Thank goodness for bootable clones

That says it all. Less than a month ago, I finally broke down and purchased an external hard drive, paid for the upgraded version of SuperDuper, and created a backup clone. Tonight, for the second time in the last year, I got the blinking question mark. But I was able to connect my clone, boot up, get online and access the data I need to do more troubleshooting on the native drive. (I'll be doing that tonight...Disk Warrior saved it the last time.) In the meantime, it's reassuring to know that I have my clone as a bridge...and to use for a freelance project that I have to work on this weekend.
If you've been mulling the idea of backing up your drive....all I can say is: Just do it!

Diane:
A hearty Amen from me. Sounds like you broke down and got your external just in time. And SuperDuper is, indeed, an awesome backup utility. One more thing you might consider: a second backup drive. I maintain two backups on separate firewire HDDs, which I update in rotation. Some people keep one off-site, which is an additional precaution.
Keep up the good work.
cornelius

Similar Messages

Thank goodness for QF 210 on 8.0.0.2

Dear Oracle,
Thanks so much for QF 210. On two of our upgrade projects this QF really makes all the difference with 8.0.0.2
Take care,
R
Robert Ponder
Lead Architect and Director
Ponder Pro Serve
cell: 770.490.2767
fax: 770.412.8259
email: [email protected]
web: www.ponderproserve.com

Axel,
I will try to attach the release notes. If this does not come thru well then these are right on ML3 as the smaller of two files you can download.
210 fixes several issues and replaces several QF including 209 which was also pretty major. One of the most important is fixing the plus sign “+” query problem. If you have ever used EIM probably will be an issue for you.
Another nice one is fixing the ability to compile while the dedicated client is open. Lots of others in here too.
Robert Ponder
Lead Architect and Director
Ponder Pro Serve
cell: 770.490.2767
fax: 770.412.8259
email: [email protected]
web: www.ponderproserve.com
Build Detail
Platform: SOLARIS,WINDOWS,LINUX
Language: ENU, FRA, DEU, ITA
Incmp. FPs: 8.0.0.3
Obsol. QFs: 0209, 0204, 0202
Obsolete Quickfix builds listed above are previous Quickfix builds on the same fix pack or MR base which share one or more deliverable with the new fix requested. Therefore by Siebel Quickfix support model, all fixes released in these obsolete Quickfix builds are also packaged along with the new fix to avoid potential regression.
Issues Addressed
QF Number 0210 CR# 12-1MRTDA9 FR# 12-1MRTDBD
Summary: Cannot query for ‘+’ character in any field
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [sscfdm] ClientFrameworkDataMgrDll
QF Number 0210 CR# 12-1LXMIR2 FR# 12-1N3JE99
Summary: Dynamic Applet Toggle crashes Siebel application when PDQ returns a record that fires the Toggle
Deliverables Total 2 deliverables affected:
1: [sscaswbc] ClientAppSWEBCDll
2: [objmgrhandler] objmgrhandler
QF Number 0209 CR# 12-1MJDXY4 FR# 12-1MQB1QO
Summary: CCTogglebar_Tabs.swt has no effect at 8.0
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [sscaswbc]
QF Number 0209 CR# 12-1LCJSLO FR# 12-1MTEUDF
Summary: Error "The User ID or password that you have entered is not correct. Please enter your password again." encountered when client restarted after object compile.
Deliverables Total 2 deliverables affected:
1: [siebel] siebel
2: [siebel1] siebel1
QF Number 0209 CR# 12-1IEP866 FR# 12-1MV6RFJ
Summary: LAST_UPD_BY column on S_PROJECT being updated with logins instead of ROW_IDs when Single Object Lock
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [ssdtrutl] DevToolReputilDll
QF Number 0209 CR# 12-1LVID39 FR# 12-1N0KLLP
Summary: Pressing ENTER in Pick Applet field raises error popup and unexpexted WriteRecord event
Deliverables Total 2 deliverables affected:
1: [Siebelax_hi_Client.cab]
2: [sscfclsld] ClientFrameworkClsIdLoader
QF Number 0204 CR# 12-1LD3J4V FR# 12-1M7H1RB
Summary: New List Column not shown properly on Columns Displayed for Forecast applet
Deliverables Total 4 deliverable affected:
1: [siebelAx_HI_Client.cab]
2: [siebelAx_HI_ClientWin9x.cab]
3: [sscfclsld]
4: [sscaswbc] ClientAppSWEBCDll
QF Number 0204 CR# 12-1M8JSWV FR# 12-1MB5Y6H
Summary: error messages are displayed in the eCustomer Application.
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [sscaswbc] ClientAppSWEBCDll
QF Number 0202 CR# 12-1K5DYEJ FR# 12-1LZL215
Summary: Unable to activate LOV's in Data Administration with apostrophe in the Language-Independent Code
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [sscflov]
QF Number 0202 CR# 12-1LMD69K FR# 12-1M179PV
Summary: Object manager exit with error after clicking 'About Record' in Enterprise Server Config screen
Deliverables Total 1 deliverable affected:
1: [sscaswbc] ClientAppSWEBCDll

