Cloning iMac HD with Big Sur to a new external SSD

[Alwyn]

I have updated to the latest CCC version but get a message saying the task is suspended and offering 2 options 1 to leave it suspended and the second to activate task. I opted for the second and have given CCC access in Security and Privacy.

On Bombich's website it says that:

When you select an APFS volume group (e.g. your macOS Big Sur startup disk) as the source to a task, and a destination that is not an already-established Big Sur volume, CCC will offer some choices for how to proceed with the task depending on how the selected destination is configured. We recommend that you dedicate a volume to the backup task, because the volume will have to be erased to establish a bootable backup.

Erase the destination

When you select this option, CCC will configure the task to use Apple's APFS replicator to clone the selected source to the selected destination. When you start the task, the destination will be immediately erased. SafetyNet is not applicable in this configuration, so be sure that you have selected an empty volume, or a volume that has data that may be deleted (e.g. an old backup).

I am not getting an option to erase the destination. The new SSD has ExFAT and the only option in Disk Utility is to erase it and replace it with MacOS Extended not with AFPS.

 

[ferrarr]

In Disk Utility, you should enable the View menu option to "Display all devices". You need to select the top level of the device to change to GUID partition.

 

[Alwyn]

Disk utility won't allow me to partition the SSD (Sandisk Extreme).

 

[lclev]

You are not actually partitioning the drive into sections. In Disk utility select the name of the drive and then erase. In the pop up window make sure APFS is the format selection and GUID is indicated as the scheme and you can also name the disk. That will erase all the containers on the drive. Then open CCC and select the disk. There should be a button that says erase in the lower right corner. Click that and when it finishes click clone.

I know it seems redundant to erase twice but unfortunately with Big Sur in order to update the OS container you have to erase all. If you don't want to update the OS container but just the data you can just open CCC and clone the data. Keep in mind this will not update the OS.

Lisa

 

[Alwyn]

In Disk Utility, you should enable the View menu option to "Display all devices". You need to select the top level of the device to change to GUID partition.

Thanks. I also hadn't deleted all the previous tasks. Lisa has given a good explanation of the process .

 

[Alwyn]

You are not actually partitioning the drive into sections. In Disk utility select the name of the drive and then erase. In the pop up window make sure APFS is the format selection and GUID is indicated as the scheme and you can also name the disk. That will erase all the containers on the drive. Then open CCC and select the disk. There should be a button that says erase in the lower right corner. Click that and when it finishes click clone.

I know it seems redundant to erase twice but unfortunately with Big Sur in order to update the OS container you have to erase all. If you don't want to update the OS container but just the data you can just open CCC and clone the data. Keep in mind this will not update the OS.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa. I got there in the end. Yours is an excellent explanation of the process and why's and wherefore's.

 

[IWT]

Thanks Lisa. I got there in the end. Yours is an excellent explanation of the process and why's and wherefore's.

How about giving her a "Like"?

Ian

 

[lclev]

Thanks Lisa. I got there in the end. Yours is an excellent explanation of the process and why's and wherefore's.

You are most welcome!

Lisa