User profile for user: davefromtheblock
davefromtheblock Author
User level: Level 1
26 points

SSD upgrade for Macbook Air 2017

I have finally lost my patience with the standard 128 GB hard drive, the upgrade IS happening. I am going with the 480 GB OWC Aura Pro X2 SSD - https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-air/2013-2014-2015


I am not concerned about the tech side, I DO want to make sure that I don't lose ANY data and can easily transfer it to the new SSD. I have a 4 TB external hard drive I can use and have numerous Time Machine backups on a smaller external hard drive.


I have a few questions please?


1. Does a Time Machine backup have EVERYTHING I need to get my Macbook up and running with a brand new SSD?


2. If Time Machine doesn't do that, what does?


3. Is there an easy to follow online guide you would recommend on how to reinstall MacOS, as the choice is dizzying.


4. Is my choice of SSD sensible and likely to be an improvement?


Any help is greatly received and appreciated!


Dave

Posted on Apr 25, 2022 9:40 PM

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
156,386 points

Posted on Apr 26, 2022 12:10 AM

  1. Yes.
  2. Literally nothing. Time Machine has no equal, since it's a proprietary Apple product specifically designed to perform that task.
  3. Follow How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support and choose Restore from Time Machine. If you do not have a Time Machine backup, you would be choosing Reinstall macOS instead, but you would need to repopulate your User Account data from some other source as a separate step.
  4. Yes.
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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
156,386 points

Apr 26, 2022 12:10 AM in response to davefromtheblock

  1. Yes.
  2. Literally nothing. Time Machine has no equal, since it's a proprietary Apple product specifically designed to perform that task.
  3. Follow How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support and choose Restore from Time Machine. If you do not have a Time Machine backup, you would be choosing Reinstall macOS instead, but you would need to repopulate your User Account data from some other source as a separate step.
  4. Yes.
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User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level 7
23,694 points

Apr 26, 2022 3:29 AM in response to davefromtheblock

  1. You need to make a clone then.
  2. Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper! both make clones. I use CCC as its "Standard Clone" is essentially Time Machine with far greater flexibility. The datasets work perfectly with Setup and Migration assistant. Be advised, with Monterey, bootability of clones is no longer a sure thing. My external full Monterey CCC clones will boot our two MBPs (2016 & 2020) but not none of our three iMacs.
  3. How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support
  4. Your call; only as to capacity. I installed the OWC 1 TB replacing the 256 GB and it's been flawless for months.
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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 9
70,262 points

Apr 26, 2022 6:21 PM in response to davefromtheblock

Keep the original Apple SSD as it may be needed for a later macOS upgrade. macOS 12.x Monterey will not update the laptop's system firmware while installing Monterey if a third party SSD is installed internally. Once the system firmware has been updated while the original Apple SSD is installed, then macOS Monterey will install to the third party internal SSD.


Plus having the original Apple SSD can help you troubleshoot the laptop if you ever have software issues or if you suspect the OWC SSD is having problems.



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SSD upgrade for Macbook Air 2017

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