Booting from external with SD
 

As I was reading MacOSG forum on an unrelated matter, someone said check to see if you can actually reboot from your external HD. Realizing I have not done this, I searched this forum and others for detailed instructions, including the SD Manuel. I was unable to find instructions or if they were there I did not recognized them. I'm computer illiterate and need the 1. 2. 3. type instructions, I do not want to erase my HD. After the initial backup, I back up every other night using smart update.
I have:
Mac OS X 10.4.9 PPC Rev. A
Maxtor external 300 GB firewire.
Any detailed instructions, or link to instructions, will be appreciated.

Have you already backed up, "cowtrail"? Do you do so directly to the Maxtor drive?

If so, open System Preferences, then select the external drive in the Startup Disk preference pane. Once you're done testing, do the same thing to boot back to the internal drive.

Yes I've backed up and am using smart update.
I just followed your instructions and it worked beautifully, Thank you.
If I ever have HD failure, I'll worry about putting everything back on the new hard drive from my backup when it happens. I'll stop worrying now, LOL
I love this site!
Ron

Isn't it nice when things just work? :)