Ive Had Problems With My Macbook Thank Goodness For Applecare

My Macbook white 2.0ghz 1GB Ram has had many problems since i bought it in may. The colour of the top case where the keyboard is has gradually turned form a lovely white colour too a grey and now a yellowey mess.
The average temp is 72c and so the macbook moos constantly, under pressure ive had the temp go up to 98c it nearly burnt me.
Ive updated the opertaing system to 10.4.7 and still the problem occurs.
So i decided enough is enough and so i rang apple care, i was on the phone for about 20 minutes and i had to speak to 2 diffrent people, and they where great they told me that they knew about the discoloration and they are sorting it out, he also said that even though they would fix anything they find is wrong the fans creating the moo may be fixed by a firmware update, and so he wouldnt be able to tell me if it would be fixed or not.
The huy told me that they would fix anything they find that has a fault for free because its still under a 90 day limited warrenty, they will be sending me a box on tuesday and he said that there is a repair center in the UK and so i could recieve the macbook back by friday.
How great is that im going to get my macbook back all problems repaired for free, and i know that these problems should have been sorted before they were shipped but im so please, my macbook will be great.

I had the same problems so like you I called apple and they sent me a box to send my macbook in. They said it would take 5-6 days but it only took two so they where ahead of the program. I now have a flawless macbook that runs like a champ!
The hottest that has gotten since the repair is 63'C and before I had gotten it up to 90'C.
It used to moooo all the time but now I haven't heard it make a sound.
Thanks Apple!!!
Sam

Bootable clone just not bootable!

Hi all,
I want to upgrade to Leopard from Tiger and am desperately trying to create a bootable clone of my machine in case it goes awry.
I've used SuperDuper, CCC and Disk Utility Restore but nothing has worked. When I use SuperDuper and I hold down the option key at startup I'm presented with the new clone I've made but when I try to boot from it the apple logo turns into a "No entry" symbol and the hard drive stops whirring and spinning.
When I use CCC and hold down option I'm not presented with the drive at startup and it doesn't show up when I use Disk Utility restore.
I'm thinking that this must be a hard drive issue - I'm using a Toshiba storE 1TB which has been partitioned using Mac OS Journaled GUID. It's a USB drive but I thought that was ok for bootable clones on Intel Macs.
Any help with this would be really appreciated because I'm losing the will to live with creating new clones every time one doesn't work.
Cheers
Matt

If your cloning tool is reporting the drive as bootable then I think all the files are on there correctly, so it isn't software as such. That leaves hardware.
I must admit, that seems to be a somewhat obscure drive given the problems I am having finding out anything about it online. I was trying to see if anybody else reports boot problems, but I can hardly find any references to that drive. I wonder if it really is a LaCie in disguise as BDaqua suggests, and as does [http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=193632 ] (LaCie's of that type are known for power supply failures). This does not explain why it doesn't boot since if it is the LaCie I have a 250GB model of that type that boots my G4 without problem (but then it isn't identical to your 1TB).
Given the problems that you are having, and that others are reporting (especially if it is the LaCie problem drive) my inclination would be to return it.

