How do I Copy Just the OS?

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MacBook Core 2 Duo

Model A1181: 1.83, 2, 2.1, 2.13, 2.16, 2.2, or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Bob Enders @bobenders

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Posted: Aug 29, 2012

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How do I Copy Just the OS?

My MacBook HD is dying and it's hard/time consuming to copy anything from it to my external drive (I've been using Silverlight by LaCie for my backups.) I want to preserve my OS 10.6.8 and make a bootable copy of that on my external. Since I need to be very selective of what files/folders I need to copy I want to be sure I capture all that I need to make a copy of the OS. So which files/folders do I need to bring over? Is it merely "System"?

TIA

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Jay Curts @jcurts Rep: 2.2k 13 6 1 · Answer 1 · 2012-08-29T09:24:03-07:00

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Jay Curts @jcurts

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Posted: Aug 29, 2012

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If you simply copy the system folder, you will not have a bootable copy, you will have a copy of the system folder.

To be able to boot from an external drive, you will need to install osx in that drive, which means that it would have to be formated to hold OSX (GUID OSX Journaled).

My suggestion would be to get a replacement for the dying HDD and install OSX directly to it and then move your files back from your LaCie backup.

Hope this helps.

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Yes, that helps. My dilemma is I can't locate my disk with 10.6.3 for which I have a sales receipt from the Apple Store but was hoping to avoid having to purchase it again by dragging folders/files from my current HDD and reinstalling them on my new SSD. Thx.

Aug 29, 2012 by Bob Enders

I see, why dont you do this instead, use TimeMachine to create a backup to your LaCie, then setup the SSD from a TimeMachine copy. You will still have to use a OSX but it keeps everything as it is. If you know someone who could lend you an OSX cd to run disk utility to format your SDD and then to begin setup and instal form TM backup.

Ideally you want to have a clean install on your new SDD but its up to what makes it easier in your situation.

Aug 29, 2012 by Jay Curts

Hmm. I guess there are a number of alternatives but each one I come across seems to be too complicated to do what I want. I think the best - simplest - course is to break down and buy a new copy of Snow Leopard. I do have a OS X disk utility from a Tiger version. I think a clean install to my new SSD of 10.6.3, then update that to 10.6.8, then upgrade to Lion, then add my already-backed up apps and files from the LaCie is my best course. Have I missed anything?

Thanks for all your help!!

Aug 29, 2012 by Bob Enders

If you are planning on upgrading to Lion, instead of buying a SL disk, download 10.7 and mount it to a flash drive so you can use it to install it into your new SSD. That is what I did.