Replacing hard drive on Macbook Pro

[MikeO]

Could anybody advise me on this please?

I'd like to replace the hard drive on my 2010 Macbook pro (13" 2.66 GHz, 8Gb RAM) with a 480Gb solid state memory - probably this one.

However, although I remotely back up using Time Machine, how do I get the memory (ie all software, OS etc) onto the new drive? I currently have a 320Gb HDD, so there should be no capacity problems. It is not partitioned for Boot Camp.

Sorry if this is a numpty question, but the instructions on Crucial's site talk about installing the hardware (which I'm pretty happy with doing anyway), but not about how to swap the content...

Cheers,

Mike

 

[the director]

Not maybe answering your question but.....

I did this on my 13" Macbook but I swapped out the optical drive i.e. made it an external drive and now have two hard drives. I then installed OSX and applications on the new SSD and left the data on the original drive. Timemachine is now set to back up both drives.

 

[mvrandery]

However, although I remotely back up using Time Machine, how do I get the memory (ie all software, OS etc) onto the new drive? I currently have a 320Gb HDD, so there should be no capacity problems. It is not partitioned for Boot Camp.

Use either "Carbon Copy Cloner" or "Super Duper"

You have to attach the new drive to your computer using a USB external enclosure - they're quite cheap on Amazon - and then duplicate your old drive onto the new one using one of the two above programs

 

[MikeO]

Use either "Carbon Copy Cloner" or "Super Duper"

You have to attach the new drive to your computer using a USB external enclosure - they're quite cheap on Amazon - and then duplicate your old drive onto the new one using one of the two above programs

Thanks - something like this?

Mike

 

[mvrandery]

Thanks - something like this?

Mike

That's it

 

[ianf]

That's it

I just used a USB to Sata cable, but it was more expensive than that one.

One nuance of ssd is that you need to let the controller know which logical blocks are in use and which are freed. The free ones can be cleared and added to the list of blocks to be reused by the drive to enable wear levelling, and avoiding write amplification if the io pattern causes it.

OS X knows how to do it but you need to turn on trim support for non-oem drives:-


https://discussions.apple.com/message/22535463#22535463


Do it after you are booted on the new volume obviously.

 

[shay]

boot from firewire drive

Mike,

You can connect a firewire external drive to your mbp, use superduper to clone your existing drive, then you can boot from the external drive. Replace the internal hd with the ssd, boot from the external firewire drive and use superduper to clone the external drive to the internal ssd.

No need to reinstall the OS. Superduper makes an exact bootable copy of your internal drive to the firewire external.

You can only boot from an external drive attached to your firewire port, afaik. You can't boot from a drive attached to the usb port.

If you search the SuperDuper site and forum, you should find more details on how to do this. I've used this to replace the internal hd on my mbp's in the past.

An external firewire hd isn't cheap but it's a good idea to keep a superduper backup of your hd on an external drive as well as a time machine backup.

 

[MikeO]

I just used a USB yada yada yada cable, but it was more expensive than that one.

One nuance of ssd is that you yada yada yada yada yada yada. The free ones can be cleared and added to the yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada.

OS X knows how to do it but you need to yada yada yada yada yada etc:-


https://discussions.apple.com/message/22535463#22535463


Do it after you are booted on the new volume obviously.

Sorry Ian, this is all I understood

 

[ianf]

Ah well.

Simple version.

1. Make an exact copy onto the ssd in that caddy. Using the software described above (carbon copy cloner I used)
2. Fiddle with tiny screws and swap drives. See ifixit.com if it gets tricky. May need to peel off and re-glue some thermal sensors.
3. Boot up
4. Load trim enabler, from the link in the link I posted.

5. Enjoy fast laptop.

 

[MikeO]

Ah well.

Simple version.

1. Make an exact copy onto the ssd in that caddy. Using the software described above (carbon copy cloner I used)
2. Fiddle with tiny screws and swap drives. See ifixit.com if it gets tricky. May need to peel off and re-glue some thermal sensors.
3. Boot up
4. Load trim enabler, from the link in the link I posted.

5. Enjoy fast laptop.

Excellent! Thanks very much

OK if I use you as a translation service in future?

 

[MikeO]

Mike,

You can connect a firewire external drive to your mbp, use superduper to clone your existing drive, then you can boot from the external drive. Replace the internal hd with the ssd, boot from the external firewire drive and use superduper to clone the external drive to the internal ssd.

No need to reinstall the OS. Superduper makes an exact bootable copy of your internal drive to the firewire external.

