Upgrading HDD question

I'm new to Macs, but I plan on replacing my stock 250gb HDD with a 320gb, 7200rpm hdd. The OS on my MAC is still pretty much stock, just downloaded all updates. So I have a few questions:
1. Is it worth cloning at this point? Or should I just go ahead and start from scratch with the replacement HDD?
2. Do I have to format my replacement HDD (pulling from a Dell), or will the OSX installer take care of all that?
3. I have heard that the MacPros do not "feel" the same or as well put together after it is taken apart to put in a new HDD. Is this true?
I think that's it for now. Thanks.

whattaguy wrote:
Well...I've heard that there's about a 40% performance gain according to some benchmarks, and the main program that I'll use will be Logic Studio to do music production. In order to run effects and many tracks, I'll be needing all the power I can get.
However, I'm unfamiliar with Logic (I'm coming from PC's Cakewalk Sonar), and if I won't see that much gain, it might not be worth the trouble.
Are you familiar with Logic?
Thanks again.
I use logic every day. Keeps me from make bad NFL bets (well 8-8 last week so not so much) and getting run over by the streetcars, and petting tigers.
If your job is running benchmarks then I guess that is critical. Using the mac as intended, e.g. a computer these things fall by the wayside as pretty unimportant.
Ex-Windowers are big on tinkering all the time, I guess because the whole Windows experience was so awful, tweaks became a part of life to survive, vs. just using the computer as a tool.

Similar Messages

New MBP 13" w/ Upgrade HDD/RAM question ??

Just received MacBook Pro 13" 2.26, along with larger HDD/RAM from 3rd party online retailer.
Question - Do I just upgrade HDD/RAM even before I start MBP for the first time? OR do I start MBP first do the registration, etc. THEN replace HDD/RAM afterwards?? Does it matter?
Also, using RESTORE disc on blank HDD will install EVERYTHING to factory default setting (apps, etc)??

I know it takes time but I would continue with the install just to make sure the stock HD is ok.
Yes, once you install your 3rd party HD you can use your install Disk. When you install your new hard drive you need to put in the install Disk and format your new HD before loading the install.
Here are the steps I use:
1. Put in your install Disk (make sure it's the INSTALL DISK #1)
2. Remove old HD and install new HD.
3. Restart Computer and hold down the Option, Command, P, R keys all at the same time (this is known as resetting PRAM) until I hear 3 bong sounds...then release all keys. I would recommend if you haven't done this yet to practice.
4. After I release the keys I turn OFF the computer by holding the down on the power button until the power goes off.
5 Press the power button and before the first bong press and HOLD the C key until I see the spinning spoke wheel...then release the C key.
6 Once booted to the install Disk #1 go to disk utilities and format the new HD drive using the GUID partition table.
7. Start the install.
Message was edited by: D/FW

How thick is the 1tb upgraded hdd in the non-retina 15" MacBook Pro?

Hi there.
Just wondering if the 1tb upgraded hdd in the non-retina 15" MacBook Pro is 9.5mm or 12.5mm thick?
I'm hoping to move this drive into the optical bay and use a 12.5mm drive that I already own in the main HDD bay.
I realise it's an expensive upgrade and I could buy a separate 9.5mm drive for less than half the price but I'd rather make use of a supplied 1tb drive than get rid of a 500gb drive that I'd have no use for.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Many thanks in advance.

Hey knigar,
Thanks for the question, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
When troubleshooting issues with external displays, I find the following article provides the most relevant information:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1573
Thanks,
Matt M.

Upgrade HDD - Satellite Pro 4270

Is it possible to upgrade HDD more than 6 GB? Thanks

Hello
Unfortunately there is no public document about HDD upgrade but i presume that 10 or even 12 GB HDD should work well.

