How to move from the G5 boot volume to laptop?

[MamaMoose]

I want to move my entire boot volume on my G5  to my laptop which is a G4 15" aluminum. I have been debating how I should do this and I need some advice. Right now my laptop has OS 10.3.9 on it plus a few apps. My options are:

1)  Connect via FireWire Target Disk Mode. Then, just drag the entire G5 boot volume onto my laptop. My gut feeling is that won't work since you just cant copy system stuff and hope it runs.

2)  Connect the laptop via my LAN to the G5. Once the G5 sees the laptop, backup the boot volume via SuperDuper! to the laptop boot volume. I assume I go into file sharing and set this up beforehand.

3) Install OS 10.4.6 on the laptop and then backup from G% to laptop using superduper!

I certainly do not want to reinstall all my apps on the laptop. I assume I can easily port all my files and documents. As you can see I am mightily confused and need some help here.

Thanks,

MamaMoose

[pendragon]

Mama,

FWIW-

I believe that you can use SuperDuper to replicate your G5 to your laptop, but there is no need to first install 10.4.6 on the laptop as the OSs need not be the same. So I vote for option # 3.

Also, using SD over networks can be tricky, so I suggest connecting (directly) the G5 and laptop with a firewire cable.

In this case, and for the first “copy”, I recommend using SD’s option: "Erase (Laptop) then copy files from (G5)". From then on, a Smart Copy should be fine and much, much faster.

And finally, when all is done, a run of DiskWarrior on the laptop is suggested.

HTH

[RHPConsult]

Pardon my naiveté **, MM, but do you expect that a G5 DT volume will properly "boot" a G4 Al/PB? Or, are you "seeking" some other result? Just looking for another "shelf" on which to stash another copy?

I always thought that OS-CDs/DVDs were "specific", so to speak, to a particular Mac, especialy with respect to laptops and their required bells and whistles. Or that generic disks "sensed" the identity of the receiving machine and only . . . uh ummm . . . deposited the required items.

Inquiring minds want to know.


**Blame the "naiveté" on the relaxation afforded by temporary residence in cool, calm and collected rural O-HI-O!  

[pendragon]

Mama,

Dick has a valid point. While you may be able to copy the G5 to the laptop, I know not what will happen to laptop specific preferences, such as trackpad settings, etc.

Sorry if I muddied the waters.

[MamaMoose]

Well, here in cool OR-E-Gon, Dick and Harv you may be right.  After further thought, I think SuperDuper! expects to backup a given volume to another volume associated with the same computer. So, my question remains: How in the heck to get my stuff on the G5 over to the laptop, warts and all! What i am going to do is install10.4.6 on the laptop and then installsome of my key apps. My critical files will be easily transfered via FWTD. Hopefully over time I will be able to mirror the G5 and its apps on the laptop.

Another approach suggested by my son is to access my G5 via Remote Access from my laptop. Sounds feasible because when he is visiting me in Portland, he has set up my G5 so that he sees his G5 or G4 in Santa Barbara and runs it accordingly as though he were at home sitting in front of his computer. Neat, huh! Of course, when he does the access he goes through an Ethernet port out of my G5. I'm not sure if it will work when I am in a hotel running through their Wi-Fi setup.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts, guys.

MamaMoose

[sandbox]

My approach would be to backup then partition the laptop.
Re & Loading the content of both.

Now with two partitions you can boot to either and move what you need to the tiger partition, erasing the Panther when your done. Both will be secure on backups so nothing is lost.

I Ran Jaguar and Panther on a partitioned drive last years on my iBook.

[RHPConsult]

As Third Assistant Undersecretary for the Partitioning Caucus of TeeEss, I like the sound of that idea. I still have an 8.6 and a Jaguar partition on my lying-in-wait Pismo (from which I can print any of myreally old business files via airport, in our otherwise 10.x.x LAN). Best archiving idea I've ever had!

But, MM, why not do a fresh install of the apps you need, on the outside chance that even they have a better/different "fit" depending upon the receiving machine? Sure, it's a drag - at the very least - but would it not be "safer"?

I surely don't know squat about how sw is written, but someone may know if you're better off with fresh copies. I've always thought there probably were hidden advantages to do so.

[kelly]

A new Install of Tiger using the Migration Assistant.

Have it connected to the G5 by Firewire.

I always use Partitions myself.