Meaning of Copy and Duplicate As Regards HD

[durango]

When I right-click on the Macintosh HD icon residing on my desktop, the options in the drop-down menu include "Duplicate" and "Copy".

What do these mean exactly? Does Duplicate create a Clone of my entire HD to wherever I designate? And what does Copy do?

Thanks in advance

 

[harryb2448]

This explains it Durango:-

What is the different between "duplicate" and "copy"? - MacRumors Forums

If you are going to clone, do so to an external hard drive connected via USB2 or Firwire 800.

 

[durango]

This explains it Durango:-

What is the different between "duplicate" and "copy"? - MacRumors Forums

Harry, that doesn't quite explain my question, which has nothing to do with Finder. I don't care what window is open......as long as I can see the Macintosh HD icon on my desktop. If I then right-click on this icon, a menu drops down showing the following actions:
Open
Burn "Macintosh HD" to Disc
Duplicate
Make Alias
Copy "Macintosh HD"

The two actions shown in bold.....I'm trying to figure out what they do. Thanks.

 

[Slydude]

This night clear thins up a bit Copying and Moving: Copying vs. Moving vs. Duplicating Files | Problems with OS X Files: Open, Copy, Delete, and Beyond | Peachpit

 

[durango]

This night clear thins up a bit Copying and Moving: Copying vs. Moving vs. Duplicating Files | Problems with OS X Files: Open, Copy, Delete, and Beyond | Peachpit

I truly understand the concepts of moving, copying and duplicating a file. But my question doesn't pertain to just a file.........it pertains to the entire hard drive. When I right click on the Macintosh HD icon, I see options like Burn HD to disc, Copy HD, and Duplicate.

If these options indeed pertain to the entire drive, why do I need 3rd party programs like CCC or Superduper to backup my HD? Why don't I just invoke the Copy HD option and have my HD backed up to wherever I choose? Or similarly, why can't the Duplicate option be used to backup my HD to wherever I choose?

 

[Rod]

I see what you are getting at durango but despite the fact that you are theoretically correct to create a Copy of your HD onto the Clipboard would require double the space your Macintosh HD already takes up on the HD. It would be very time consuming and than you would have to Paste it somewhere, taking the same time or more.
Duplicate on the other hand can create a duplicate of your HD on another drive but it would not be updated as with SuperDuper or CCC and I think it would not be Bootable. That means you would need another computer to open the Copy. All in all a useless exercise for your purposes.

 

[Slydude]

I think you are right about boot ability Rod. I haven't confirmed it but I think either the copy or duplicate methods would have a problem with the many invisible files on a drive. I don't think they would get selected for copying/duplication unless they were first set to be visible.

 

[Rod]

Slydude thanks for the confirmation. I have created a few OSX installers and it always involves locating certain package contents either by using terminal or Disk Utility.

 

[cradom]

Actually I don't think you're supposed to use it on the entire drive.
In *nix, everything is a file, no matter what it is. I think Apple just couldn't figure out how to exclude the drive in the contextual menu for files without some serious voodoo.
Just my opinion.

 

[Slydude]

You might be right there Craig. I knew I'd never used it that way. I never really thought about the Unix voodoo that would have been needed to exclude these commands from being applied to the entire drive.

The mere thought of this gives me a major headache and possibly a good case of the hives.

 

[Rod]

I'm with you cradom, after I posted to this thread this morning the very same thing occured to me. Just a case of not being able to change the menu for the sake of the HD. After all (although I do) not everyone bothers to even display the Macintosh HD icon on their desktop.

 

[durango]

After all (although I do) not everyone bothers to even display the Macintosh HD icon on their desktop.

As you know, Rod, it does take a special skill to effect that display, so you and I must be among the chosen few. ;D

 

[harryb2448]

Vitally important information. Let's have a poll lol!