What is disk image for?

[Mac1337]

Does the disk image contain all the file on the disk? Can I image my HD then take the image to another machine and transfer the files?

[ztirffritz]

Yes, but you have to mount the image before you can do anything with it. It is a single file that the OS will handle as if it were an external drive or a CD.

[Black Landlord]

You can create an encrypted disc image to protect private data. I haven't really figured out what other uses a disk image has.

[kj4btkljv]

TONS of Mac software developers use disk images to transport their software from either an optical disk, or the internet to your computer. It keeps things just like they created them, with all supporting files, all documentation, icons, background pictures, etc.


I use disk images in my SuperDuper backups. Keeps all my user items all in one easy-to-find location.

Jeff

[Black Landlord]

[quote kj4btkljv]TONS of Mac software developers use disk images to transport their software from either an optical disk, or the internet to your computer. It keeps things just like they created them, with all supporting files, all documentation, icons, background pictures, etc.


I use disk images in my SuperDuper backups. Keeps all my user items all in one easy-to-find location.

Jeff
And many users can't understand why they have their installation package mounted like a volume on their desktop, or whether they can trash it.

[wickedsteve]

[quote ztirffritz]Yes, but you have to mount the image before you can do anything with it.
Usually but not exactly. Disk Utility can restore a disk from another disk or an image without opening it.

[Mac1337]

So can I just copy the disk image to a flash drive and take it to another machine? Is the image the same size as the drive it imaged?

[wurm]

I finally discovered a good use for a disk image. When backing up my son's MacBook with CCC, we didn't want to have a bunch of lose files on the the external drive where I also back up my iMac drive. So CCC suggests making a disk image and backing up the drive to that. Then for restore, you obviously need to mount the image, but then you can pull whatever you need from it. Also, the image is not bootable, but once mounted, it is.

[kj4btkljv]

[quote Black Landlord]And many users can't understand why they have their installation package mounted like a volume on their desktop, or whether they can trash it.
True that. I can't tell you how many disk images I find on the hard drives of people's computers I work on. It's a pain actually.

Jeff

[wickedsteve]

[quote Dakota]So can I just copy the disk image to a flash drive and take it to another machine? Is the image the same size as the drive it imaged?
The image will be athe same size as the original, maybe a little smaller if you make a compressed image. Most of my HDs will not fit on any flash drive I can find.