Installing a new SSD drive in MacBook Pro
 

The HD in my MacBook Pro is giving up the ghost so I got a Crucial 500MB SSD to install. Computer is backed up with Time Machine on an external drive.

Is there a way to write the old hard drive to the new one or do I have to install a new system and reinstall applications, etc.?

I like the idea of starting fresh with a brand new system but I don't have the time to install applications, etc. again.

I think you just use migration assistant. Buy a cheap USB external case for your old HD, then use Migration Assistant. My info could be old, however.

Thanks Richard, I'll investigate.

I think you can hold down the option key on startup and boot from the time machine drive. At that point you can put your backup onto the new drive that you installed in the computer and you're all done.

Maybe before you open it up try to restart and hold down option and see if you can boot from that time machine drive.

Thanks Jeremy, tomorrow night ought to be fun. I hope to get a tri-Y screwdriver tomorrow.

You still have a MacPro or any 2nd Mac with Firewire?

If yes cable the laptop to Mac2 via Firewire cable.

Boot laptop and hold the T key.

The HD will show up on Mac2 as an external drive.

Use Disc Utility to create an image of laptop drive.

Save image.

Swap SSD into laptop and boot holding T key.

Restore image to SSD.

If you have a case to put the SSD into you can use Super Duper which is a great product.

Free trial

Put SSD into case, plug into laptop, dupe laptop drive to it then drop it into laptop.

Hey Scott, I think the Tru6 iMac is firewireable. No external case but I'm guessing I can get one at Best Buy.

This seems much easier than I thought it was going to be.

BTW, which laptop?

There is an issue with certain models, the 2012's are most affected.

The inside of the case is rough and the HD cable can get abraded which shorts out a trace.

Typically the box will continue to run but it will be dog slow and not report any other issues and will pass all diagnostics.

The biggest ***** is the trace that gets shorted will prevent an SSD from mounting.

You'll need a new cable, they are like $15.00 on Amazon.

If the cable is not an issue while you are in there drop a strip of electrical tape on the inside back case cover to prevent a future problem.

Don't buy one at Best Buy. It will be $100. Buy one on Amazon and have it overnighted to you.

A 2010 i7 15" MBPro

2 weeks ago it started to pause and the beach ball would come on. genius bar diagnosed as failing hard drive.




OK, thanks. I've been having great luck with free overnight shipping on Amazon. Bought a Braun electric razor on Saturday, I had it on Monday. Using the Free Shipping option.

Truth.

There is a Microcenter in Cambridge.

You can get a case there.

Enclosures/Trays : Computer Parts : Micro Center

You might consider just getting one of these.

Kingwin EZ-Connect USB to SATA/IDE Adapter USI-2535 - Micro Center

You can use with any drive, a bit more versatile as it'll handle any size drive.

I love MicroCenter, thanks.

I am starting to consider the attractiveness of starting with a brand new system installed by Apple and starting fresh. Do you think it will make any difference in speed? Or anything at all?

As long as you have all your serial numbers / activation there are advantages to a clean install.

Mostly you'll get rid of all the crap the systems accumulate over time which take up space.

Even a bit level copy won't guarantee the activation survives.

MSFT Office suite and Adobe suite will be the most likely to require reactivation.

They tap into hardware ID's as part of their activation hash.

You're not asking if you should have Apple do the install are you?

I do, ran a clean ship with Traveler Kids, bought everything, never borrowed anything. But I would probably buy Office 2011 on eBay. Have Office 2008 and never liked it. The iMac has 11 and it seems better.

Don't need tons of fonts anymore, even with Suitcase, I felt like I never regained that much speed turning all my fonts on and then off, again and again.

Start using webfonts.

Google has a reasonable collection that will cover pretty much 90+% of anything you'd ever need and you can use them on the web as well as print making branding and maintaining a style guide much easier.

https://www.google.com/fonts/#

If you go for the fresh install which it sounds like is not a bad idea for you then just go to the App store and download the installer image.

El Capitan manages memory much better than the previous 2 versions.

Uses 60% of the RAM that Yosemite did.

This.

You will like the result. I added SSD and maxed my memory last year on a tired 2009 MBP.

HMOG!!! She has been transformed.

I used Super Duper after a full BU but I couldn't tell you exactly how I did it. Followed instructions carefully...

Update. Installed the SSD today. I followed Scott's instructions, put the El Capitan installer on a spare iMac, connected my Mac via firewire, erased the SSD which formatted it and then installed OS X. Then imported my Mail mailboxes, downloaded a new Firefox and bought a new Office 2011 from an eBay download auction. So glad I did.

Decided to put stuff back on a little at a time, have to figure out how to do that with Time Machine.

I agree with Cajun, I am shocked at how much faster the computer is. I paid $140 for the SSD. If I had paid $500 I still would have considered it good value. It is blazing fast compared to the normal HD.

Thanks everyone for your help!