Can't make my SD backup my startup disk...

[samanthac]

Hi--
I can’t boot from my SuperDuper copy. I already read through the FAQ on this, and can’t find any answers...
I did Smart Update for Backup- all files, I use a Firewire Lacie Drive [250 GB Porsche-design with two partitions, one of which is reserved for my backup, which should be bootable], I’m currently on Tiger 10.4.9 on a PPC Powerbook G4, etc.
Everytime I do a SuperDuper copy, it says that it copied fine and is bootable. I’ve never tried to boot from it before, which obviously I now realize is stupid, but I always thought it would help me in a pinch. Currently my computer is having problems, so I’m trying to use DiskWarrior to repair my internal HD, then copy back over all my system, etc, from the backed-up bootable partition. So now I’ve been trying to change the Startup disk to the proper partition of my drive (it’s called BackUpBootUpHD), either through starting up first from my original Powerbook Software disk, or through System Preferences, then restart. But when I get in there, and select DiskWarrior from where it is in the Applications/Utilities folder of the BackUpBootUpHD, it says it can’t repair my Macintosh HD because that’s the startup disk.
Any ideas how to fix? Thanks so much,
Samantha

[justG]

That's right. You're saying that your backup is on another partition, but it's another partition on your startup disk, the same physical hard drive. If I'm understanding the situation properly, you will need to boot to either another hard drive or from your OS installation disc in order to repair your startup disk.

I think.

[dnanian]

If you look in About This Mac, does it indicate that "BackUpBooUpHD" is the startup drive?

[samanthac]

So what do you think is the problem? Is there another method to reset Startup disk as my External HD Partition, besides either using software disk to startup and then choosing "Select Startup Disk" and restarting, or setting it in System Pref and restarting??
Thanks,
Samantha

[dnanian]

It's hard to say why this isn't booting, Samantha: I don't know whether it was properly partitioned (as "Apple Partition Map"), or whether the copy was a full "Backup - all files" using Smart Update in this case.

I believe that Disk Warrior will boot off its own CD, so you can use that to repair if a repair is what's necessary. You can also boot off your OSX install CD/DVD to run Disk Utility.

[samanthac]

Hi,
Well it definitely was a Backup-All Files using Smart Update. Is there any way to check if it was properly partitioned in the first place? I did it with Disk Utility.
The problem with Disk Warrior is that I did the download, as I live in Hong Kong and it's more expensive to buy the disk retail here... they can send me a disk but it will take like 3 weeks. So i have to run the download off of some additional startup system, not my Mac HD.
And i can startup from my software CD, but the Disk Utility won't repair the disk, which is why i bought DW in the first place...
Problems problems.
Thanks,
Samantha

[dnanian]

You can see by opening Disk Utility, selecting the external drive (not the partition, but the drive hardware above), and then look at the lower right side of the window, next to "Partition Scheme".