How to check if backup is bootable

[Scott Kathe]

I've got my Super Duper backup up on a 500 GB WD My Book with a firewire and from what I've just found out I'm concerned that it isn't bootable from my intel iMac. How can I find this out? If I swap the firewire with a USB cable will it then be bootable?

Scott

[dnanian]

Did you try actually starting up from it, Scott?

[Scott Kathe]

That's the question. I turn on the iMac and hold down what key? Or am I thinking about this all wrong?

[dnanian]

Did you try selecting it in the startup disk preference pane?

[Scott Kathe]

Originally Posted by dnanian

Did you try selecting it in the startup disk preference pane?

Sure, I can do this and see how it goes. But I would really like to simulate what would happen if the internal hard drive in the iMac fails. Can I run the iMac with a dead internal drive and the backup on the external drive?

Scott

[dnanian]

Then you hold down the Option/Alt key and select the disk from the menu.