1-1 backup of Macbook pro hard drive

[capr]

Hello, I am new to the Mac/Apple world and am trying to figure out how to backup my system. 

 

note: I can backup files with time machine but I want to backup the system. 

 

The ultimate desire is to put in a new, empty, hard drive and restore everything. It should feel like nothing has changed; so applications, settings, keychain stuff... I want everything. Is this possible?

 

thanks,

 

[Ravensky]

1 minute ago, capr said:

Hello, I am new to the Mac/Apple world and am trying to figure out how to backup my system. 

 

note: I can backup files with time machine but I want to backup the system. 

 

The ultimate desire is to put in a new, empty, hard drive and restore everything. It should feel like nothing has changed; so applications, settings, keychain stuff... I want everything. Is this possible?

 

thanks,

 

You can do 1:1 copy of your hard drive to a new drive with Disk Utility, you can also make an image of your existing drive with the same utility.

[offroadaaron]

time machine can do that. though one bit of software I like and sometimes use is superduper, you can copy you machine to the drive, replace the hard drive, boot to the usb drive and clone it back.

[James035]

Yes , TM backup is sufficient; you don't need to "install" the OS and then restore the backup.