Swapping HDD with SSD (+Software Cloning)

Hi all,
I've been wanting to swap the 2011 MacMini's HDD with an SSD drive. I am currently running Windows 7 on the mini. What would be the best way to clone everything from the current MacMini internal HDD to the new SSD before the swap? Also, are any additional parts (cables etc.) needed to install the SSD or is everything inside reusable?
Thanks.

Please note that changing the hard drive is not considered
a user servicable function, only changing RAM is and therfore
will void your warranty (clearly stated in the user manual).
Just needed to put in that disclaimer so that you were aware.
You haven't stated, but I am assuming you are using Win7
in a Bootcamp partition, which will complicate things.
There are many SATA to USB adapters out there, so you will
want to get one of them. You will eventually neeed Winclone
(free) to put the Win7 volume on the new drive. Also, to be safe,
get a USB stick.
Cloning the OSX stuff will be simple.
1. Create a Recovery volume on the USB stick by first
      downloading Lion Recovery Assistant. Should do this
      any way whenther changing hard drives or not.
2. Connect the SSD with the SATA adapter while booted
      into the current system and Partition with GUID scheme
      and format with Mac OSX journalled.
3. With your Recovery USB stick plugged in, reboot holding
      down Option key.
4. When presented with the boot selection, select the USB recovery
      stick.
5. Once things load up select Disk Utility and do a Restore
      from the internal volume to the external. This will clone
      the Recovery HD as well as the OSX install.
6. Have lunch, do laundry or whatever as this will take awhile.
7. When the Restore is complete, as a quick check, reboot
      holding the Option key and select the newly cloned volume
      to insure it is bootable. It will take time to boot since it is USB
      but a good check before putting it in the case.
8. If all is well, you can swap your drives.
9. Next, boot to the new internal an run Bootcamp and create your
      Windows partion, follow through to the Win7 install and from
      the windows installer format the partition to NTFS but then
      quit the installer after this is complete.
10. Next, plug your old drive into the SATA adapter and run Winclone.
       You should be able to select the external WIndows partition
       as the source and the internal Windows patition as destination
       and just clone.
1 through 7 will definately get you OSX and Recovery HD on the new drive
and the rest "should" get you Windows.

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[MBP - 2008, 4,1] Best way to replace HDD with SSD

Looking to upgrade my 2008 Macbook pro with a new SDD.
What is the best way to install a SDD while still saving the data from my HDD? I've heard it's possible to clone the hard drive, place the info on the SDD, and then boot with it. I've tried my best googling it, but I can't seem to figure out how I would connect my SSD to my computer while the HDD is still installed? I don't have an external drive with SATA connections.
If I do have to do a clean boot with the SDD (After saving important documents on an external drive), would I need my OSX disks? It's been a long 4 years with this computer and don't think there is any chance of recovering the OSX boot disks. Is there a way to download these necessary to do a clean boot?
Thanks for helping a misguided student trying to speed up his laptop!

You have two basic options. First is simply replace the HDD with the SSD. Second is to remove the optical drive, move the HDD to the space where the optical drive was (you need a mounting kit for this) and install the SSD where the HDD was installed.
Visit OWC to see the various options they have that includes the special mounting kit, SSD, and installation tutorials.
If you go with the first option then you will need an external notebook drive enclosure in which to put the HDD when you replace it with the SSD.
As for cloning that is done as follows:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
Select the destination volume from the left side list.
Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
Check the box labeled Erase destination.
Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
Be sure you prep the SSD properly:
Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your old HDD. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your SSD (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
I would also recommend upgrading your OS to Snow Leopard. You will need at least 1 GB of installed RAM for Snow Leopard.

What happend if I just swap HDD with my old macbook instead of a proper migration?

jajaja
Dear all,
I just bought a new macbook pro. I still have my old Macbook (the white one).
The old one has a 500GB 7200 rpm HDD and the new macbook the same but 5400rpm.
In addition, I need to migrate 200GB of information
Could I just swap HDD and then repair OSX or something like that?
My biggest fear is that everything seems ok but internally there's a huge mess, and that I will regret it in the future.
Any obs is welcome! ThankS!

