[Demonic_Rush]

So, I got an external HDD and have already stored 64 GBs of media onto it. I want to partition my external so that the 64GBs remains intact, with room to spare. I'll be shipping my MBP to Apple so I want the external partioned into 2 Sections: Storage and Bootable Backup.

I want to give the Boot 200 Gbs and give Storage the rest (about 300). In the Storage partition I want to keep the 64GBs of media and allocate the remainder blank space to it as well. (I may sound a bit redundant at this point but I just want to be clear about what I want since I can't retrieve this stuff if it's lost ^_^)



Anyway, in Order to accomplish this I'll be doing the following: Disk Utility > Select External HDD > Partition Tab > (here's where I get fuzzy) Select "Current" from the volume Scheme pull-down > Type ~364 GB > Click Apply.

The Above shoud leave my data intact, add 300 GBs of blank space to it, and as a result make a secondary partion of ~200 Gbs, Right?

If that's correct I should be able to make a bootable backup (via SuperDuper) on the remainder 200 GBs since my internal only has a 120 GB maximum

I'll be using the boot at work on an iMac while my MBP is away. After my Mac returns, I'll want to erase the boot (or maybe I'll keep it and update it every month or so)

So is my thinking correct?

[bastion]

Demonic_Rush said:

So, I got an external HDD and have already stored 64 GBs of media onto it. I want to partition my external so that the 64GBs remains intact, with room to spare. I'll be shipping my MBP to Apple so I want the external partioned into 2 Sections: Storage and Bootable Backup.


I want to give the Boot 200 Gbs and give Storage the rest (about 300). In the Storage partition I want to keep the 64GBs of media and allocate the remainder blank space to it as well. (I may sound a bit redundant at this point but I just want to be clear about what I want since I can't retrieve this stuff if it's lost ^_^)





Anyway, in Order to accomplish this I'll be doing the following: Disk Utility > Select External HDD > Partition Tab > (here's where I get fuzzy) Select "Current" from the volume Scheme pull-down > Type ~364 GB > Click Apply.


The Above shoud leave my data intact, add 300 GBs of blank space to it, and as a result make a secondary partion of ~200 Gbs, Right?

Wrong. Disk Utility erases disks in the process of partitioning. You will lose your existing 64GB of data.

Quote

If that's correct I should be able to make a bootable backup (via SuperDuper) on the remainder 200 GBs since my internal only has a 120 GB maximum


I'll be using the boot at work on an iMac while my MBP is away. After my Mac returns, I'll want to erase the boot (or maybe I'll keep it and update it every month or so)


So is my thinking correct?

Aside from not understanding what DU will do, I think there's at least one fundamental issue you need to address:

Based on what you're describing you've got 64BG (or more) irreplaceable data that isn't backed up. That's a serious problem, and really should be the first thing you deal with.

[Demonic_Rush]

Hmm I'd like to know why my original post has been blanked out.....
Anyway, SuperDuper has been a royal pain in the arse. It doesn't do ANYTHING! I've heard so many good reviews for it I figured I'd try it out. It keeps failing at every task I send it to do >.<
I'm going to put the 64 GBs of media on the iMac at work, completely wipe the external drive clean, and de-partition it (I went with my original plan and nothing was erased from the external, to the contrary of what bastion stated, perhaps he didn't quite understand what I ment or maybe I wasn't as clear I thought I was, in anycase my media is still there and My drive was partioned)
After annihilating the drive's memory I'm gonna try superduper again and hope it works sans partitions this time. Otherwise I'm just going to backup the important info and work on Tiger at work and forgo the Leopard dream I had

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Edit: It seems that my original post has returned from the abyss
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[Demonic_Rush]

Well, SuperDuper failed again and I've given up on it.
It will not be my first recommendation to anyone since I personally have had horrible experences with it and can't in full confidence tell ppl to try it (although there must be SOMETHING about it since so many claim to have it work)

In anycase, anyone reading this (perhaps you are in the same situation as I was and want to know the right way to go about this) I've had TREMENDOUS success with another popular app called Carboncopy. It has essentially the same layout and features as SuperDuper but actually works lol


For anyone curious as to what I finally decided on doing, I copied the 64Gbs from the external HDD to an iMac at work and wiped the external clean. After the clean wipe I used Carboncopy and cloned my Internal MBP HDD onto my External USB 2 HDD. After the cloning was complete I was able to boot the iMac at work into leopard as if it was my own personal iMac. I've completely forgone the partition idea only because I wanted to try Carboncopy ASAP and was too mad at SuperDuper to try different combos. It works, so I'm happy. I can still use Leopard while my MBP is in the shop (an awesome prospect since I don't have to ask the IT admin for anything. My Password and my HDD= My rules. Also, they are still using tiger in out-of-the box condition and it is HORRIBLY out of date in terms of security patches since the admin is a lazy oaf)