You can only boot from an external drive attached to your firewire port, afaik. You can't boot from a drive attached to the usb port.

If you search the SuperDuper site and forum, you should find more details on how to do this. I've used this to replace the internal hd on my mbp's in the past.

An external firewire hd isn't cheap but it's a good idea to keep a superduper backup of your hd on an external drive as well as a time machine backup.

Thanks Shay - probably going to stick to the USB option if I can.

Just a thought - is there any reason I can't just use a remote drive I already have as the temporary boot disk (obviously using the SuperDuper or other cloning software)?

 

[alanbmwgs]

WOW !!!!

Well I never, All that technical advice.............. and no one can explain why I have to log in every time I visit the UKGSER site, well I'll have to accept that if your Helmet does not fit ..... FUCK OFF and join another Forum. Maybe one for Boring Bastards. Should I have posted this in the Rant Section ?????. no doubt that know it all T**t from Yorkshire will put me straight.

I won't old my breath awaiting a reply, thanks for FUCK ALL....

PS. you seem to be a decent guy Mike, love your reports, and the odd PM we have had,I really hope you resolve your problem, good luck and goodbye.

 

[MikeO]

Blimey - I've never had anyone flounce in one of my threads before...

 

[alanbmwgs]

blimey!

Blimey - I've never had anyone flounce in one of my threads before...

Do you think I'm getting paranoid... two posts, approx 110 views, and not one comment ????

 

[MikeO]

Do you think I'm getting paranoid... two posts, approx 110 views, and not one comment ????

Maybe no-one knew the answer?

 

[ianf]

That was quite spectacular.

Hands up someone wanting to support someone's infested windows browser problem then.....


..... Nope thought not.


Back to your question Mike.

You need an exact ( block for block ) copy onto the new ssd disk, not just a logical copy onto any old drive to hand to copy back from.

You could do a fresh install onto the ssd and restore stuff, but *much* quicker to clone onto the new ssd. You can keep the old hd in case the ssd shits the bed early.

Stop time machine before you swap disks, and be prepared for a long backup first time you do it after turning it back on.

 

[shay]

Thanks Shay - probably going to stick to the USB option if I can.

Just a thought - is there any reason I can't just use a remote drive I already have as the temporary boot disk (obviously using the SuperDuper or other cloning software)?

Hi Mike,

If you use a "remote Disk" like Apple's time capsule, or a usb drive connected to an Apple Airport exteme / drobo / other networked drive, you can't boot from it. The drive has to be physically connected to the mbp. Apple do have a "remote disk" feature but it's for sharing an optical / DVD drive, not a hard disk.

The best way is to get a firewire external drive, use superduper to clone to it and you have a fully bootable clone of your internal drive. Backup to it once a week / month as well as Time Machine. I like time machine for it's incremental backups, if you delete a photo / document, it's very easy to go to TM and retrieve it. I prefer SuperDuper for backing up / cloning the complete HD. If you're on a bike trip, carry the external (firewire) hd with superduper backup and you can survive an internal hd failure.

SmartReporter: Free Lite Version is a nice app that sits on your top menubar. It shows a green icon when your internal hd is healthy and changes colour & sends you an email if the drive starts to fail. It's not foolproof but it's a good indicator if your hd is showing SMART failures.

 

[shay]

Well I never, All that technical advice.............. and no one can explain why I have to log in every time I visit the UKGSER site,

1: clear cookies and cache (google for instructions for your browser)

2: close and restart browser

3: ensure you allow 3rd party cookies in your browser. You will find this in preferences, google if unsure. Cookies are used to remember your login info, they corrupt over time, hence clear cookies and cache. Some people set their browser security / privacy settings too high - to not remember cookies. If the browser won't remember cookies, you will have to login every time

4: happy now ??????

 

[MikeO]

OK, thanks - so this bit of kit looks like what I need to put the SSD drive in to clone the HDD. I can then switch them over and keep the current HDD in this case, I suppose?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2-5-USB2-0-Firewire-1394-SATA-Hard-Disk-Drive-HDD-Enclosure-Caddy-Case-/130996028864?pt=UK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL&hash=item1e7ff8c5c0

Next question

This is the only port available on my MacBook - it doesn't look like the same profile cable as in the above advert - any ideas as to what cable I need to do the job? You've probably guessed I haven't used it thus far...

 

[shay]

check the firewire port by going to the apple logo at top left of screen - about this mac - more info - system report. I think you have a firewire 800 port and the cradle has a firewire 400 port. If so, buy an adapter like this one which allows you to connect a fw 400 device to a fw 800 port.