Upgrade HDD using Time Machine, but no Snow Leopard DVD, only Leopard installation DVD = kernel error on startup

Hi guys and girls.
Background
I have a MacBook Pro (March 2009 vintage). It was loaded with OS X Leopard on a 250GB HDD. When Snow Leopard was released, I upgraded using a DVD bought from Apple. In time, I added an external USB HDD to use for Time Machine Backups. I am now, however, knocking up against the capacity limit of the original hard drive.
Given the above, plus the fact that I no longer appear to have the Snow Leopard DVD (upgrade version I believe) - what is the recommended way to get back to my old setup (files, OS, settings etc), but with my new, larger HDD?
So far I have tried:
1. Formatting new HDD as Mac OS Extended (journaled), GUID partition having booted using my original (Leopard) installation DVD. I then selected the latest Time Machine (Snow Leopard) backup. After a couple of hours of restoring from that backup, the system restarted, but had kernel errors on bootup.
2. As above, but when formatting, chose to zero all data. This had the same end result.
Questions:
1. Are the kernel errors I'm experiencing due to the mismatch of booting off Leopard and restoring a Snow Leopard backup?
2. Would finding my (or even a) Snow Leopard upgrade DVD help? If so, how?
3. What am I doing wrong generally? I do like to try to understand these things!
4. As above, what is the recommended way of doing what I'm trying to do, given the limitations of release DVDs etc.
Many thanks

Simplest thing would be to buy the retail SL installation disc ($20 USD) and use it to do the migration. There might be an issue trying to use a SL TM version with Leopard.

Aperture - library management and external HDD question

Hi all.
I have just graduated from a point and shoot to a Panasonic GH2 (love it), and have now begun using Aperture 3 rather than iPhoto on my early 2008 MB Pro to manage my photos going forwards. Of course, I’ve now discovered that Aperture is quite the resource hog and so it’s upgrade time (darn, “have” to buy a new ‘puter!). I have a 2011 MB Pro (2.3Ghz i7 with 512GB SSD) on order and 8GB of DDR 3 arriving from Crucial. Since I have this brand-new-computer opportunity I want to make sure I’m organising things properly before I start transferring things across, and so have a few Aperture-related questions. (In case it’s relevant, I’m shooting in RAW+JPEG. So far I’ve been using RAW as master, but have since learnt it might be a good idea to import JPG as master and switch to RAW only when I need to make corrections, so I’ll probably do that going forwards.)
I understand that moving to referenced masters on an external drive might be a good idea and save me precious SSD-space. To that end, questions are:
1. Can anyone recommend a companion external HDD for Aperture and the 2011 MBPro? I guess either FW800 or Thunderbolt are the way to go. The Lacie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt might be an option but is this overkill for Aperture masters or would FW800 be sufficient. I’ve also seen the G-Tech G-RAID mini, Lacie Rugged – thoughts welcome.
Key requirements are a) as compact as possible, and b) bus powered.
2. What kind of performance can I expect if I go down this route? Is there going to be significant loading/processing delay whenever I switch to a new image?
3. How will Aperture cope with (eg) syncing photos to iPad / iPhone if the drive containing the masters isn’t connected? Put another way, are JPG renders saved in the Aperture library (i.e. on my MBP SSD) or with the masters?
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!
Aljrob

Aljrob_UK wrote:
...I have a 2011 MB Pro (2.3Ghz i7 with 512GB SSD) on order and 8GB of DDR 3 arriving
...I understand that moving to referenced masters on an external drive might be a good idea and save me precious SSD-space.
1. Can anyone recommend a companion external HDD for Aperture and the 2011 MBPro? I guess either FW800 or Thunderbolt are the way to go.
...Key requirements are a) as compact as possible, and b) bus powered.
OWC (an excellent vendor) has the Elite Pro Mini hard drive that meets your specs:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/EliteALmini/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
Thiunderbolt drives are not mainstream yet but eSATA and FW800 both work well. The multiple connection methods of OWC drives allow very desirable flexibility when purposing/repurposing drives.
Note too that the MBP optical drive can be replaced with up to a 1-TB hard drive DIY or OWC will do it for you. That is what I am doing with my 17" 2011 MBP.
2. Is there going to be significant loading/processing delay whenever I switch to a new image?
SSD latency is orders of magnitude less than hard drives. Switching to a new image even fast hard drives with fast connectivity add significant latency delay. To avoid that what I do is leave (Referenced) Masters on the SSD until all editing is complete (which may be a few weeks). Only then do I use Aperture to change the Referenced Masters location from the SSD to a large external drive.
What kind of performance can I expect if I go down this route?
With Masters on the SSD and 8 GB RAM imports/exports are very fast and all Aperture editing is essentially instant. You will be pleased!
Suggested workflow steps for Referenced Masters:
• Use a FW card reader or MBP slot to copy to a file folder on the SSD (never directly into Aperture or any other images management app). With fast camera cards copy times are quick, but cheap slow cards can slow this step down a lot.
• Eject and physically disconnect the card reader.
• Back up that file folder on external drive(s).
• Only after backup is complete, reformat the camera card in-camera.
• Import images into Aperture from the file folder on the SSD.
HTH
-Allen Wicks

