Installing Arch onto an SSD

So, I'm driving myself bankrupt building my first desktop soon, and I'll be using an SSD for the main part of the OS. I'm looking to put the root partition as well as /boot onto the SSD, with /home on the HDD, but after reading about using an SSD on Linux I must admit I'm a bit confused as to what I should do to optimize performance and minimize reads & writes.
What I was able to gather is that I should add noatime and discard as mount options in the /etc/fstab file, and also move /tmp to tmpfs, so that it will load in RAM instead of writing and reading to the SSD.
My main question is if this will be enough to keep my SSD fresh and optimized, or if there is more I should add or consider. If it makes any difference, my SSD will be a Samsung 840 Evo 120GB. Click here to see
Thanks for any advice
Edit: I just realized, this probably belongs more in Hardware, so if a moderator feels the same, please move it over.
Last edited by Lord_Sunday123 (2015-01-05 07:58:41)

I've seen many reports similar to the one linked by Head_on_a_Stick. The consensus of them make it pretty clear to me that the special concerns with SSD drives simply no longer apply to any modern (major brand / reasonable quality) SSD. If you were installing on a pocket usb flash drive, they'd probably still apply as those are made to be disposable.
For real world experience, I got an SSD just over a year ago and it is the only storage on the laptop I use all day at home and at work. I did nothing special in the install. I used a fdisk, which documentation at the time indicated that fdisk detects SSDs and handles alignment suitably. I probably spend far too much time on the computer working on documents and analyzing data at work and writing/compiling code or watching netflix at home (ewaller would tell me to get outside more), but in just over a year of being up-and-running for the majority of every day, my SSD is still just fine, and I anticipate it will still be so next year, and on.
EDIT: in case it's relevant this is a Corsair brand SSD. I don't know what is popular or highly rated, but Corsair was a frequently reviewed big-name brand that has been well tested (as are the Kingstons mentioned above, and Samsung in the OP), but within that category it was pretty low end. I don't recall the model name, but it was one of the cheaper ones on the market.
Last edited by Trilby (2015-01-05 13:17:05)

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Clean Install Yosemite onto new SSD (Also, what is TRIM?)

Hi,
I've been researching how to replace the Hard Drive on my Late 2011 13inch Macbook Pro (MacBookPro8,1 / 2.4 GHz / Intel Core i5 / SATA III) with a new SSD (maybe a Samsung 840 EVO) and clean install Yosemite onto it. I've found a few ways to do this on the support forums and the macrumors forum, but I want to confirm if I can do it this way:
1. Plug new SSD into the Macbook via a USB cable
2. Download Yosemite onto current Macbook Hard Drive. When I'm prompted to install, chose the new SSD from the list. Complete Installation.
3. Remove old Hard Drive from Macbook and plug new SSD in it's place (and not in the optical bay).
Would this work? I have another external hard drive with all of my documents, pictures and music on which I'm just going to manually remove over, and have no problem doing. I can also download the iLife programs directly from the App Store so I wouldn't be missing out on those either (I do have the iLife '09 discs too). I've also read about creating a bootable USB using DiskMaker X, but I feel the route I outlined would be easier.
Am I missing anything? I do have the EFI Firmware v2.7, so the problems the 2011 MacBooks were having with SATA shouldn't be an issue during this. Also, during my research, I found a references to something called TRIM. Can someone explain TRIM to me?
Thanks,
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Thanks for the response and confirming I can clean install Yosemite onto a new SSD using the process I listed in my initial post.
I have a 13'' MacBook Pro with Yosemite already installed onto it so my graphics card should be set. After almost a month of using it, I haven't noticed any issues on that end.
I guess this TRIM thing is a totally separate subject from this thread. I read Apple is no longer supporting third-party SSD for TRIM support. If you turn it on, but keep a security feature on, you risk your computer not booting correctly. It looks like the only way to have TRIM enabled on a SSD using Yosemite is to have an Apple supplied SSD, or an SSD that can trick Yosemite into thinking it's Apple supplied (like the Angelbird Wrk for Mac SSD).
I've also done a good amount of research that TRIM is only necessary if you're saving a lot of items to the hard drive in one sitting (like photoshop). I primarily use my Mac for Pages (which saves my documents into the cloud now), iTunes and Safari. I guess this would fit me into the "casual user' criteria? I've also read that if you don't use TRIM, your SSD uses "Garbage Collection" (which actually sounds terrible) to keep the SSD informed on what data can be overwritten since it's been deleted by the user. I read that most modern SSD hard drives have a pretty decent Garbage Collection function, so if you leave your computer idle, keep "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" unchecked, the SSD will run Garbage Collection on it's own and that should be sufficient enough to keep the SSD in good working order.

