Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

23 points

Migrating data from HDD to SSD

One of these days, I may purchase a Crucial SSD (512GB).

I need to know how to copy the contents of my current factory HDD (seagate 5400rpm 500GB) to the Crucial SSD. Note that they are of different sizes.

What I have:

- Carbon Copy Cleaner

- Time Machine (with time capsule)

- Spare 750GB external HDD

Which is the fastest, safest, and easiest way to accomplish this task? Again, the drives are of different sizes, and only one can be in the machine at a time.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 13", 500GB HDD, 16GB RAM, i7 2.7GHz

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 9:38 AM

Best reply

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 10:39 AM

You may use these instructions which do not require anything but Disk Utility:

INSTALLING A NEW HDD IN A MBP.

1. Make certain that you have backed up all of your important data.

2. You will need a HDD enclosure. One with a USB connection will do. A 9 pin Firewire is better.

3. Install your new drive in the enclosure and connect it to your MBP.

4. Open DISK UTILITY>ERASE. From the left hand column drag the new drive into the 'Name' field. Make sure that the format is 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. Click on the 'Erase' button.

5. Click on the 'Restore' button (on top). Drag the old drive into the 'Source' field and the new drive into the 'Destination' field. Click on the 'Restore' button on the bottom right hand corner.

Depending upon the amount of data you are transferring, this may take a couple hours or more. A Firewire will speed up the transfer. This will result in both drives having identical information on them.

6. After the data transfer has completed, you may test the new HDD by starting your MBP with the OPTION key pressed down. Select the new HDD and see if it working to your satisfaction. If so, swap the drives. Start the MBP and you have finished the installation. The initial boot may take a bit longer than you are accustomed to, but that is normal.

7. When you are satisfied that the new hard drive if functioning properly, you can erase the old drive and use it for any needs that you may have.

I am assuming that the current 500 GB Seagate is using less than the capacity of the new Crucial SSD.

Ciao.

View in context

20 replies

jonpais

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2012 12:42 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

"And once you've done your clone with no issues, send some bibimbap and kimchi our way."

I sure will!!

Here's the video put out by Samsung showing how to install their SSD into a Macbook...

http://youtu.be/mihb8YQzDxw

Jul 17, 2012 12:53 AM in response to jonpais

Well, that looks pretty easy - makes me wish I'd purchased my Crucial m4 with the transfer kit as I did have to jump through some extra hoops to get up and running!

One thing you are going to need is the right screwdrivers - OWC has this kit that have the two magnetic head screwdivers that you'll need.

One other thing - on the video they recommend unplugging the battery - depending on your model, I'm not too sure that I'd do that: it's certainly not recommended in the late 2011 model user's guide!

Clinton

jonpais

Level 1

8 points

Aug 6, 2012 5:44 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

I finally went ahead and had the Samsung 830 series SSD installed. I tried using disk utility to clone the OE HDD to the new SSD, but it wouldn't work. So I tried HD restore, and that didn't work, either. Apparently, even if the HD isn't full, restore only works with a destination drive of equal or greater capacity. Fortunately, I'd downloaded Carbon Copy Cloner, and it worked like a charm. I'll admit, I'm not handy at all, so I took my laptop to the Apple service center here in Korea, and they swapped the drives in under 10 minutes. It came to around USD $15. The boot time was around 45 seconds, but after going to system preferences and selecting the new drive as my startup disk, it takes just 15 seconds. Thanks for the advice, Bimmer!

NTech10

Level 1

1 points

Nov 5, 2014 7:56 AM in response to Fhsjaagshs

What do you do if you also want to migrate bootcamp on to the new SSD?

D3tale1

Level 1

0 points

Dec 12, 2015 6:43 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

Great write-up on "Upgrading Your MacBook Pro with a Solid State Drive"

I'm just about to purchase an SSD, and you covered a lot of my questions.

Just curious to know... I'm buying a 1TB Samsung Evo, and was wondering if the cloning / transferring process from my current 750gb HD would format my SSD to have only the 750gb available?

Any advice would be an immense help!

Migrating data from HDD to SSD