Mac Book HDD question

I actually have 2 questions for my macbook. I have a late 2008 aluminum body 13 inch macbook 2ghz intel core 2 duo with snow leapord . 1st question the 128gb hdd is almost full i have about 29 gb left. I want to upgrade to an internal hdd can this be done? And any recommendations would be awesome with a link to the HDD.
also the same laptop is crashing. I dont know what seem to be causing it. Itll randomly just crash and it takes for ever to reboot. the battery is fully charged.
thanks

TM will backup everything you do not specifically exclude.
You might try reinstalling OS X. See the following:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Encrypted external HDD question

Hi,
Hope this doesn't sound like a daft question, but I am trying to learn as much as I can. I have encrypted my external drives, but I was wondering where the decrypt key is. Is it held on the computer or on the drive itself? I ask as in the future either when I upgrade, or as the result of a serious problem with my Mac I would want to restore from one of the drives so need to know if it will work ok on another machine. Also if the decrypt key is on the external HDD isn´t that a security flaw as any hacker would have the key with which to decrypt together with the files?
Thanks

Hi Linc,
I have two external drives, one runs os and has my files on it and the other is a time machine back up of it. Now that I have encrypted the os disk it asks for the drive password on boot up, so I assume that the decrypt key is on the os drive and that I can use that HDD on any Mac but just inputting the password?
Is that correct?

Upgrade HDD On An EliteBook8540w - What HDD Will Fit?

Hello fellow HP Laptop users I own an EliteBook 8540w and am wondering what HDD I can use to upgrade this box. Detailed specs of the box are as follows. CPU Type: Mobile QuadCore Intel Core i7-740QM, 2100 MHz (16 x 131)
Motherboard Name: Hewlett-Packard HP EliteBook 8540w
Motherboard Chipset: Intel Ibex Peak-M QM57, Intel Clarksfield
System Memory: 8119 MB (DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM) DIMM1: Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9 4 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (9-9-9-24 @ 666 MHz) (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz) (5-5-5-14 @ 380 MHz) DIMM2: Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9 4 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (9-9-9-24 @ 666 MHz) (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz) (5-5-5-14 @ 380 MHz) Video Adapter: NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800M (1 GB) HDD:The HDD I have now is this one.I assume the height of the HDD is the key factor here, so not so many restrictions on the HDD, is this correct? I could get a SSD as well as long as the height is fine, right? Thank you for your help. Best RegardsW9Y

Dear Huffer Thank you for your informative reply here as well! I recently had a laptop over for setting up a new OS and there was an SSHD in it that made the boot up process blazing fast, though the transfer rate was mediocre. So I have sort of come in touch with a sort of SSD already and liked what I experienced there. Would you by any chance be able to recommend a few good SSDs off the top of your head? Let's say in the 100GB, 250GB and 500GB size league? What makes are good and what makes should one try to avoid? The box is primarily used for simple graphics editing (Illustrator, Sketch, etc), running various OSs with VirtualBox as well as office work (MS Office 2013) and mostly coding (WAMP, webdev work, etc). I have come to quite like running VMs and doing work there while keeping the host free from Windows rot. Works great so far. No gaming or intensive video editing is planned, at least the gaming part I have no interest whatsoever, might take a dab in video editing though. Why do I mention this? Well I assume depending on what the SSD is used for there are possibly better or worse choices. Since I also do frequent images of the host OS (Macrium Reflect Free does a truly excellent job there for years now!) it would be great to have a fast transfer rate on the SSD itself, I mean from the common C: partition to the D: partition. I am accepting your reply as the solution to my question and would be super happy to hear about your SSD experience, you being a true fan of this technology it seems. Again, thank you for your help. Kind RegardsW9Y edit:For example looking at this review of this heavily marketed SSD it seems great for gaming but "In our real-world workloads, however, it generally performed well below par.." so nothing I would even consider taking into consideration I like fast or at least solid internal transfer rates as well as decent performance when using VMs or imaging the host OS. So yeah there you go, what is great for one type of user should not even be looked at another type of user. Fun fact about that review is the productivity scenario they pick for "most users", that being , here it comes, "32-bit Vista", "IE8", and "Office 2007". Let me ask you, who uses Vista in 2015? Who actually does still use Vista at all these days? Anyways without wanting to sound arrogant or anything, it did make me laugh when checking that SSD review..

