Best way to replace hard drive with Time Machine

Question

Hello, I searched dozens of threads before posting but I didn't find my specific topic.
I have a G5 (single CPU) with two internal hard drives plus one external drive. The original hard drive is only 80gb and it has been quite full for several years now. I purchased a second internal drive (150gb) about 3 or 4 years ago and have been storing all my files video and data files on the second drive. This created some additional space on the primary drive, but not much. I started off with OX 10.1 back in 2003 and have purchased the upgrades all the way to OX 10.5.4. I also have about 14000 photos in iPhoto that are stored on the primary drive because I can't figure out how to move my library to the second drive (where there is more space).
About a year ago, I purchased an iomega 500gb external drive (USB 2.0) that runs Time Machine.
I have not had any issues with any of the drives except for running out of space on the main drive. I accidentally deleted some of my wife's files once and used Time Machine as advertised.
My main drive has 4.7gb free
My second drive has 87gb free
My Time Machine drive has 205gb free.
I purchased a new 500gb internal drive.
I think my G5 will only take 2 internal drives total, so the original 80gb drive needs to go. How do I accomplish this? Should I make my 150gb the main drive, since it will be the smallest and therefore maybe the fastest for running the OS? If size of the drive doesn't matter, then should I just remove the 80gb drive, install the new 500gb in it's place and then boot using the OS X10.5 disk?
I suppose I could just let Time Machine restore the system, but do I really want OS X10.1 with a bunch of upgrades? It looks like my OS X 10.5 disk is a full version (it doesn't say 'upgrade only') on the box... Wouldn't my computer run better with a fresh OS X install and if so, is there a way to let Time Machine re-install my apps and user settings? I think I am running iLife 06 (which ever one has iMovieHD...) I also have Final Cut Express HD, CorelDraw suite and NeoOffice. Everything else is how the computer came back in 2003. I've never had any issues, so I am more than a little concerned that I am going to mess something up. You know that saying...."If it ain't broke....'
Any advice?
Regards

Answer 1

You do indeed have only two internal drive slots in your G5. To avoid having to try restoring everything from your TM backup what you could do is to be sure you force a final TM backup of the 80 GB drive before removing it. Install the new drive. Prepare the new drive - I suggest the following:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Upon completion of formatting quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete your installation of OS X. During this process you will be asked if you want to do a full restore from a TM backup. Skip this option. Once the installation has completed the computer will restart. After restarting you will see the Setup Assistant. When you've completed the Setup Assistant you will be given the option to migrate from a connected TM backup drive. Select this option. You can then migrate your Home folder, applications, and preferences. There is only one important caveat to this. When completing the setup you are asked to provide a username and password for the startup admin account. Do not use the same username as the Home folder you will migrate. Select a different username (short name is what it is also called.)
Once the migration has completed you can log out of the startup admin account and log into the migrated account. You can then delete the startup account unless you choose to keep it around for test purposes.
This process will not restore anything else from your backup except the Home folder, applications, and preferences. If there are items in your Home folder you would prefer not to migrate, then move them to the other hard drive.