Installing Solaris onto an SSD drive

Hi,
first of all, sorry if this has been answered before. I couldn't find any similar topic while searching, but then again, I'm no forum wiz..
I'm thiking about installing Solaris 10 onto an SSD drive (i.e. flash based storage), so I wondered if anyone had any experience in this regard? Should I use any particular file system? Will the slow write performance make the system unusable?
Any tips on good SSD's (preferrably in the ExpressCard format) would also be greatly appreciated.

I've seen many reports similar to the one linked by Head_on_a_Stick. The consensus of them make it pretty clear to me that the special concerns with SSD drives simply no longer apply to any modern (major brand / reasonable quality) SSD. If you were installing on a pocket usb flash drive, they'd probably still apply as those are made to be disposable.
For real world experience, I got an SSD just over a year ago and it is the only storage on the laptop I use all day at home and at work. I did nothing special in the install. I used a fdisk, which documentation at the time indicated that fdisk detects SSDs and handles alignment suitably. I probably spend far too much time on the computer working on documents and analyzing data at work and writing/compiling code or watching netflix at home (ewaller would tell me to get outside more), but in just over a year of being up-and-running for the majority of every day, my SSD is still just fine, and I anticipate it will still be so next year, and on.
EDIT: in case it's relevant this is a Corsair brand SSD. I don't know what is popular or highly rated, but Corsair was a frequently reviewed big-name brand that has been well tested (as are the Kingstons mentioned above, and Samsung in the OP), but within that category it was pretty low end. I don't recall the model name, but it was one of the cheaper ones on the market.
Last edited by Trilby (2015-01-05 13:17:05)

[SOLVED] Dual booting arch onto an SSD that already has W7 in MBR?

I currently have windows 7 64bit installed onto a 256gb m4 SSD. I would like to be able to dual-boot W7 and Archlinux, but so far I've been getting wildly varying accounts of doom and data deletion from every source that I've looked at- and unfortunately, the Archwiki's guide to dualbooting is out of date.
So here's the questions:
First, is UEFI something I need to look at? At the moment W7 seems to be on MBR. I'm getting conflicting accounts on whether this is not even an issue or if it will attempt to make my computer eat my dog.
Next, what is going on with sectors and alignment and such? Some people ignore them, some people delve so far into it that I think I vaguely know they're still talking about a hard drive.
Which leads me into partitioning, and not doing it in a way that's terrible. I can't find any information on this anywhere that isn't buried within the above-mentioned posts, along with incredibly vague warnings of GParted moving a partition, spoken of in a way as if that data is lost to the twilight zone.
Finally... pulling all this together is the largest issue.
Do any of you know good, factual resources where I can look into this stuff?
Last edited by ilar (2013-04-03 03:53:31)

1) If you knew what UEFI was you should have known it wasn't an option, and shouldn't have asked about it.
2) (G)parted and gdisk (if you go with GPT at some point) handle SSD sector alignment automatically, and have for some time. A google search could have revealed that.
3) Whether one uses an SSD or HDD, dual-booting will be the same: 2+ partitions devoted to separate operating systems. While SSDs and HDDs may be fundamentally different constructs, booting from them is not different at all. That's why you aren't finding anything saying such.
4) As for the wiki being out-of-date, the specific reason (as stated page's in the header) is that GRUB legacy is no longer officially supported in Arch. Disregard that information and use GRUB2/Syslinux/LILO and the process remains the same: Install the operating systems side-by-side and chainload the secondary OS. It doesn't matter one bit: I've dual-booted every Linux distro I've used over the past four years with Windows, from Ubuntu to Mint to SuSE to Sabayon to Arch to whatever, and I've done it all the exact same way, using HDDs and an SSDs and both in combination. There's plenty of information out there on this, and your time could better have been spent looking it up rather than arguing with people here.
5) Welcome to Arch.

