Bootable vs file backups, VMware and partitions

[dezinnia]

Thanks!

Roger that on the alloted space!

500GB external drive/2 partitions = 250GB each (233GB actual). MBP is 160GB, so I should be fine.

There are a few schemes on that options tab, including GUID Partition Table (to create a drive to start up Intel-Based Macs) and one Apple Partition Map (for PowerPC based macs)...

Apple Partition Map seems to be the default, and in fact, when I choose "current scheme," Apple Partition Map is highlighted...

I'm guessing SD! doesn't do anything to the drive with respect to the scheme. It just creates a bootable drive, regardless of whether it's an Intel or PPC mac.

But if I partition it, I'd want to go with the GUID Partition Table, I'm assuming. Would this create problems for the existing backup? Or does the partitioning erase everything that's already there, anyway, and I'll start from scratch (rather than Smart) with the next backup?

Thanks!

Chris