Speed up early 2009 macbook5,2 by switching mechanical hard drive to SSD

I am running Mavericks on an early 2009 Macbook5,2 4gb RAM CPU@2ghz Intel core 2 duo. It is running at an unacceptably slow speed. Network performance is very hopeless too. I am wondering if switching mechanical hard disk to a SSD would revive this macbook enough to keep it for a few more years. Please advise if this approach has a chance to improve its performance adequately. If yes, what steps to follow to migrate software on my existing hard drive to SSD?

Your Macbook has a SATA bus.
1. This is what I recommend. Some drives which are SATA 2/3 compliant do not support SATA 1. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-2-5-Inch-SATA_6_0_gb-MZ-7PD512BW/dp/B0 09NB8WTI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405128604&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+840+pro
I have used this in SATA 1 systems without any issues (the OCZ Vector is an example of problems with SATA 1).
2. Replacing the drive can be done using these steps - https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Core+2+Duo+Hard+Drive+Replacement/514
3. I suggest you use an external drive and make a Time Machine Backup of your MB, before you make any changes. If you have a Time Capsule, it can help as well (otherwise see if you can find a USB/FW external drive for backup).
4. Once you have a good backup, replace the drive using steps in 2. Take the old drive from the MB and put it in an external SATA enclosure (preferably one that has both USB and Firewire), so it becomes your external boot disk. If you do not want a SATA enclosure, you can also consider a FW only enclosure.
5. You can now boot from the external disk. Restore the TM backup in step 3 to the internal SSD. You will have to format the internal SSD (because it is usually unformatted). FW connectivity will allow you to daisy-chain the TM backup and your external boot drive. The restore also makes your internal drive bootable. All your applications/settings/accounts/passwords will also be preserved this way. You are essentially restoring everything from the old drive to the new drive.
If you need help regarding TM, let me know.

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Early 2009 17" MBP doesn't see new SuperTalent SSD

Just installed the SuperTalent MasterDrive RX 512 GB SSD in my early 2009 MBP 17". I was originally worried about the drive fitting in the machine since it is 12.mm tall, but that was not a problem. It fits snugly but it does fit.
My problem is that the machine doesn't see the drive. I have taken it out and put it in an external USB enclosure and was able to create a GUID partition map and mac os extendend journaled partition. Then put it back in the MBP to see if that helped. No luck, the disk utility still can not see it but the System Profiler does identify it in the SATA area.
Here is some info about my MBP from system profiler if it helps anyone: Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,2
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP52.008E.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.42f4
Anybody out there able to get this SuperTalent drive to work in a similar MacBook Pro?
Thanks in advance,
Message was edited by: SecurityFan

OK, I think I have figured this out. It is an odd process but it does get me to where I want to be. I ran acorss another forum post where someone had the same issue with a different SSD. They said that their problem was resolved by installing OSX on the SSD while it was connected via USB. I didn't think the setup DVD would install the OS to an externally connected drive but it did. So, I installed the SSD back inside my MBP and it booted into it just fine. At this point I'm feeling pretty good because the machine is running on the internal SSD. My next step was to boot to the setup DVD again and restore from my Time Machine backup to the SSD. This didn't work either. Amazingly enough, even when you can boot the machine and run on the SSD, the disk utility and restore utility still can't see it.
Next step was to take the disk out of the MBP again, put it back in a USB enclosure, boot to the setup DVD (no hard drive or SSD in the machine at this point) and then restore from time machine disk to USB connected SSD.
This is in process now and will take a while. My Time Mahchine image is about 330 gigs and is having to cross two USB connections. Current time remainig for the restore is showing about 13 hours. So I will check on it in tomorrow and then put the SSD back in the MBP and fire it up.
I think this will be OK... (Fingers crossed)
Will post another update tomorrow with the results.

