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Definitive step by step guide to upgrading to SSD

  • 08-02-2016 12:03PM
    #1
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭


    Hi Folks,

    So my new 500gb SSD arrived this morning, I also have the required tools and cable to swap out my HD for the SSD.

    What I am missing is the tech know-how!

    Can someone give me a step by step guide for swapping out my hard drive for the SSD? Or perhaps give a link to a tutorial showing same? I have looked on YouTube but cant find anything definitive.

    Looking for info from getting all the files from my old hd to the ssd, maintaining all software as they are on my macbook now, what I have to do with the ssd (formatting, partitioning if needed)

    All help is greatly appreciated!

    thanks

    frAg


Comments

  • #2
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    OSI wrote: »
    Which Macbook specifically do you have?

    Mid 2012 MBP, 13"


  • #3
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    OSI wrote: »
    For the physical fitting, these are both good guides:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7co5-qJhuM


    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Replacement/10378

    For the moving of data and software, it depends. Do you have an external hard drive enclosure you could use, or borrow from a friend? Or another Mac you could borrow?


    Cheers for that. I have an external dr but it's 3/4 full so not enough space for files on HD. Is it possible to drag n drop from old HD to SSD? What about my applications?


  • #4
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    OSI wrote: »
    If you have an external drive, you best bet is to take out the disk currently in it, place the SSD in the casing and connect it to the Mac. Then using Disk Utility create an image of the disk in the mac and restore it to the SSD in the enclosure. Then swap out the disks in the Mac and you should have all your data.

    Sorry, I should have stated that the external drive is just a HD, no casing. I connect it via USB, used solely to drag and drop files movies, music, pics etc that I dont want clogging up space on laptop.


  • #5
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    How are you planning to install the new drive ? Do you intend to remove the Optical Drive and replace it with the SSD or are you replacing the original HDD ? What make/model of SSD did you get ?

    Ken


  • #6
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    frag420 wrote: »
    Sorry, I should have stated that the external drive is just a HD, no casing. I connect it via USB, used solely to drag and drop files movies, music, pics etc that I dont want clogging up space on laptop.

    If there's no casing how is it connected to the Mac ? Are you using a USB to SATA adapter of some sort ?

    Ken


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  • #7
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    ZENER wrote: »
    How are you planning to install the new drive ? Do you intend to remove the Optical Drive and replace it with the SSD or are you replacing the original HDD ? What make/model of SSD did you get ?

    Ken

    The plan was to physically remove my current HD and replace it with this....http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00P73B1E4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00


  • #8
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    Ah !! Then you're in luck ! That drive comes with cloning software on CD that will simplify the process of getting your data onto the new SSD. You just have to figure out how to connect the drive to your computer. I've used a few of these on upgrades and the software is very easy to use.

    Ken


  • #9
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    ZENER wrote: »
    Ah !! Then you're in luck ! That drive comes with cloning software on CD that will simplify the process of getting your data onto the new SSD. You just have to figure out how to connect the drive to your computer. I've used a few of these on upgrades and the software is very easy to use.

    Ken

    Should have mentioned I also bought this to connect it to my MBP..http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RN7C560?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00


  • #10
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    frag420 wrote: »
    Should have mentioned I also bought this to connect it to my MBP..http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RN7C560?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

    Then you have everything you need then ?! Use this to connect the SSD to the Mac via USB. Insert the CD that came with the drive, run the cloning software then swap the old drive with the new drive.

    Personally I prefer to do a clean installation of the OS when I do this but if the applications are the kind that you don't have installers for then cloning is probably the way to go. Time Machine will restore your accounts, emails, media and settings but not your applications.

    Let us know how you get on ?

    Ken


  • #11
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    ZENER wrote: »
    Then you have everything you need then ?! Use this to connect the SSD to the Mac via USB. Insert the CD that came with the drive, run the cloning software then swap the old drive with the new drive.

    Personally I prefer to do a clean installation of the OS when I do this but if the applications are the kind that you don't have installers for then cloning is probably the way to go. Time Machine will restore your accounts, emails, media and settings but not your applications.