Something to consider if you still need to buy an external HDD


I used a USB 2 External 500GB drive and only got it for two reasons: It was on sale and I knew it would be compatible. In other words, USB HDDs CAN NOT boot on PPC Macs such as G4 QuickSilvers or MacCubes but they ARE ABLE TO boot on Intel Macs such as MacBooks and the latest iMacs. My Clone doesn't work on my family's Quicksilver at home, but it works on the iMac at work.

[sandbag1]

If you can't get SuperDuper to work, you're doing something wrong. Write the author of SuperDuper he responds with answers to problems uncannily fast.

From reading you're posts in this thread, you seem kind of new to this. For instance. You didn't know partitioning a hard drive would erase all the data on it, and then prove it by "trashing" a popular backup utility..

[bastion]

With a recent enough version of OS X - something in the back of my head is saying 10.4.3 is the earliest - many PPC Macs can boot from USB hard drives as long as the hard drive is formatted with the correct partitioning scheme and actually has a PPC version of the OS on it. I think it's likely that your HD fails on both of those counts given how you created it.

I'm curious what tool you used for partitioning that allowed you to retain the data. The only one I know of offhand is part of the BootCamp installation process, but since you didn't mention that I assumed you were using the stock Disk Utility app.

[Demonic_Rush]

And judging from from you're post it would seem as if you don't do this very often or at the very least haven't done exactly what I'm doing ;) While it is true that I'm relatively new to this, I have read about it and in theory knew what to do, I just haven't practiced it yet lol.



As for the Partitioning not erasing my drive's contents, Here's an Image to prove what I'm saying is true (The most pertinent parts were highlighted in Photoshop) That's the same set up I described in my original post. If you had actually set it up as I described you would see the same thing (I'm using Leopard 10.5.4). I actually did it about five times (with the 64 GBs still in the drive each time) since SuperDuper kept crapping out on me.



In any case, SuperDuper failed where as Carboncopy (also a fairly well know app) succeeded. I can only speak from my experience.

Also, the CC clone boots beautifully and even offers to sync updates between the MBP and the external. Again, I said earlier that they are essentially the same for basic backups; the only difference I can discern is that CC worked and SD didn't.



I never said that I completely DISMISSED SuperDuper, I only stated that it won't be my FIRST recommendation. I've used computers enough to know that for one reason or another some Software doesn't like certain ppl's setups. I just didn't want to think about it this time and searched for an alternative that WOULD accept my set up.



I could care less as to why SD didn't work, as long as I got my stuff backed up to a bootable clone. I only continued this thread past Bastions' original reply for the sake of others that may search the forum for alternatives or solutions since that's what I would want if I was stuck. :)

[Demonic_Rush]

Eh, I'll take your word on that USB drive boot thing on PPCs. I mostly regurgitated what I read somewhere when I posted that segment. I analyzed it minimumly lol. :(


As to what I used that maintained the data, you're correct in your assumption, I did use Disk Utility. I'll refer you to my previous post to Sandbag1 for an image.





The 64 GBs was on the External, I did everything as described in the original post and ended with a similar screen as the image I provided. I assume Boot Camp is just a dressup version of Disk Utility with certain features locked away and and Windows Drivers ready to burn on disc (I've never used BootCamp)

[bastion]

Demonic_Rush said:

As to what I used that maintained the data, you're correct in your assumption, I did use Disk Utility. I'll refer you to my previous post to Sandbag1 for an image.

Sure, but what happens when you actually select a partitioning scheme and then click the "Apply" button?

[Demonic_Rush]

It retains the data, adds whatever amount of free Space I specify, and then once my specification is met it will simply make another partition with whatever is left over.


I'm about 80% sure that it would only erase whatever data I have, under the current settings of course, if I specify an amount smaller than what I already have stored on the drive. I never did that since I can't find a reason to, but it seems logical that if you have the scheme set to current it would only erase if you specify a smaller amount than what you currently have on the drive. It may even give you an error message if you try to specify a smaller amount while using the current scheme (I'm not trying it lol)



If you select 2 under Scheme it would erase the entire drive, but if you specify current it stands to reason that the drive will retain the data currently on it.



Perhaps current is a new option quietly added after an update that you guys just never noticed since you had no reason to look. Anything's possible, I never had a reason to look until now.