What is a bootable backup and do i need one? what are partitions good for?

hello,
please excuse my ignorance...
i just got a new lacie external firewire hard drive and it has some software which i was wandering if i have any use for... - SilverKeeper and LaCie Backup Software. i'm not sure if they can give me anything that time machine doesn't do better... SilverKeeper gives the option of cloning a bootable backup. i'm not exactly sure what's the advantage of this and in what case i may need it.
when i got my last computer i was able to transfer everything from the old computer, including applications, to the new one without having to find all the serial numbers and reinstall them. i thought that time machine will be able to do the same thing if i lose all the data on my computer. is that not so? is that what a bootable clone is for? or what is it for?...
my other question is what are the advantages of making partitions in my new drive (i understand i have to if i want a bootable backup, but is there any reason to partition otherwise?
thanks!
dannah

SilverKeeper gives the option of cloning a bootable backup. i'm not exactly sure what's the advantage of this and in what case i may need it.
A bootable backup is an exact copy of your hard drive's contents on another drive, that can be used for booting up the machine. The advantage of a bootable backup is that, in the event something bad happens to your internal drive, you can very quickly get up and running with the backup drive, and can copy that back to a replaced/fixed internal drive very quickly. Time Machine backups are not bootable.
The disadvantage of a clone of any kind, bootable or not, is that there's only one version of any particular file stored. So if a file gets damaged and then backed up, you're pretty well screwed with the clone, while Time Machine stores many versions of the file, so you just "roll back" to the last working copy.
when i got my last computer i was able to transfer everything from the old computer, including applications, to the new one without having to find all the serial numbers and reinstall them.
Bad idea... while this will work for most apps, different machines have different architectures, so some apps may not be installed correctly for the new machine, plus you may not have properly copied some components. You should have reinstalled them.
i thought that time machine will be able to do the same thing if i lose all the data on my computer. is that not so?
If you have Time Machine back up the entire hard drive, without excluding anything, then Time Machine should be able to restore your drive to exactly the way it was at any particular moment in time at which it made a backup, including apps, system files, preferences, etc.
my other question is what are the advantages of making partitions in my new drive (i understand i have to if i want a bootable backup, but is there any reason to partition otherwise?
You do not have to partition to make a bootable backup. However, you'll be using the entire drive... trying to store additional files on the same drive as a bootable clone is confusing at best. Using a partition allows you to create multiple "virtual" drives... say, one for a bootable backup, one for a Time Machine backup, one for movie files, etc. Of course, this is only advisable if the drive is much larger than the one you're backing up, and note that if you store original files on a partition (like a bunch of movie files), you need a backup of those somewhere else.
Time Machine will want it's own full drive or partition to play with, which should be larger than the drive being backed up, and will eventually fill it. A bootable clone probably also should go onto its own partition, but you wouldn't need to make this partition larger than the drive being cloned. Other than that, don't worry about partitioning unless you have a specific need.

Good night, I am just starting in bussines design, i am not rich enough to buy photoshop license, but i'm loved to use photoshop, could i use photoshop cs2 for free version? Thanks alot for your attention.

Good night, I am just starting in bussines design, i am not rich enough to buy photoshop license, but i'm loved to use photoshop, could i use photoshop cs2 for free version? Thanks alot for your attention.

There is no free version of CS2. There is only a special version of CS2 available for people who purchased it and need to reinstall it.

Repartitioning for two bootable clones

Before moving from Panther to Leopard I used SuperDuper! to make a bootable clone on an external Firewire HD which had a single partition. Can I now use the Leopard Disk Utility to create a second partition on that drive and then use SuperDuper! to create a bootable Leopard clone?
Will I be able to boot whichever clone I want?
Should I expect problems if I boot the Panther clone?

semicolons wrote:
As far as I know, partitioning requires a complete erase of the drive. I do not think there is any way around this.
Of course, I may be completely wrong and everything will be OK anyway.
But I think not.
Not so in Leopard. From what I've heard, Leopard lets you partition non-destructively.
Good luck!

