How to get everything exactly as it was after backup and format

Question

I want to backup and format my one and only Macbook Pro internal drive in order to properly defragment for boot camp partitioning. However, when I'm done, I want the OS X portion of my computer to be exactly as it was; files, logins, applications, etc. Like it never even happened. I have an external USB drive that's plenty big enough, at least twice over.
So here's what I was thinking about doing:
On my external USB, I would format into 2 partitions (which would each be more than large enough to accommodate a full image of my current operating drive), and then in Disk Utility, I would save a "new image" of my current operating drive onto partition 1 of my external. This would be an overnight operation I would think. Then, to test it out, I would "restore" partition 2 to the image on partition 1. Also, a lengthy process I would think. Then, partition 2 would be bootable as a full computer which would look exactly like my current computer.
Right?
Is this fantasy?
Because at this point I could format my internal drive using extended journaled, then "restore" the internal drive to the image I created, which still exists on partition 1. Right?
Other options, I assume would be:
Setup assistant
Migration assistant
Do a time machine backup to the external, then restore from that backup after the reformat
Any help here?

Answer 1

There is only one way to defragment the drive quickly and safely. Erase an external drive or volume on an external drive large enough for your internal drive. Clone the internal drive to the external drive or volume using the Restore option of Disk Utility:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external drive or volume.
Source means the internal startup drive.
Boot from your external drive: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager appears. Select the icon for the external drive/volume and click on the downward pointing arrow button. Once booted from the external drive/volume:
Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
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. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
Now restore the clone from the external to the internal:
Restore Clone to Internal Drive
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the internal startup drive.
Source means the external drive or volume.
+Note that all you do differently is reverse the drives in the cloning process. The external drive/volume becomes the Source and the internal startup drive becomes the Destination.+