    Let us know how you get on ?

    Ken

    Cheers for that. Sorry to be a pain but should I back up things on Time Machine before hooking up the SSD to clone and swap?


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  • #12
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    It would be no harm to have a backup just in case anything goes wrong. Better to be looking at it than looking for it as a tutor of mine was fond of saying. If anything goes wrong at the very least you can get your emails and media back.

    You could also create a disk image as suggested above by OSI.

    Ken


  • #13
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    ZENER wrote: »
    It would be no harm to have a backup just in case anything goes wrong. Better to be looking at it than looking for it as a tutor of mine was fond of saying. If anything goes wrong at the very least you can get your emails and media back.

    You could also create a disk image as suggested above by OSI.

    Ken

    A favourite saying of mine!! OK I will give it a bash tonight and see how I get on. Cheers so far for the help!


  • #14
    Doodah7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,908 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    I did this a while ago:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91091054&postcount=6


  • #15
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    tallpaul wrote: »
    I did this a while ago:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91091054&postcount=6

    Ok so I tried this last night. I followed all steps however I did not get the option to partition the SSD as per steps 6-10.

    The part that said partition was not highlighted so I could not choose it. I could choose erase though as per step 10 so I skipped the partition part as could not do it.

    I left it cloning and will hopefully swap them out tonight but just wanted to check will the above issue around partitioning effect the SSD?

    Cheers


  • #16
    Doodah7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,908 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    frag420 wrote: »
    Ok so I tried this last night. I followed all steps however I did not get the option to partition the SSD as per steps 6-10.

    The part that said partition was not highlighted so I could not choose it. I could choose erase though as per step 10 so I skipped the partition part as could not do it.

    I left it cloning and will hopefully swap them out tonight but just wanted to check will the above issue around partitioning effect the SSD?

    Cheers

    Are you running El Capitan? I think Apple changed Disk Utility with the new version of OSX.


  • #17
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    tallpaul wrote: »
    Are you running El Capitan? I think Apple changed Disk Utility with the new version of OSX.

    Yeah running El Cap


  • #18
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    How does using El Cap change the process, anyone know?

    Thanks


  • #19
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    Anyone know? would I need to start all over again?


  • #20
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,167 ✭✭✭ZENER


    Have you decided not to simply clone the drive with the included software ? You should be able to erase the new drive with Disk Utility then kick off the cloning.

    Ken


  • #21
    Doodah7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,908 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    If you are using a brand new SSD, then there should be only one partition on it anyway? If you erase and format, you should be okay.


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  • #22
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    ZENER wrote: »
    Have you decided not to simply clone the drive with the included software ? You should be able to erase the new drive with Disk Utility then kick off the cloning.

    I used carbon copy cloner to clone my old HD to the SDD. I erased it using dosk utility first.
    Ken
    tallpaul wrote: »
    If you are using a brand new SSD, then there should be only one partition on it anyway? If you erase and format, you should be okay.

    Thats what I have done. Should be ok to stick swap out now I guess?

    Also il assume that the space used in the olf HD should match up with space used on the new one, I saw a slight discrepancy last night but will need to recheck it to be sure.

    Any more help/advice greatly appreciated.


  • #23
    Doodah7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,908 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    frag420 wrote: »

    Also il assume that the space used in the olf HD should match up with space used on the new one, I saw a slight discrepancy last night but will need to recheck it to be sure.

    If it is properly cloned, they should be identical. In any event disconnect the drive then reboot. Then connect the new drive via USB and reboot holding down cmd R and choose the new drive. If it boots properly then you should be good to go to physically swap the drives.


  • #24
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    hi,

    So I managed to swap out the old HD for the SSD. Went well or so I thought....

    However I am having the odd issue since with the main problem being that my macbook freezes randomly, the cursor will still move about but I can't click on anything and I have to hold down the power button to power it down to rectify the issue. There is no spinning ball at all when this happens.

    Any ideas?


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