Installing New Primary Hard Drive: How Best to Transfer all Data?

Question

Hello fellow Apple'rs,
I own a Dual 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5 running OS 10.4.11.
I am ready to swap out the original 250MB internal hard drive for a larger one (1TB HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.12) and transfer my data over. I'm unclear the best way to do this.
The OS, as well as my docs, and applications all reside on my main older 250MB drive (I’ll refer to it as ‘Drive A’). I want to transfer them onto the new 1TB drive.
For backup I’ve been using a program called _Synchronize! Pro X_. I have all the data from Drive A backed up to my G5’s second internal HD (this second drive is a bootable backup and I’ll refer to it as ‘Drive B’). I was planning to remove Drive B and install the new 1TB drive ([I’ll refer to this as 'Drive C') in its place in the computer bay. Once Drive C is installed, then I plan to do the transfer from Drive A to Drive C. Afterwards, I’ll remove Drive A permanently and install Drive B in its place, whereupon Drive B will continue to be used as the primary backup HD (now obviously backing up the new main Drive C).
The mechanical installation should be no problem, but I’m unclear what the best method is of transferring over the OS and all my files and applications from Drive A to Drive C. Of concern is that the creation date of all my files are preserved and also that the links to all my aliases are maintained after the transfer. I once did a transfer between Powerbooks and only discovered at a later date that the creation date for ALL my files had changed to the date of the transfer! A huge loss for me.
Any suggestions how to best effect this and to maintain all integrity and attributes of the original files? Should I just do a straight ‘drag and drop’ copy onto Drive C? Or, is using Synchronize! Pro X a good method of doing this (I’ve fortunately never had cause to actually restore data with Synchronize! Pro X so I’m uncertain of how it performs). Conversely, should I be looking at other software to do this (I can’t really afford money outlay for new software at present)?
Is it best to just copy everything over or is it best to re-install the OS and applications? I want to maintain all my OS settings and also want to minimize the labor involved in the swap.
One last thought: this computer runs noticeably slower than when I first purchased it in 2006. As I am now starting with a fresh HD, is there anything I can vis-à-vis the transfer improve performance?
Thanks a bunch for any advice or observations!
Lovegasoline (happy Mac owner since 1994)
(Message was edited by Lovegasoline to clarify an error in Drive nomenclature).
Message was edited by: Lovegasoline

Answer 1

This last post raises the question: does it matter which HD bay (upper or lower slot) the new Drive C is installed in?
I know the startup disc is selected in System preferences, but is there a reason to chose one slot over the other (ex., startup sequence in the event of system boot problems, etc.)?
I'm slightly delayed in effecting the new HD installation.
There are a few items in my system organization that I've uncovered and wish to resolve (then do a fresh backup) before doing the HD swap. I notice my 'Documents' folder, which contains most of my personal files, is located in my 'MUSIC' folder(!) and it is different from my user 'Document' folder (the latter has the 'folded corner paper icon' located in my home folder. The Document folder in my user home folder has non of my personal files, but instead has a few application support files of some sort.
I may need to inquire in the OS section of this forum.
Also, I'd like to rethink, and get some opinions, regarding my HD functions, i.e., how best to organize either whole drives and/or partitions for the OS, virtual memory(?), apps, docs, Photoshop scratch disc to maximize performance and stability.