I think this stands as a testament to how easy it is to use OS X even if you've never done something before. As long as you have half a brain cell, a decent handle on your native language, and a bit of patience you can do anything without tearing your hair out (most times) ;)

[sandbag1]

Partitioning to me means to divide the hard drive into 2 or more volumes. Unless I'm missing something, the image you posted clearly shows you haven't chosen more than 1 volume.

Choose more than 1 volume to create and get back to me after you've done so.

[Demonic_Rush]

Oh yes, I gave up on the partitioning just to get the boot started
with Carboncopy (After all the failed attempts with SD I didn't want to waste anymore
time trying different Partitioning schemes) The point of that particular image was to show that Disk Utilities said it wouldn't erase the drive while using the current scheme for partitioning (Thus why they were highlighted) I know that my drive wasn't partitioned at that particular time Since I already achieved my immediate goal w/ CC. But please do rest assured that it did what it said it would do (otherwise I'd be here in tears over losing my 64 GBs of data lol).



As I said before I've partitioned my external while retaining the 64 GBs of media. That was only possible using the current scheme (upper most Highlighted Square)



Even though I've had a positive experience using Disk Utility's current scheme, I don't recommend anyway just start using it without a backup of your stuff somewere else (I told you guys I put it all on the iMac at work beofore trying it, just to be safe) ;)



Using the current scheme I was able to retain the data, Add some blank space to it, and with the leftovers make a second section of the Harddrive

[sandbag1]

You are telling people to do something that will erase all the information on their hard drives but still you haven't done it yourself. As I said above, choose 2 or more partitions, then get back to me after you've done so.

What you did was clearly not partitioning a hard drive, which is what your OP stated you wanted to do.

"So, I got an external HDD and have already stored 64 GBs of media onto it. I want to partition my external so that the 64GBs remains intact, with room to spare. I'll be shipping my MBP to Apple so I want the external partioned into 2 Sections"

[Demonic_Rush]

I'm saying that using Current Scheme won't erase your drive. I'm aware that selecting 2 as opposed to current will erase your drive. I even state so in a response to Bastion

You know what? Why keep bickering? I know I'm right, so why not just do it and annotate the damn thing, right? Here we go:


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Step 1: ( Image for Step 1 )
Open Disk Utilites

Step 2:( Image for Step 2 )
Note what Scheme is selected and how much is on the drive.

Step 3: ( Image for Step 3 )
Change the size of the external to 130 GBs. You'll notice that the Bar named "Yuki Nagato" has shrunken and that there is nothing in the place of all the Empty space that the drive once had. (It is as if It were a 130 GB HDD, not a 500 GB HDD)

Step 4: ( Image for Step 4 )
Now click on the Plus Button under the "Yuki Nagato" bar described in Step 3. All of the empty disk space is now considered a new HDD. You'll notice that the scheme as automatically changed from current to 2 Partitions.

Step 5: ( Image for Step 5 )
By clicking on the top partition you'll notice that the data is still retained (represented by the blue block) with the necessary amount to meet my crition of 130 GBs appended to it (Represented by the White Block). To the Right of that, you'll notice a message that says this volume will not be erased.

Step 6: ( Image for Step 6 )
Clicking on the Bottom Partition, you'll notice that it is all white indicating that it is all blank Space and that to the right it says a new volume will be created.

Step 7: ( Image for Step 7 )
By Selecting Apply from the bottom Right hand side you'll be presented with a slide down notification. It tells you what will be added, and what will be resized (With out erasing it's original contents). You then choose PARTITION (that's the terminology used by Disk Utilities, Sandbag1....)

Step 8: ( Image for Step 8 )
Now after the partitioning is complete, you'll get a Time Machine notification asking you if you want to use the Newly created Partition as a Time Machine HDD. (Notice only one notification comes up since The original drive was already designated to NOT be a TM Drive. Again proving that nothing was erased.

Step 9 : ( Image for Step 9 )
For your final inspection you'll notice that a Second Drive was created titled "Yuki Nagato_2" and that the original "Yuki Nagato" drive is still intact, including the custom icon (which at first I thought might have been gone). You can even see the Used amounts of each Drive as I've opened up the "Get Info" windows for you to inspect.

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I hope this has been insightful for those looking to do the same or similar tasks. And I still stand by what I said about SuperDuper versus Carboncopy. CC worked for me, while SD did not. Something to consider if you're looking for one and it doesn't work. There are options available, and you're not locked in just because one is more popular than the other. I'm sure SuperDuper is a fine product, it just didn't work for me.