Cloning HDD question

Hi, I've got a 13" Macbook 2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with OSX 10.4 and I want to upgrade my HDD. I already know what drive I want, but my question lies in my means to the end. I understand I can clone my drive with disk utility (from the bootup disk) or super duper to an external drive. My current external drive does not fit my macbook, and the new drive does not have an external enclosure. Won't need the enclosure, I just wanted to save money. Can I clone my macbook drive to my external drive, then install my new drive in the macbook, and clone from the external to the new drive I just installed? It sounds simple enough, but I wanted to be sure. Also, which program would be easier with that extra step, if either? Once this is complete I plan to upgrade to Snow Leopard.

Yes you can clone to/from your existing external. Don't forget the step of preparing your new internal HD by formatting it Mac Extended (Journaled) with a GUID Partition Table.
I think SuperDuper! is easier and more user friendly. You can use the free/trial version for what you want to do.
If you have any more questions about the procedure, perhaps the answer is in [This Tutorial|http://www.macinstruct.com/node/130].

How to upgrade HDD on MBP?

I am going to be getting a new MBP 15" soon and will be doing some upgrades to it myself (HDD and RAM). I currently have a 13" MBP and will be transfering everything over to the new machine.
My question is, what is the best way to do so?
My plan was to just do the upgrading before even starting up the new MBP and then when I start it for the first time I'll do the migrate assist.
Is there a better way to do this?
Also, do I need to do anything else to the new HDD after it is install, like reformatting it or anything like that? If so, any links or how-to vids for this would be great!
Thanks!!

If you have a spare external HDD enclsoure around you can place your new drive (the one you'll be installing into your new MBP 15") and do the formating and transfering by simply pluging it into your existing 13" MBP.
To do this go to Disk Utility, select the drive and formate it as a 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' with the Volume Cheme as 'GUID Partition Table'. Someone mau have to correct me on this as it's been a while since I've done this.
To do the data transfer onto the new drive after it has been formated I would recmonend a program called 'SuperDuper!'. The process to clone your drive is pretty simple if my memory serves me right.
After al of this is done, simply swap out your old drive and install the new one and it's all done!
Hope that helped.

Upgrade HDD and Memory

Hello
I recently bought an mac air 2012 and want to upgrade the internal memory HDD and simms ( from 4 to 8 gigs) is it possible and also worth it.

If you already bought it, then the RAM can't be upgraded. It can only be configured at time of purchase. The Memory is integral with the motherboard, and there are no expansion slots.
Aftermarket SSD's are available, but it is something you may want to wait upon until after the warranty expires.
Your alternatives? Sell your underconfigured device, and buy one that is configured the way you want it.

