Just got the miniStack and ...

Question

Hooked it up and was able to access it just fine. Then decided to make it bootable and see if the performance was better than stock mini internal. Used the software that came with the miniStack - it is called 'QuickBack' in the Speed Tools s/w suite from inTech. Well, the utility asked me which volume to copy and where to put it. I selected the Mac HD and put it on the miniStack mounted volume. It also asked me whether or not to make the new volume bootable and I checked Yes. I kicked off the data copy which took around a hour. Various folders and files were copied over.
Well, after changing the system preferences to boot off the new external volume, the mac won't boot on that volume. It shows that it is an option to boot from, but when I actually boot from it, the os doesn't come up. It shows a circle with a line throught it and it stalls there - This icon is simiilar in look to the standare apple icon that comes up when I boot normally.
Anyone know what folders/files need to be copied over to make the external bootable?
Any ideas?
- Greg

Answer 1

Well,
I have the MiniStack, too. But I don't use it as a Start Up disk. So, I've only briefly thought about what it would take if I wanted to do that. Although, I sometimes Start Up from an external 2.5" bus-powered HD, for trials with OS upgrades, and the external 2.5" HD doesn't have to be initially spinning to be used as a Start Up disc.
However, I think that the MiniStack 3.5" HD has to be spinning already when you start up your Mac, in order to use it as a Start Up disc.
So, if you have an OS on the MiniStack already, and have selected that OS as the Start Up disc in the System Preferences, I think you only need to toggle the power button from On (because it might have been left On lastly, since it should auto sync to Off with the Mac power button, even though it physically shows On), to Off, and then back to On to manually get the MiniStack HD spinning before you power on the MacMini itself.
I believe that toggle-switch-method will work, even though I haven't tried it.
Please let us all hear how it goes.
Peace to you,
C. Livingstone