"need to restart computer" after switching laptop hard drives. HELP!

i have a 13" macbook pro. I just got an older generation 15" macbook pro (refurbished from apple) because i need the pci port.
i switched the memory
i switched the hard drives
15" macbook pro (the one i just got) works like a charm
13" macbook pro keeps prompting me to restart the computer after the apple picture comes up. In other words, snow leopard won't even boot up
Any suggestions???

If you switched drives then your new computer now has an older version or an older build of OS X that cannot boot the new computer because it does not have the required hardware support extensions.
You have two options: 1. Switch the drives back; 2. Reinstall OS X on the new computer using the discs that came with it. This will not erase your files but it will install a fresh copy of OS X that works with your new computer. A reinstall will take about one hour plus or minus.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology with a single mechanical hard drive.

Do you recommend installing Intel Rapid Storage Technology with a single mechanical hard drive.
MSI website suggest these IRST drivers for my motherboard:
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology Floppy Driver for 7x series
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for 7x series
Board: MSI Z77A-GD55 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 ST1000DM005/HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Multiple responses/opinions is encouraged for complete verification.
Thanks!

Hi,
Sorry to dig up this thread.
This is from Z77A-G45 driver page:
1. Intel Management Engine Driver
2. Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver
3. Intel Rapid Storage Technology Floppy Driver for 7x series
4. Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for 7x series
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z77A-G45.html#/?div=Driver&os=Win7%2064
Like BiGxSHOOTER, I have a single drive and I don't know the importance of each driver. Can someone tell me which ones I should install and in what order?
Thanks

Can I switch external hard drives and still access old Time Machine backups?

I have a Mac Book Pro linked to 2 1TB external hard drives, one used as my Time Machine Back up, the other used as a manual ad hoc back up and to store even older files.
The TM back up drive is now full. If I just unplug it/switch it off and plug in and set up a new 2TB hard drive as my TM back up, will I still be able to access the back ups on the original TM drive if necessary, through TM?
Wil it be a start over situation with the new drive, performing a complete back up to begin with?
Or would you advise me to transfer the old back folder to the new drive, given that it will be larger?

Hi den.thed,
Thank you for this - I think the easy option by far appears to be to leave existing backups on disk 1, and plug in disk 2 and start over.

Can I update my 2009 iMac to solid state hard drive?

I have a 2009 version iMac and am thinking about replacing its hard drive with solid state drive. Inspired by my new MacBook Pro with solid state drive.

I am assuming that your backup is the one provided by Time Machine to an external USB HDD that is attached to an AirPort Extreme base station. If that is the case, then yes, you can restore your data from this Time Machine backup. The easiest way to do so is to use OS X's Migration Assistant, and then, choose the Time Machine option.

Early 2009 mac pro not recognizing DVD drives

My Mac Pro 8 core since upgrading to Mavericks is not recognizing my Blu Ray drive unless I unplug it and re plug it in while hot.....what is this issue?

I think I have a similar sitch. I just bought a rMPB 15 with Mavericks and hooked it up to the same setup of my old 2009 17" MPB. I inserted the Logic Pro 9 install disk in my external LaCie DVD RW drive and the light on the front keeps flashing steadily as if the disk is being read but it never mounts on the desktop. I ejected the disk and installed the Logic Studio Audio Content 1 disk and it mounted fine. I inserted the Logic Pro 9 install disk into the drive on the old 17" and it mounted fine there as well. So I am at a loss as to what the glitch is and I can't be sure if its the DVD RW drive, the rMPB itself, Mavericks, or both or neither or....????

Speeding up Time Capsule when used as external hard drive

I use a Time Capsule as an external "server" that two macs use, both connected via ethernet. We have a second Time Capsule (connected wirelessly) that is used for Time Machine back-ups.
Recently (since upgrading to Mavericks — coincidence?) accessing the files has been getting slow — click on a folder and I have to wait up to a minute (I timed it) to see its contents. This is on iMac (27-inch Mid 2010) running OS X Mavericks (10.9.2). Our newer Mac does display the contents of folders a little quicker, so perhaps it is the Mac, not Time Capsule.
The Time Capsule has 180gb free — could it be too full?
Is there any way of speeding the access to the files up on this Mac, or should I "downgrade" the Mac to Mountain Lion / Lion.
(on a side note OS Mail is desperatly sluggish since upgrading to Mavericks, so perhaps I will have to downgrade...)

