Convert Mac OS X system drive to regular media drive - without formatting??

peanutismint · 8 Jan 2011 at 20:13

I have a Mac OS X install on a hard drive which I've removed from my system due to installing a new SSD with a brand new install of OS X. I'd like to use the old 500GB drive as a storage/backup drive, but the file system/all my data is still intact on the drive. This could be useful as I want to keep all my data and would save me having to copy across to another drive, format the entire disk and then copy it all back.

I'm just a bit worried about what to do with the system files that were on there... can I just move all the files I want to keep out of the usual Mac home folders and then just delete all the system folders as if they were never there? Or do I have to re-format/re-partition to get the most out of the 'new' media drive?

FreeStream · 8 Jan 2011 at 21:03

You can delete the Library, System and Applications folder.

There is still loads of stuff that you can't see but nothing really that would make you have to format it.

peanutismint · 8 Jan 2011 at 21:21

Ah cool; I had heard there was a hidden system partition or something, but as long as it's not taking up a massive amount of space I don't mind....How much space are we talking here??

Also, if I wanted to slice a small partition into the drive on which to install Windows 7 via Bootcamp, any ideas if there's a way to do that without formatting?? Or will it not allow you to install Windows on a 'non-system' drive??

FreeStream · 8 Jan 2011 at 22:23

peanutismint said:
Ah cool; I had heard there was a hidden system partition or something, but as long as it's not taking up a massive amount of space I don't mind....How much space are we talking here??

Also, if I wanted to slice a small partition into the drive on which to install Windows 7 via Bootcamp, any ideas if there's a way to do that without formatting?? Or will it not allow you to install Windows on a 'non-system' drive??

You have to partition it as bootcamp utility won't do it.

But then you get into a world of pain if there are files which you can't see in the way of changing the partition map.

Personally for the easy way out backing up, wiping and restoring is the way forward if you want to do all that.

Give it a go with disk utility and see if your lucky.

peanutismint · 8 Jan 2011 at 22:24

Cool, thanks for the tip - I'll give it a go once I've had time to back up my bits!