If you want to create backup of your hard-drive you have diffrent options howto do that.

• Carboon Copy Cloner (donationware)
• Super Duper (shareware)
• Disk Utility (part of OSX -> /Applications/ Utilities )

I am gonna describe the clone-process using Disk Utility

1. Insert your OSX-Installation-CD/DVD
2. Restart your mac and boot from (1) by pressing the C-key while booting
3. Select your language (dont worry….its not gonna start a new installation)
4. When the menu bar appears, select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
5. In Disk Utility
   1. Select the drive you want to clone
   2. Select the”Restore”-Tab
   3. Drag your Source-Hard-drive (the one you want to clone) from the left menu into the Source-field
   4. Then select a destination. I am using an external USB-hard-drive
   5. Press Restore to create the backup

Sample picture out of  Disk Utility

So finally you have a clean backup of your system or whatever drive. If you want to check that copy…connect that drive via firewire to a random mac and boot from it….quite quick & easy test.

Tags: carbon copy cloner, ccc, clone drive, disk utility, howto, super duper