[SOLVED?]Install Arch onto a second hard drive....with Syslinux

Hello, Arch Linux Community!
I just get to the chase and say that right now, I have a dual-booted Windows 7 and Arch Linux on separate drives.
Windows 7 is on a internal Seagate drive.
Arch Linux is on a internal Toshiba drive.
The problem is that I can only boot on my Windows drive and the Arch drive is sitting idly.
At the moment, I have a fondness for SysLinux because of it's simplicity, so because of that, the Arch drive has SysLinux as the bootloader.
Unfortunately, I cannot seem to get SysLinux recognized by Windows, so it has become deadweight.
I have consulted the forums already and found someone else with the same predicament at this link. However, the post creator is booting with GRUB, whereas I will proceed with SysLinux.
My original plan was to:
Format /dev/sda1 (Windows Boot partition) to ext4.
Install SysLinux with Arch's automated command.
Modify syslinux.cfg to add /dev/sda (Windows) and /dev/sdb (Arch).
Should I carry out this plan? Or is GRUB the easier option when executing this task?
Last edited by matierpixel (2014-08-11 08:36:50)

anatolik wrote:
matierpixel wrote:The only error I got when I installed was that the Legacy BIOS could not be installed. Sorry if that part was important.
Yes, it is important. Most likely syslinux was not properly installed into MBR. Post exact error message. And post partition tables for your harddrives.
Here is the error I get when I installed SysLinux.
Syslinux BIOS install successful
FAILED to set attribute Legacy BIOS Bootable on /dev/sdb1
Here is the Toshiba's partition table.
Disk /dev/sdb: 232.9 GiB, 250059350016 bytes, 488397168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x54992bb3
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1 * 63 4000184 4000122 1.9G 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 4000185 484391879 480391695 229.1G 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 484391880 488397167 4005288 1.9G 83 Linux

Upgraded hardware, and went from XP to Win7 - how do I transfer/install CS5 onto new SSD hard drive?

I recently upgraded all my computer internals; new mobo, Samsung SSD (solid state drive), CPU and ram. Also went from XP Pro to Win 7 Pro, with Win 7 Pro now residing on the new solid state drive. I still have the old 1TB Serial ATA hard drive connected as a storage device, and this is where CS5 resides. But of course, my CS5 applications are now unusable.
Can someone please give me some guidance as to how to transfer the CS5 installation from the old HD (XP Pro) to the new SSD (Win 7 Pro)? I started doing some research, and read about first "deactivating" CS5, but I cannot open any of my CS5 applications to "deactivate". So I am stumped. I am reticent to attempt a new install from my CS5 disks until I learn the proper process..........
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Dave F. in Rhode Island

don't transfer, reinstall.
if you need to reset your activation count, contact adobe support - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service1.html
Downloads available:
Suites and Programs: CC 2014 | CC | CS6 | CS5.5 | CS5 | CS4 | CS3
Acrobat: XI, X | 9,8 | 9 standard
Premiere Elements: 12 | 11, 10 | 9, 8, 7
Photoshop Elements: 12 | 11, 10 | 9,8,7
Lightroom: 5.5 (win), 5.5 (mac) | 5.4 (win), 5.4 (mac) | 5 | 4 | 3
Captivate: 8 | 7 | 6 | 5
Contribute: CS5 | CS4, CS3
Download and installation help for Adobe links
Download and installation help for Prodesigntools links are listed on most linked pages. They are critical; especially steps 1, 2 and 3. If you click a link that does not have those steps listed, open a second window using the Lightroom 3 link to see those 'Important Instructions'.

Installing Arch on Macbook

I'm trying to install Arch onto a partition of my internal hard-disk.
I've gone through the installation procedure 6 times now, and each time, I can't seem to re-boot into Arch. I had a friend to the exact same scheme I am trying to do, however things aren't working for me.
Deepest re-vamp of my system so far:
I've erased my entire hard-disk, repartitioned it from the OS X DVD, installed OS X, then tried to install Arch. I've partitioned the Arch portion in OS Extended, and FAT, and neither appear to work. Everything during the install sequence works fine, GRUB installs correctly the first time (every time), however when I re-boot to try and enter Arch, I can never see the disk (neither using rEFIt, or holding down option). I end up going into OS X, and that can't even mount the disk, however it believes that it is an OS Extended formatted drive each time. I'm fairly sure I'm doing everything right, because I've checked things over with my friend's installation, which worked properly... however if there's something special that could be the problem, please do reply!!!
Thanks.

so now, after re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-installing Arch, I now get a "Windows" partition on my internal drive however when I try and boot into that using rEFIt or by holding down the option key, I get "Non-system disk \n Press any key to reboot \n _"

Best way of going about re-installing arch on a new Drive?