You are showing the TC as Gen1 in your profile. Are both TC gen1?
The disk performance of Gen1 is not particularly good. Especially copying a lot of small files.
And the TC was never designed to do what you are using it for.. the spin down for instance is very rapid. On a normal NAS you can control spin down to a more satisfactory balance between speed and power saving.
Sometimes the OS is just slow.
Manually mount the TC drive in the OS.
So in Finder go, connect to server.
Type in the address,
AFP://TCname.local
or if the TC maintains a constant IP.
AFP://TCIPaddress
(Where TCname is the network name of the TC.. or TCIPaddress is its standard IP address. )
Make sure ipv6 is set to link-local in the wireless and ethernet setup of the Mac. But make sure wireless is turned off if you use ethernet. Just having wireless turned on has caused slow transfer in my testing.
I suggest you then do a test copying a single large file (1GB aprox) to the TC.. discount the spin up time.. as drives get old and sticky they take longer and longer to spin up. And see what kind of real transfer speeds you get.. use activity monitor. I would hope you get at least 30-40MByte/s. Less than that something is behaving poorly.. try copying the same file to your other computer. Make sure the ethernet connection is showing gigabit to both.
Mavericks seems to have made a few backward steps and sticking to Lion/Mountain Lion a bit longer may be worthwhile.

Capturing video straight from a switcher to hard drive???

I am shooting a seminar this weekend and want to go "tapeless". I will be using a Datavideo SE500 switcher withthese outputs:
Video Out:
Composite Video x2, 1 Vpp @ 75 ohms, on BNC connectors
S-Video, on 4-Pin Connectors
Component Video, derived from Composite and Y/C using a breakout cable
I will have with me, my Macbook pro with Firewire 400/800 inputs, USB, etc.
I have been told that maybe the DVI for an external monitor can be used ad an "in"?
I did a little expirament I went from my Panasonic DVX100B to a Sony palmcorder via RCA to DV cord that came with palmcorder, then with palmcorder in VCR mode, I went from palmcorder to Mac Pro with Firewire and captured with iMovie.
Is there a way to capture this video right into my project in FCP, and how should i do it?
Thanks
Rob
p.s.- i have access to a DSR45 deck if it might have the connections i need.

My signal path is this:
Analog out of switcher to JVC DV deck (recording to DV tape) - (I actually feed the signal through a chyron, then through a VDA and then into two matching DV decks so I can swap tapes without interruption).
FireWire out of (one) JVC deck to Mac (capturing in real time to HDD using 'Non-Controllable Device' setting
I have the 500GB external drive on FW800, while the video is coming in on the FW400. I do this on both my MacPro tower and MacBookPro (but you can NOT do this on the new MBPs, see below).
But even then, if I remember correctly, a single FW pipe can handle two-way DV streams (in from device AND out to HDD).
(ASIDE TO AUDIENCE:
This is exactly why I'll not be buying a new MacBookPro, because they removed every single feature that made it a Professional machine:
No full-size DVI out
No FW400
Glare-only screen (although I see that the 17" does have a non-glare option)
Disk drive on side instead of front
If I wanted a non-pro computer I would have bought a MacBook! In my line of work (Film, Video, Audio, Theater production, and projection using Catalyst) I MUST have a full size DVI; I still use many FW400 devices and I still need 2 FW ports anyway; I simply will never use a glare (glossy) screen; and on my cramped and crowded workspaces, I don't have room for side-loading optical disk drives (the front is always clear because I need the room for my hands).
It is NOT professional to have to carry around a DVI adapter and several PCI Express cards to get my computer to do what I need it to do.)