Bootable clones for both iMac (Intel) and G5 (PPC) on same external drive??

Is it possible to format and partition one external firewire drive to accept a bootable clone of my iMac (Intel) on one partition and my G5 (PPC) on the other? I seem to remember that in order to be able to boot, the Intel and the PPC require something different in formatting on the drive.
If this is not possible, could I as a second choice format/partition an external firewire drive to place a bootable clone of the G5 on one partition and a Time Machine backup of the iMac on the other? I am looking for a way to store just one rather than two drives in my safety deposit box. Thanks

I put up instructions and a picture showing how to select the partition scheme:
http://www.pinkmutant.com/articles/Leopard/leobugs.html
Scroll down to about the middle of the page.
Frankly I was surprised to find out you can boot an Intel machine from a drive that is APM rather than GUID. I'm not sure that what you want to do is going to be as easy as one would hope. Anyway, the instructions I found for dual booting off a firewire drive sounded a bit complex!
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

HT1476 hi.i have a iphone 4s.but i dont want use from my iphone a long time.if my phone off a long time,battry's phone will damege or not damege??give me solotion please! sorry for mistake in my english language thank you for support good luck

hi.i have a iphone 4s.but i dont want use from my iphone a long time.if my phone off a long time,battry's phone will damege or not damege??give me solotion please!
sorry for mistake in my english language
thank you for support good luck

Turn it off or leave it on... just do not use it.
Sorry, I do not understand the question. Seems pretty obvious, if you do not want to use it, do not use it.
In the future, ask your questions in your native language.

What is Hashtable.clone() good for?

I want to make a copy of a Hashtable. I read the javadoc of Hashtable.clone() and it says:
"Creates a shallow copy of this hashtable. All the structure of the hashtable itself is copied, but the keys and values are not cloned. This is a relatively expensive operation. "
What does this mean? I want my copy to be de-coupled from the original, i.e. when i change anything in my copy, the original should be untouched. But the sentence "the keys and values are not cloned" seems to result in a coupled copy. So I have to copy all keys/values into a new Hashtable object myself. Leading to the question: what is Hashtable.clone() good for?

I prefer this to ad hoc speed testing classes.
import java.util.*;
public class SpeedTester{
    public static final long OUTER_ITERATIONS = 100;
    public static final long INNER_ITERATIONS = 10;
    public static void main(String[] args)    {
        Data[] data = {new StringData()};
        Test[] tests = {new TreeMapTest(), new HashMapTest()};
        long[] times = new long[tests.length];
        for (int j = 0; j < OUTER_ITERATIONS; j++)
            for (int k = 0; k < data.length; k++)
                data[k].create();
            for (int k = 0; k < tests.length; k++)
                System.gc();
                times[k] += test(tests[k]);
        for (int j = 0; j < tests.length; j++)
            System.out.println(tests[j].getClass().getName() + ": " + times[j] + " - "
                + ((double) times[j]) / (OUTER_ITERATIONS * INNER_ITERATIONS)
                + " millis per test");
    public static long test(Test test)
        long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
        for (int j = 0; j < INNER_ITERATIONS; j++) test.test();
        return System.currentTimeMillis() - start;
interface Data{
    public void create();
interface Test{
    public void test();
class StringData implements Data
    static Random random = new Random();
    static String[] words;
    public static String test;
    public void create()
        words = new String[random.nextInt(4990) + 10];
        for(int i=0; i < words.length; ++i) words[i] = nextWord();
    public String nextWord()
        char[] chars = new char[random.nextInt(16)];
        for (int i=0; i<chars.length; ++i)
            chars[i] = (char) random.nextInt(0x10000);
        return new String(chars);
class TreeMapTest implements Test
    public void test()
        Map m = new TreeMap(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER);
        for(int i=0; i < StringData.words.length; ++i)
            m.put(StringData.words,null);
class HashMapTest implements Test
public void test()
Map m = new HashMap();
for(int i=0; i < StringData.words.length; ++i)
m.put(StringData.words[i].toUpperCase(),null);