I'm moving from a magnetic Hard-Drive installation of Arch, to installing Arch on an SSD.
What I'm mainly concerned about, is about the best way of re-installing everything from scratch.
Regarding home directory I can just copy it.
But regarding installed packages from official repositories and AUR -
Is it advisable to find a way to list all packages to a text file, then use that text file as in input to pacman and yaourt on the new installation in order to install everything?
Did anybody here already faced this problem? I'm afraid of reinventing the wheel.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

cacplate wrote:
you can use
pacman -Qqet > packages.txt
to list packages that are explicitely installed and are not required by any other packages and make a file of this list.
Generaly, this list contains everything that you want to keep and more.
After that, you can script something to pipe every line to pacman and adding --needed to avoid reinstalling anything.
Explicitly installed packages which are dependencies of others will not appear in that list and thus lead to a different set of install reasons. The command should be pacman -Qqe instead. The safest way to do this is as follows:
old system
pacman -Qqen > explicit_native_pkgs.txt
pacman -Qqem > explicit_foreign_pkgs.txt
new system
pacman -Syu - < explicit_native_pkgs.txt
random_aur_helper ... $(cat explicit_foreign_pkgs.txt)

Help install ArchLinux onto a existing partitioned Ubuntu(Using USB)

I've installed Ubuntu on C:\ drive of Windows which resulted in full Ubuntu system but with other drives as NTFS partitions. At office I tried ArchLinux on VM Ware & liked it. Now I feel like installing Arch onto my machine(Dell Inspiron 1420) without tinkering the NTFS partions. As my CD/DVD drive isn't working, as a next option, I want to install using pendrive. Please help me with this.
Thank you.

Read the Beginners' Guide in the wiki, it has everything you need.

Trying to install Arch with Ubuntu hardy already installed

I have Ubuntu already installed on my system and I want to install Arch on a separate 10gig partition ( which is already made) but when I boot from the Arch cd and go to install Arch only sees the main drive it doesn't see anything else what am I doing wrong. I only want to install arch on the 10 gig partition for now until I am more familiar with Linux
Last edited by Shadowmeph (2008-05-20 17:35:28)

I have just read that it is informative but I am not sure of what that will do inorder for me to be able to install Arch on My tem gig partition, when I am in ubuntu I stat gparted to see what the names of my partitions are and this is what it shows /dev/sda3 swap 1gig /dev/ sda2 reiserfs 10 gigs ( where I want to install Arch) sda1 / Ubuntu how do I install arch onto dev/sda 2 ) the ten gig partition) if arch doesn't see it? do I have to delete the partition or formaste the 10 gig partition differently? I am pretty new to Linux so I am not sure of how to do this.
this is what my grub looks like
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0
## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 3
## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu
# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue
## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret
# examples
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below
## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs
## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=18573b0e-4906-4c7f-8e32-b544fd854ab5 ro
## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,0)
## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true
## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false
## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash
## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false
## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=
## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0
## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single
## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all
## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true
## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false
## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false
## ## End Default Options ##
title Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=18573b0e-4906-4c7f-8e32-b544fd854ab5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=18573b0e-4906-4c7f-8e32-b544fd854ab5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
title Ubuntu 8.04, memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
ok edit two I think that I have Arch install but I am not sure of which way to use
Dual booting with other linux distros
This is done exactly the same way that Arch linux is loaded. Here we assume that the other distro is on partition [s/h]da3.
title Other Linux
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz (add other options here as required)
initrd /boot/initrd.img (if the other kernel uses/needs one)
[edit] Dual booting with other linux distro (Chainloading)
To avoid maintenance nightmare, you might want to chainload the GRUB in the MBR to another bootloader you might have installed in the bootrecord of a partition [(hd0,2) in our example] instead of the MBR. This way the auto-magic stuff of some distro will manage the menu.lst on (hd0,2) (if it is grub) for its own distro and you will boot with all the option needed (like the correct last kernel) without the need to copy/paste some part of that menu.lst into yours.
In our example [1], GRUB is in the MBR and some other bootloader (BL) (be it grub or lilo) is in the Boot Record of (hd0,2).
| | | | % (hd0,2) |
| M | | | B % |
| B | (hd0,0) | (hd0,1) | L % Other |
| R | | | % Distro |
| | | | % |
| ^
| chainloading |
Then, you simply use in your menu.lst:
title Other Linux distro
root (hd0,2)
chainloader +1
Last edited by Shadowmeph (2008-05-20 17:56:20)

How do I install Mavericks onto a new SSD HD in my late 2008 MacBook Pro?

How do I install Mavericks onto a new SSD HD in my late 2008 Macbook Pro, and then I hopefully can reinstall my data from my Time Machine backup?
I presume the SSD will need some type of formatting, before I can install Mavericks from the internet? Then can I use my Time Machine backup to reinstall all my other software and settings?