@ Melophage: ya, is the smart idea, but if i have to backup 200gb, then i just migrate them to my new macbook and problem solved xD
@Niel& LowLuster: but what if I use a bootable version of maverick on a usb stick and reinstall the OS?
maybe I will be able to keep the files and reinstall a correct OSX w/ its necessary drivers? (thats the idea)
Well, my first impression with this round of answers is that better not to do it jejeje

Envy 17i replace HDD with SSD

I just purchased a new Envy 17t quad core touch screen with a 1 TB HDD 5400 rpm. At the same time i purchased a new Samsung 840EVO 500 GB SSD with the intent of replacing the slower HDD with the faster SSD. I figured it would be an easy switch (I replaced the drive in my older laptop without any issues). I figured it would be a few screws and a small panel removed from the underneath the laptop and everything would be done.
But after I received the new machine, got everything setup and running and moved the information from the HDD to the SSD, I turned everything off and turned the machine over and alas… there are no panels (as described in the documentation) as I was expecting. It just one siingle piece!
How do I get to the HDD to replace it? Am I supposed to remove all the screws and remove the entire bottom or does the top (where the keyboard is) pop off and you have access through the top?
Help!
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Then the correct model number is 17t-k000 and the videos I linked above I apply to you.

Replace HDD with SSD for HP ENVY 15t-j000 Quad Edition Notebook PC

I'd like to buy a HP ENVY 15t-j000 Quad Edition Notebook PC and a HP v300a 120GB SATA Solid State Drive with Upgrade Kit.
Now the SSD has a 7mm thickness.
My question is if I can replace the HDD with this SSD? How thick is the HDD bay in the laptop.
If it's more than 7mm will the SSD move inside it?
Thanks
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Hi,
The old HDD on your machine is a bit thicker but with at least 4 screws I don't think new SSD will floating around in the case. I actually put new SSD in one of my laptop (not HP) and no problem BUT I don't move this laptop around. If needed, blue tac may help.
Regards.
BH
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Change HDD with SSD in Notebook HP ENVY 15-k000nl - Warranty expiration - Maximun RAM Upgrade

Good morning,
I have bought the above notebook one week ago, in the HP main site there wasn't photo about the rear and when I saw there is no easy way for chanhe HDD to SSD, I have to unscrew about 15 screws located here and there
Just I would like know if I change the SSD the warranty will expire?.
At the same time please can I upgrade the RAM to 16 GB DDR3L? which is the Maximun RAM Upgradable?
Best regards
Christian

Hi, Christian:
Yes, if you replace the hard drive or memory, the warranty will be voided as neither component is a DIY (do it yourself) project.
Please see the service manual at the link below, chapter 6 for the authorized service center removal and replacement procedures for those components.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04409752.pdf

Desperately need full copy of OS X for MBP13 which won't boot...Repl HDD with SSD, won't clone due to defective source. Can I downloaded OS x onto a PC, burn a disc and get it onto the MBP?!?

The 320 HDD started clicking and making noises which can't be good. Bought a new SSD and attempted cloning, I get the Inout/Output error. So what everyone is telling me is to get a new copy of OS X and then reinstall the applications. This has turned into a nightmare and PC's are looking better again. It will not update OSX from the web, times out. I have been on Apple Support all weekend and have no more time to give, keep going in circles...is OS X available to be downloaded without purchasing because I alre\dy own it !!!!!!!!!. Thanks for listening and any help! Much appreciated!

Slightly off topic, but for anyone who's read this post and is not maintaining a bootable backup as they read this:
1. Purchase an external drive that is the same capacity of your internal boot drive.
2. Run a utility that creates a bootable backup on a weekly basis (or a dialy basis) like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper.
If you keep and use your computer long enough, the day will come that the internal boot drive will start "clicking and making noises which can't be good".
When this day finally comes, go to the System Preferences, open Starup Disk, choose your bootable backup and restart.
If your internal drive is named "Macintosh HD", name the bootable backup something simple like "Macintosh HD Backup".
You can still run Time Machine and you can still use the Mac OS X Recovery options; however, you minimize downtime significantly with a current, bootable backup on hand.
-Warren

Swapping HDD for SSD

I'm thinking about buying a 17" MacBook Pro and am having difficulty deciding between a 320GB 7,200 RPM drive or the 128 GB SSD. I don't really know if the 128 GB SSD will make huge amounts of difference for the cost, so I'm wondering if it's possible to buy the 320 GB for now and then upgrade later. Would this be easy to do or would there be different connectors involved?
Apologies if this has been asked before -- I couldn't find an answer.