Which camcorders is good for iMovie - Sony HDR-CX700V or Panasonic HDC-HS900K? Please recommend - thanks

which camcorders is good for iMovie - Sony HDR-CX700V or Panasonic HDC-HS900K?
Please recommend - thanks

iMovie iOS (this forum is only for the mobile version) can only be used on video shot on your iphone or iPad.
You may need to go to the iMovie Mac forum:
https://discussions.apple.com/community/ilife/imovie

Apple iMac 24" 2008 , will this imac be any good for using xcode ? Thanks

Apple iMac 24" 2008 , will this imac be any good for using xcode ? Thanks

Hmmmm.
http://www.nvidiadefect.com/apple-2008-imac-24-with-nvidia-geforce-8800-gs-t2243 .html

Bootable Clone/Backup-How to?

Ever since updating to 10.4.11 a lot of strange things have started to happen on my miniG4
too numerous to get into .Like an idiot I have never backed up my system ( I don't use it for work, I'm not in school) so I think it is time to do an "erase and install".I do have lots of 3rd
party programs I would to hang on to so I'll copy them all to DVD. Here is my question: Do I need to make a bootable clone of my startup disk? I have tried to repair my HDD with fsck
disk utility an even tried AppleJack all with no success at correcting all the peccadillos that have started plaguing me.I have my apple installation DVD's but how can I do this and preserve my network prefs. etc? I have been a mac user for 8 years with no problems until recently,so I'm really inept at troubleshooting.Could someone give me a few tips on what to do here ? I would like to say that the few minor problems I've had I got answers to by reading the forums but this seems like a big thing. I welcome any and all sound advice and
Thanks,
Tim

There's no point cloning your current system because it is already corrupt. However, once you reinstall it would be a good idea to clone the new system while it's still in working order. Here's some appropriate information:
Basic Backup
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. PsynchX 2.1.1 and RsyncX 2.1 (Freeware)
6. Carbon Copy Cloner (Freeware - 3.0 is a Universal Binary)
7. SuperDuper! (Commercial)
8. Intego Personal Backup (Commercial)
9. Data Backup (Commercial)
The following utilities can also be used for backup, but cannot create bootable clones:
1. Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
2. Toast
3. Impression
4. arRSync
Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of also backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility as are the other two.
Impression and Toast are disk image based backups, only. Particularly useful if you need to backup to CD/DVD across multiple media.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
Although you can buy a complete FireWire drive system, you can also put one together if you are so inclined. It's relatively easy and only requires a Phillips head screwdriver (typically.) You can purchase hard drives separately. This gives you an opportunity to shop for the best prices on a hard drive of your choice. Reliable brands include Seagate, Hitachi, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Fujitsu. You can find reviews and benchmarks on many drives at Storage Review.
Enclosures for FireWire and USB are readily available. You can find only FireWire enclosures, only USB enclosures, and enclosures that feature multiple ports. I would stress getting enclosures that use the Oxford chipsets (911, 921, 922, for example.) You can find enclosures at places such as;
Cool Drives
OWC
WiebeTech
Firewire Direct
California Drives
NewEgg
All you need do is remove a case cover, mount the hard drive in the enclosure and connect the cables, then re-attach the case cover. Usually the only tool required is a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the startup or 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.
You can also clone using third-party backup software such as those I have recommended above.
Kappy's Personal Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
For disk repairs use Disk Utility. For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.0 is now Intel Mac compatible. TechTool Pro provides additional repair options including file repair and recovery, system diagnostics, and disk defragmentation. TechTool Pro 4.6.1 is Leopard compatible; Drive Genius is similar to TechTool Pro in terms of the various repair services provided. The current version, 1.5.1, is Intel Mac compatible.
OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.
OS X automatically defrags files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems.
I would also recommend downloading the shareware utility TinkerTool System that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old logfiles and archives, clearing caches, etc.
For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack. If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the commandline. Note that presently AppleJack is not compatible with Leopard.
When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. PsynchX 2.1.1 and RsyncX 2.1 (Freeware)
6. Carbon Copy Cloner (Freeware - 3.0 is a Universal Binary)
7. SuperDuper! (Commercial)
8. Data Backup (Commercial)
The following utilities can also be used for backup, but cannot create bootable clones:
1. Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
2. Toast
3. Impression
4. arRSync
Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of also backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility as are the other two.
Impression and Toast are disk image based backups, only. Particularly useful if you need to backup to CD/DVD across multiple media.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
Additional suggestions will be found in Mac Maintenance Quick Assist.
Referenced software can be found at www.versiontracker.com and www.macupdate.com.

