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Can I back up one computer and use the clone to restore another computer?

 

As long as the architectures match (e.g. intel vs. ppc), then the answer is **probably yes**. However, there are two caveats.

  1. Some of your preferences on Mac OS X are considered "host-specific." Preferences such as these will be ignored if you boot your cloned operating system and data from another machine. For example, the screen saver preferences are host-specific -- if you boot another machine from your bootable clone and the screen saver kicks in, you will notice that it has reverted to default settings. Do not fear that you have lost any data, your original preferences will be "restored" when you boot again from your original computer. To learn exactly what preferences are host-specific, navigate in the Finder to your home directory, then to Library/Preferences/ByHost.
  2. Don't install older versions of Mac OS than what comes with your computer. When you get a brand new Mac from Apple, it usually has a specific version of Mac OS X installed on it, and further, a specific "build" number. If you install an older version or build of the OS, for example by cloning your older Mac to it, then it may behave unexpectedly. When migrating your old Mac to your new Mac, be sure that your old Mac has been updated to at least one later release than what came on the new Mac. For example, if your new Mac came with 10.4.7, update your old Mac to 10.4.8 before migrating. If such an update is not available, use the Migration Assistant instead.

Apple Kbase #HT2186: Don't install older versions of Mac OS than what comes with your computer
Apple Kbase #HT2681: What's a "computer-specific Mac OS X release"?