In order to load Mavericks the SSD will have to be formatted Mac OS Extended with GUID partition mapping

MSI GT60 2PC Dominator-- Loads of problems trying to install Win8 onto SSD

Hi guys,
I really, really hope someone can help me!
I recently purchased GT60 2PC Dominator-626 which is awesome. However, it doesn't come with an SSD so I've got a Crucial M500 which I've installed. I'm trying to move over my Win8 install to this drive so that I can have my OS and most used programs on the SSD, but I've been having sooo many problems in doing this. I've tried using cloning software but no luck, whenever I clone the drive and enter bios or boot menu, it will never boot from the SSD.
What I'd be really happy to do is have a fresh install of Win8 onto the SSD, but when I try to reset my PC using the MSI UEFI settings, i will never give me the option to re-install to the SSD, only the original HD.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thank you!

Well after trying LOADS of different cloning options, I finally found a way to get my SSD work with this laptop:
I opened Burn Recovery from the app page, used that to create 5 x DVD back up of the system.
Then I removed the old HD, leaving only the SSD in. Placed the first recovery disc in and booted from DVD/CD drive.
Followed that process and now I have an install of Win8 with the MSI stuff on my SSD. I then just got Win8 running, inserted the old HD and reformatted it!

W510 can't install W7 onto new Lenovo 256GB SSD

So I have a brand new Lenovo (Toshiba) 256GB SSD. SSD THNSFC256GAMJ. Lenovo Part Number 45N7990. When I attempt to install Win7 onto on my W510 Type 4389-A97 it says there's no drive to install to and asks for a driver. I can't find a driver anywhere. The 160GB Intel SSD I have works fine. Is there a driver I need? If so, where do I get it from? I can't even find reference to this drive on the Lenovo site yet is has a Lenovo part number.

hey StuartHickson,
is the Win7 which you're trying to install your own disc ?
anyway, have you made recovery media for your W510 using Rescue & Recovery? If you have, then I would like you to use those disc first and restore your unit.
once that is one, try installing W7 on your unit.
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How do I install OSX onto a new SSD (in the place of my optical drive) without transferring all data across. However, with the applications, system and library on the SSD to improve the speed, but keep non essential items (the home folder) on the HDD

I have a mid 2009 13 inch unibody 2.53GHz MacBook Pro. I'm finding that it doesn't run as quickly as it used to.
A genius in the Apple store suggested that I replace my optical drive with an SSD, however only use the SSD for OSX, applications, system and library. Keep all documents, pictures, music etc on the current hard drive.
I would be grateful if someone could help me with:
1) installing OSX on the SSD without copying across data from the current hard drive
2) transferring applications, system and library folders across to the SSD so that they still function
3) changing my settings so that OSX reads the home folder from the current hard drive, as well as all the applications' data (documents, music etc...)
However, I would like to run iMovie, with all events etc solely from the SSD to speed up the process of editing movies.
If anyone could help with this, it would be much appreciated.

If you got the data transfer cable with your SSD, the procedure should be pretty simple - and there should be step-by-step instructions in the box. You're simply going to remove the bottom case of your computer (using a Phillips #00 screwdriver), take out the two screws in the bracket holding the hard drive into place (using same screwdriver), remove the drive and (use a Torx 6 screwdriver) remove the four screws that hold the hard drive in place. Then put in the SSD and reassemble the machine.
Then you'll plug up the old hard drive by using the SATA to USB cable and use the option key to boot from the old drive. I don't know what data transfer software Crucial provides, but I would recommend formatting the SSD using Disk Utility from your old drive ("Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" with a single GUID partition) and then use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your old drive to your new SSD (see this user tip for cloning - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4122). You needn't worry about getting an enclosure since you have the data transfer cable and you don't want to use your old hard drive.
There are a number of videos on YouTube that take you step-by-step through this procedure - many specific to Crucial SSDs and their data transfer kit - do a little searching there if you're unsure of how to procede.
Clinton

HT4461 How to load a copy of Lion on to disk to boot from and install OS onto MacBook after replacing HD with SSD?

Hello, All.
I am replacing the Hard Drive (HD) in my MacBook with a Solid State Drive (SSD) to improve reliability and speed. How do I go about getting the Lion OS, which only came as a web download, onto a disk to boot from and load onto the SSD?

http://www.macworld.com/article/1161069/make_a_bootable_lion_installer.html

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