Is a bootable clone necessary before upgrading to Lion (also Parallels 6)?

I'm thinking about upgrading to Lion on the MBP and the MacPro where I am running Parallels 6 with Windows 7.
Two questions:
1. How bad of an idea is it to do this without running a backup that includes a full bootable clone? I have a full backup of the machines but I think (?) someone advised doing a bootable clone before doing this upgrade. Not sure but wondering if anyone has any good advice on this. I guess the need for the bootable clone (assuming I am moving to Lion) would be in case I need to reload all the settings and everything from the year and a half I spent getting everything to my liking (no small amount of work)? I mean, I wouldn't re-load the bootable clone and then only work off of Snow Leopard so I guess (?) I am asking if there is other info in the bootable clone that makes it different from a normal backup in such an instance.
2. Does anyone know of any definitive documentation that tells me whether to upgrade to Parallels 7 first or if I go to Lion first for the upgrade? Does one need to go before the other?
Thanks.
Jon

hotwheels 22 wrote:
1. How bad of an idea is it to do this without running a backup that includes a full bootable clone?
If your Lion upgrade hoses, like it usually does for those upgrading over a complicated Snow Leopard, a hold the option key bootable clone of Snow Leopard on a external drive will get you using the computer in the time it takes to boot off of it.
It will also allow you to completely erase the internal drive and reverse clone Snow Leopard right back on.
If you do have to erase Lion, make sure you do it via the Partiton tab, so the entire drive is erased, not just the Lion OS X Partition.
2. Does anyone know of any definitive documentation that tells me whether to upgrade to Parallels 7 first or if I go to Lion first for the upgrade? Does one need to go before the other?
You'll have to talk to Parallels, but if the software works with 10.6 and 10.7 then it's best to upgrade to the 10.6/10.7 version on 10.6 (make a clone first before doing anything) then checking it out well before updating the clone.
Take your time, investigate all your software before making a leap, a clone or two will most certainly be of valuable assistance.
Move slowly and carefully, don't do too much at once or you won't know what is causing your issues.
Remember software like Parallels and others install kext files that can break on OS X upgrades, if you get a gray screen, simply hold Shift key and reboot to get into the machine.
Ideally it's best to install Snow Leopard fresh, then upgrade to Lion, then install all programs then user files last, hopefully you won't have to do all that but it is the most reliable method of insuring a pristine system and upgrade free of the unknowns.
Learn how to do clone here, formatting and other instructions too.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Can I use a USB 2.0 external HDD as a bootable clone?

Hi all -
That's the question really, apologies if it's been asked numerous time before, I couldn't find a straight answer when I searched. I currently have 2 Firewire externals. One is for Time Machine, the other is a bootable clone. However the bootable clone is too small for my current iMac's internal HDD. Can I use a USB 2.0 instead or does it have to be Firewire? And would it need its own power supply, or could it be USB powered?
Thanks

No prob, Thanks for the star.
Your better off starting a new thread for a new question as it will have a different title and more people may be able to help.
A quick search in amazon brought up this:
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-500GB-Scorpio-Laptop/dp/B001JSSDGU/ref=sr12?ie=UTF8&qid=1232579874&sr=8-2
you will need to get an external case for it. It may need two usb ports or may not, I'm not to sure. It may work at a slower peed with one and max speed with two. A good google search is an excellent way of finding answers.
Regards

Thank goodness for bootable clones

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