (though I was able to move OS9 without any apparent difficulty).
Any ideas? I'd hate to have to buy another copy of 10.2, but that may be my only option.

G3 Blueberry w/G4 processor, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Mar 11, 2007 2:45 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Jeff Rushton

Level 4

1,714 points

Mar 11, 2007 3:17 PM in response to tomellis

Hello tomellis:

Welcome to the  Discussions!!!

Drag and drop does not work to copy OS 10. You're correct that you could do this with OS 9.

One method is to use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your smaller drive to your larger drive:

Carbon Copy Cloner

One of the key things to remember when you clone it is to check the box "make bootable". After you have successfully cloned (and tested), you can change your drives and clone it to the new drive if you wish.

Hope This Helps

Jeff

Message was edited by: Jeff Rushton

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Answer 2

Mar 11, 2007 5:05 PM in response to tomellis

Besides using the freeware CarbonCopy Cloner @ http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html , you can use the freeware SuperDuper @ http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html , or the Restore function of Disk Utility included in OS X.

 Cheers, Tom

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Answer 3

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

Mar 12, 2007 6:14 PM in response to tomellis

tomellis:

Both Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper will do the job, although the SD is much simpler to use, you don't have to worry about the Prefs, as in CCC, and it erases the Target HDD before cloning. Incidentally, be sure that your HDD is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) before installaton. If you plan to install OS 9 for Classic, be sure to install Mac OS 9 drivers when you install.

Good luck.

cornelius

Message was edited by: cornelius

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Answer 4

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Mar 13, 2007 9:27 AM in response to tomellis

Hi tomellis!

Have you considered upgrading to a newer version of OS X, if your Mac meets the System Requirements?
Besides, you really need to have a set of system install discs, and why reinvest in the older version.

Panther 10.3.x & Tiger 10.4.x are far superior in performance and features that Jaguar 10.2.x.

Tiger is available for purchase at The Apple Store (U.S.).

Panther, is no longer available directly from the Apple Online Store, as Tiger 10.4.x is the most up to date OS.

If you know what to look for, Full Retail Version, of the Panther Install CDs, or a Full Retail Version, of the Tiger Install DVD, can also be purchased rather inexpensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, AppleRescue, FastMac, etc.

Be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
Panther is only on CDs, not DVDs.
Unless purchased from AppleRescue, the discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade on them.

Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?

Once Panther 10.3.x is installed, you can use the 10.3.9 Combo Update, to upgrade to the final version.

If your Mac meets the System Requirements for Tiger, you could also consider installing that.
And then use the PPC 10.4.8 Combo Update, to upgrade to the current version.

Panther System Requirements
Additional Panther System Requirements
Tiger System Requirements

Additionally, "Tiger ships on a DVD, but if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you’ll need CD media. When you buy Mac OS X Tiger, you qualify to purchase Tiger CDs for only $9.95."
Download the Media Exchange Program Order From Here.
Orders must be mailed by March 19, 2007.

AppleRescue, also sells a Tiger installation set on CD

Shop Carefully, Examine All Documentation, And Good Luck!

ali b

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Answer 5

tomellis Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 13, 2007 12:13 PM in response to ali brown

I actually have a full retail version of Tiger that I installed onto the "secondary" hard drive of the computer some time ago. But when I boot up from that drive in OSX 10.4 the computer is ridiculously slow to do anything.

Is this reduction in performance due to the computer not being able to handle the new OS or perhaps because it isn't installed on the main drive? I have decent RAM (640 Megs) but perhaps not enough for Tiger? I'd happily use Tiger if it will work as well/fast as Jaguar. I already have Tiger on my other Mac, a G5, which is my primary machine that I use in my photography business. The G3 is mostly used by my wife and kids. The features of Tiger are nice, but the speed reduction is a deal breaker.

G3 Blueberry w/G4 processor Mac OS X (10.2.x)

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