How to avoid FW external hard drives that don't boot! and other thoughts

[drbonbi]

Hello,

I have a new 20" iMacIntel and I was looking for a Universal backup
application. I'm glad I waited (and paid) for Super Duper! 2.1. In
short, it just works!

A couple of thoughts. The Users Guide - which is integrated with the
application, a nice touch - notes the desirability of FireWire external
hard drives that do boot (Some don't! Worse. Some claim to and don't!) and mentions a few brands by name - which got me to thinking.

First, MacWorld did a review in September 2005 of external FW hard drives here
http://www.macworld.com/2005/09/revi...drivesdesktop/ which
reveals which drives don't boot PowerPC Macs (a revelation to me). While
that URL will become obsolete over time, it may be a good reference for
anyone wanting to get more information.

Second, some of the drive brands recommended in the User's Guide come
boxed with Retrospect Express, a dubious distinction which may add to
the sales price. Some FW external HDs do not come with bundled backup software. I chose a MicroNet miniMate 80 GB FW hard drive to use with my iMacIntel. I did exactly as recommended in the Users Guide. I reformatted it as a GUID drive, and used the Migration Assistant to clone my iMac drive (which had been in turn migrated from my prior PowerPC iMac). Today I used the Smart Update Backup and it updated the external drive perfectly. And it boots! Life is good.



Dana