IPhoto '08 to iPhoto '11 Upgrade PROBLEM & Questions

Despite all the negative reviews at the App Store about iPhoto '11, I decided upgrade from iPhoto '08 so I could conveniently upload photos to FaceBook from iPhoto. (The FaceBook Uploader for iPhoto never worked for me.) I thought the ratio of negative reviews were unbalanced because people who are satisfied with the product have less motivation to write a review. Maybe I was wrong.
My problem:
I only bought iPhoto '11, not the iLife package, from the App Store. When I first opened iPhoto '11, I was warned that my library would no longer be readable by earlier iPhoto versions. No problem, I expected that. As I had somewhat over 15,000 photos in my iPhoto '08 Library, I was also notified that that it would take an hour or longer to rewrite the library. No problem, I expected that too. iPhoto first read my old library, then started rewriting. When the rewriting progress bar was just past halfway, iPhoto '11 suddenly quit and sent an "iPhoto Problem Report" to Apple. This has happened about 5 times now, both before and after restarting my computer. It might seem related to free disk space, but I just put in a new 750Gb hard drive with over 400Gb free. All my other specs also meet or exceed iLife's requirements.
My Questions:
1. Can anyone suggest what they think the problem is and how to proceed? I couldn't find a similar problem in the Apple Support Community.
2. If I can't upgrade, how do I go back to iPhoto '08? I backed up everything to an external drive using Time Machine before trying to upgrade. I know there's a iPhoto Library file in Pictures but there's also another file somewhere that contains the data for titles, events, comments and edits. How do I find it and how do I restore them to my MacBook?
3. Can I get my $14.95 back from Apple? I don't see a way to talk to Apple without costing me more than the $14.95
Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

What's happening is that some file (or files) in the Library are damaged in some wy and that's tripping up the upgrade. This file (or files) may not necessarily be photos but could be one of the background database files. Unfortunately there's not any real way of knowing.
Any time you upgrade or update an app or the OS you run the risk of exposing a problem that has bee hidden heretofore. That's why you make back ups.
Possible solution: Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Reverting means restoring your Librry from Time Machine and re-installing 08. It's not a big thing to do.
Contact App Store support about a refund. There's an email link on the right hand side of the app store window.

Recovery and USB HDD Question

I have a USB HDD for my laptop (About 1TB). If worse comes to worse, is it possible to restore from System Image that I create on that USB HDD, or does it have to be a USB flash drive?
Qosmio X870-BT3G23

Qosmio X870-BT3G23
I have a USB HDD for my laptop (About 1TB). If worse comes to worse, is it possible to restore from System Image that I create on that USB HDD, or does it have to be a USB flash drive?
Depends on what image you created.
Best to back up a current image periodically to that external drive this way. I'll assume you've upgraded to Windows 8.1.
Use System Image Backup
The image that enables you to restore the hard disk to its original out-of-the-box contents needs to be on DVDs or a flash drive. See p. 54 of the User's Guide.
-Jerry

MacBook Pro hard disk upgrade shows question mark folder

I recently bought a 1TB hard disk for my teenaged daughter's MacBook Pro.
I formatted it, used Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the existing drive. I even made sure to create the recovery partition.
I restarted while holding the option key and chose the new drive. It booted fine so I checked in System Preferences to make sure it was selected as the boot device.
I opened the case and swapped the drives. Put it back together and restarted only to see the question mark folder!
I tried booting while holding the option key and now I get the choose a network prompt.
I am desperate and hate the thought of disappointing my daughter. It used to be that I was her hero who could fix anything now I'm the guy who asks too many questions and doesn't put enough money on her debit card. Granted she busts her butt getting awesome grades and I was upgrading her drive so she could continue her video yearbook for her school. So I shouldn't complain but it would be great to be her hero again.
BTW, I am not a newbie to the tech world but I don't do nearly as much in the Apple arena as I do in the PC world. Then again I've been a senior tech in the industry sine before IBM had a PC. In fact, my first real work was on a 6502 processor that used the same machine code as the Rage of the day, the Apple ][. All that to say I usually can find my way around a problem but this one has me stumped.
I appreciate any assistance offered.
Thanks,
Thom

I tried to reboot with the option, command P. And R keys pressed. I heard the ding several times it still showed the question mark! I also tried the shift option and it only displayed the network selection. Also I tried to press C so I could boot from USB and it didn't work either.
If I cannot get this to work I fear my only other choice is to use a FireWire enclosure. This isn't a good option as my daughter does mostly movie work and iMovie has this terrible "feature" that forces all movies to be stored in one place. It sure would be handy if it allowed movie projects to set the storage location individually. I suppose I could simply move all the movies to the drive and try to find a way to point all iMovie projects to the external drive.
Unfortunately, my daughter is one of those Mac users who isn't savvy enough to use anything but the default settings. Heck I've tried to explain to her that she ought to get rid of the big files once she has done her work. That's why her drive is always full.

Upgrading HDD question

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