Hi.
It appears that Apple authorizes memory and hard drive swap on unibody MacBook Pros and the procedure seems very easy (it was not so for previous MacBook Pro, or iBooks).
You can find it on the MacBook Pro support page.
Physically, SSDs are the same as standard hard disks. So as long as you choose a 2.5" SATA SSD (with the correct height, but I believe that they all are 9.5mm high, which is the standard for notebook HDDs), you will be OK.
So go ahead with the standard HDD and upgrade to a SSD when you want.
At this time, you will be able to copy the content of your old drive to the new one (as long as it fits ...) by placing it in a USB enclosure, using a free program called Carbon Copy Cloner. You will need another drive (or another Mac) as startup disk.
H
Hops this helps,
Jérôme.

Purchased Y510P - Need to swap HDD for SSD, Windows 8 Install

Hi everyone,
I've just ordered a Y510P which is on its way to me. I love the specs, except I want a decent sized SSD in it instead of the 1tb HDD.
I'd like to know how I can perform a clean install of Windows 8 on the SSD, and utilize the product key assigned to the system. The large majority of win8 laptops I've worked with do not include a product key sticker anymore, and I do not want to utilize whatever recovery tool lenovo has, as the recovery tools tend to include additional software I'm not interested in having on the laptop.
Can someone point me in the direction of the best way to accomplish a clean install on a replacement drive and still be able to utilize the windows 8 key assigned to the PC?
Thanks in advance.

xlim3y:
You could first extract your OEM product key (search Belarc Advisor) and then follow the instructions at the link below to download the .iso (Windows 8 or 8.1). Read the comments following the article as you may need to use a temporary placeholder key to commplete the install and would then activate Windows with your extracted product key. (http://www.neowin.net/news/here-is-how-to-get-the-windows-81-iso-and-create-a-usb-install-stick)
-PFM

Satellite S50T-B - Adding RAM and swapping HDD for SSD

HI there,
I have recently purchased the Satelitte S50t-B laptop and have a few question about upgrading:
1. What is the recommended RAM to add (8GB)
2. What is the recommended SSD to add?
3. Are there any instructions to add RAM and an SSD to my laptop?
4. Will I void my warranty by installing more RAM and swapping the current hard drive for an SSD?
Thank you for your help

This notebook is listed on Toshiba page:
http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/products/computers/satellite/s50/pspq8a-008008/specifications
- What is the recommended RAM to add (8GB)
The unit supports 16GB RAM, so you can add an second PC3-12800 8GB DDR3L (1600Mhz) SO-DIMM module (i.e PA5104U-1M8G)
- 2. What is the recommended SSD to add?
Its up to you there are different SSD drive on the market and most of the 2.5 SATA SSD drives should be compatible.
- 3. Are there any instructions to add RAM and an SSD to my laptop?
It looks like both parts (RAM as well as SSD/HDD) are not user upgradable since there is no separate access to the memory or HDD bay. This means that whole plastic cover at the bottom of the unit needs to be remove in order to get access to these part.
But as far as I know this would cancel the device warranty!!!
- 4. Will I void my warranty by installing more RAM and swapping the current hard drive for an SSD?
If you want to keep the warranty valid, such upgrade should be performed by authorized engineer.

Replacing the HDD with SSD and reinstalling Mountain Lion

Hello,
I have a MacBook (Mid 2010) since August 2010. Since then, I have been using Time Machine and every time Apple releases a new OS, I download it from the Mac App Store and put it on a USB so that I can boot from it, whether to reinstall the OS or in case I faced Hard Drive problems.
My HDD is dying slowly, so I planning to get an SSD. The version of Mountain Lion that I have on the USB is 10.8.
The question is, do I have to download a newer version of Mountain Lion (say 10.8.3) from the Mac App Store knowing that I will be restoring from Time Machine?
Thank you..

