So, download that to a separate partition in my back up HD. At this point, can I install new HD? Is so will there be any operating system visible? How do I use the reinstall application? If I can, then just reinstall my back up? Or do I just take it to the Genius Bar and let them do it?
It's pretty simple. Make the bootable Lion installer. Install the new hard drive and then boot from the lion installer. Have it use the disk tools in the utilities menu to partition the drive. Then run the installer. After it installs it will ask if you have another mac or old hard drive to transfer your settings from. Tell it yes and point it to the old hard drive and it will copy all the apps and settings to the new drive. It will be just like you never changed the drive you just have more space. Let me know if you need more specific instructions
as long as you point it to where your current home folder is or do a time machine backup and have it load from that, you're set. It's pretty straightforward.
You have to use the disk tool under utilities in the first of the install to format it to Mac OS extended(journaled). Then you will be able to select it. The format has to happen before the install. Sorry for the late reply, it's finals week.
what i would do is get a new enclosure, put your new drive in it. install carbon copy cloner and run that pointing at the new drive. once that is done take out the old drive and put the new one in.
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