Can i switch another hard drive for time machine

can i replace my time machine usb HD with a new larger one I have bought?

Sure you can. The real question is, can you transfer your old TM database to the new drive. This I would not attempt to do. I would add the new drive and point time machine to it in system preferences. This will cause you to do a full backup for the first time but you will know all the links are good this way. Before you remove the old TM drive, think if there is anything you want to restore.
My steps would be:
1) look through time machine to find anything you may want to keep, restore it if you want it
2) turn off time machine
3) power down and swap drives
4) power up and and format the new drive if needed, then open time machine preferences
5) select the new drive for time machine
6) sit back and let it do a full backup
How big is your internal drive? How full is it? How big is the new TM drive?

Switching external hard drive between pc and mac

I'm planning on buying about a 160-200g external hard drive. I have a pc with windows xp that I use, and I also have an iBook G4. It's becoming an annoyance moving files that I want on both computers, not to mention I am running out of hard drive space on my iBook. So I figured the best solution was an external drive...however I've been reading some posts and it seems as though you can only format them for a mac or a pc, not both. Can I use an external drive on both my computers with out having to partition the drive? Any other info on this would be appreciated. Also, if I can use it on both, can I hook them up simultaneously? Thanks!

yeah the auotplay search on the windows machine on a
large external can take ages but it only did this the
first time with me, but it still does take a lot
longer for it to recognise the drive.
just hit "cancel" button when autoplay starts up - once autoplay starts mean windows has recognized it anyways - it just is doing that to see if it should start up like windows media player or whatever :-P

I have a 13 inch macbook pro 2010 I want to switch the hard drive wat hard drive can i use i know i need a 2.5" but i dont know the dimensions of which one will fit?

Can someone tell me if anyone of these will fit with my 13 inch macbook pro 2010 model
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX33160(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX31974(ME).aspx
Thanks everyone

The only thing is someone told me the max height for a hard drive for the macbook pro is 9.5mm and some other people tell me is 9mm but both drives are over 9 but the seagate one is 9.5 do you happen to know the max height thats my only concern really?

Switching out Hard Drives

Hello. I was wondering if I can take a hard drive out of a computer running windows XP and install it into a computer running Vista? The computer running vista's hard drive is shot. I believe the other hard drive is bigger and better. Please advice. Have a HP Pavilion All in One with Windows 8.1 that I use full time. This would only be a back up computer.

Typically the answer is no, it will not work, at least not the way you wish. BTW: If the XP computer is "running" why try moving the hard drive to another computer?
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Switched internal hard drives from G4 to Mac Pro - not being recognized

I just transfered to internal hard drives from my G4 MDD OS Tiger and my Mac Pro isn't recognizing them in the bays. Jumpers were removed for slave option. Are the older drives not compatible with the newer computer? What am I missing?

I did, and it bent a couple of the pins in the drives. I'm going to try to put them back in my G4 to see if they still work. In the meantime I went to Best Buy and talked to the Geek Squad who set me straight. I bought an SATA drive and now it's up and running with time machine.
I just wish they were a little more descriptive in the type of hard drive to install.
Thanks for your help!
Pat

I need to replace the hd on a macbook early 2008 what is the best hard drive to use would like sad if compatible

what size do i need

An SSD will work - just as long as the drive has a form factor of 2.5" x 7, 9.5 or 12 mm, it should work in your MacBook Pro (the 'norm' used to be 9.5mm but there are a lot of 7mm drives being introduced).
If you're considering SSDs I can recommend either the Samsung EVO series or the Crucial M500 or M550.
See -> Upgrading your MacBook Pro with a Solid State Drive.
If you decide that you don't need a SSD, you can always go with a Seagate SSHD (a portion of the drive is solid state) or just a regular HD (and my recommendations there would be HGST or Toshiba).
Good luck,
Clinton

Speed up early 2009 macbook5,2 by switching mechanical hard drive to SSD

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