Since you want to restore what's on TM to the SSD, the SSD needs to be booted from to receive the restored files and to do that, the SSD has to have an OS on it. And since you'd want to have the SSD's OS updated to the latest ML version eventually, you might as well do that first, since, to some degree, it's also a test of the SSD's functioning. Since you already have the Combo updater, you could just run that, and since it's only a bit over 800 MB, it might even fit on the flash drive. I don't believe that migrating from a TM file made by and containing 10.8.3 data would be problematic when initiated from a 10.8.0 installation (which is I think what you're asking), but there may be some subtle software changes we don't know about that could come back and bite. So starting the migration after updating to 10.8.3 would be the safest bet. At the same time, Setup Assistant brings your existing account stuff over to just reestablish your existence on the SSD, while Migration Assistant is run after a new account has been set up on first boot, so I'd think Setup Assistant is the better way to go.
In which case, how about this: when you run the Combo updater, you are given a choice of which drive you want to install it on. If I remember the sequence correctly (it's been a while since a fresh install), you run the installer, which transfers files to the target disk, and then reboot. The installation takes place on the target disk which then reboots again to begin the setup process. When the startup chime sounds the second time, use the option key to run Startup Manager and pick your flash drive to boot from again. If you already have the Combo updater on the flash drive, run it from there and pick the SSD as the target. When it's finished, if it doesn't start from the SSD, choose that as the Startup Disk (check to see that it says 10.8.3 in Preferences) and when it boots, start the Setup Assistant process using TM.
Or is the flash drive only an installer, meaning it doesn't actually have ML installed on it so you can't use it like an actual boot disk from which you can do normal boot disk things?

Replacing Pavilion g7-2233cl HDD with SSD?

I've got a Pavilion g7-2233cl that the HDD recently failed on, was considering switching to an SSD. I'm trying to figure out if the SSD I'm looking at is compatable with my machine.
This is a link to the product on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Solid-State-Drive-SDSSDH-060G-G25/dp/B005F3000W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electroni...
Thanks!
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I cannot recommend a 60 gig drive. A basic install of Windows is going to run about 20 gigs and you are going to have hibernation files and restore files, apps (MS Office is 10 gigs plus) and such and before you know it the drive will be full. You actually can't fill it 100% so the real capacity is about 55 gigs tops. Yes, I am going to say get a 128 gig. Here is a 128 gig for not very much extra money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211719
if this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.

Replace existing HDD with SSD on a T530 - noob question

Hi all,
I have a T530 with conventional hard disk. I want to replace it with an SSD (probably Samsung 840 Pro). When I look at the replacement instructions on the website, they refer to the use of spacers when installing an SSD (as opposed to the rubber rails which apparently bracket my current HDD).
Do I need these spacers in order to install an SSD? If so, do I have to buy them from Lenovo?
Many thanks
Jason
Solved!
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If its the same outside dimensions you transfer the rubber rails onto the replacement drive. They add shock protection to the drive although an SSD is pretty shock proof. It must not float around though!! If you don't use the rails you'd lose them and probably never find them again when needed.
T520 Model 4239 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2860QM CPU @ 2.50GHz
Intel Sandy Bridge & Nvidia NVS 4200M graphics Intel N 6300 Wi-Fi adapter
Windows 7 Home Prem - 64bit w/8GB DDR3

Replacing HDD with SSD, is it possible. T400

If it can be replaced, is it worth it??
Specs: 7417 Core 2 duo, 2 gig memory, 160 HD, xp professional
Message Edited by Frankim3 on 07-07-2009 06:10 PM
Message Edited by Frankim3 on 07-07-2009 06:12 PM

the T400 supports SATA2 mode. Unless you need constant high speed hdd access, then you should get the SSD, otherwise, i will just invest in a high quality 7200 rpm SATA drive.
If you are planning to get the SSD you should get the latest generation one, also you would need a 1.8 inch to 2.5 inch hdd mount adapter, otherwise the ssd won't fit in the T400 hdd slot.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

Swapped drive with SSD, now have to use option key to boot

I recently replaced my HD in my Macbook Pro with an SSD. I used SuperDuper to create an image to an external USB drive that I had. I then removed the stock HD from the Macbook Pro, replaced it with the SSD, booted with the Lion install disc and went into disk utility, created a partition (Journaled, guid) and restored my SuperDuper image to it. Now, every time I reboot my MBP, it sits at the gray screen (no apple logo) for quite a while, then finally the apple will pop up and it will boot, although quite slowly. If I hold down the option key when I reboot, the option comes up right away for the SSD, I click it and it's very fast to boot. Once in the OS, the speed is awesome and no problems. I also used Onyx to check the startup volume, repair permissions, etc and everything went off without a hitch. No errors and according to that my startup volume is OK. Also updated to the latest 10.7.2 patch and that went fine too, although I had to use the option key on reboot.
Does anyone know what I could investigate that could be causing this boot issue. I'd like it to boot directly into the OS quickly without the option key. Is there somewhere that I have to specify a new primary boot device or something?

Go into sys preferences then startup disk and check highlight the SSD and select Reboot.
You also need to enable TRIM support.

Swapping HDD with SSD (+Software Cloning)

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