Installing SSD and new Memory on 2007 Macbook Pro

Question

Installing SSD and new Memory on 2007 Macbook Pro

Hi.

I will be installing a SSD (250gb MX200 SSD) on my old 2007 Macbook Pro (2.2 GHz). I understand that I will not be using all of the power from the new drive because I have SATA 1 not SATA III. I've read, though, that the performance increase is still visible. I am also upgrading the original memory from 2 gb to 4 gb. I bought all the new components off Crucial. I've read instructions and watched videos about the installations.

My main question/concern is this: Will I be able to download OS X Snow Leopard back on my machine without a disc? I am up to Mavericks, which is a huge mistake, and I'm sure part of the reason why my machine has slowed down so much.

I will be using the computer for lots of Photoshop, iPhoto, and other photo editing programs. I have Snow Leopard on another machine and it does fine with all these programs, but I need a more on the go option. Hence why I am switching to the SSD because of its portable benefits.

Lastly, do I need to completely erase my old harddrive if I am putting in a new SSD? Would it be better just to have a clean slate?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Mar 25, 2015 9:06 AM

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Answer 1

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Mar 25, 2015 11:00 AM in response to sportibabe552

" I understand that I will not be using all of the power from the new drive because I have SATA 1 not SATA III."

A tech at OWC explained to me that the 6 G SSD would actually run slower than the 3 G. I actually forget why but I went with the 3 G. and the client was very happy.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_Sta te

"Will I be able to download OS X Snow Leopard back on my machine without a disc?"

Not sure how you'd be able to do that w/o a install disk.

"I am up to Mavericks, which is a huge mistake,"

When you get your SSD clone your current HD to it and see how it runs.

I only deal with OWC and there are many reasons that I do

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_6G/

Never had a problem w/ anything I've ever bought from them in at least 8 years or so. They are Mac specialists so everything they sell works without any hassle.

I on an early 2011 MBP 13" right now.

I put a 120 GB SSD from OWC in it and bumped the RAM to 8 GB. I'm running Mavericks 10.9.5. I've been avoiding Yosemite w/ all the issues we see around here.

Photoshop CS 6 opens in 3.4 seconds. I typically have 5 desktops open, 3 browsers, Photoshop and Word and probably an average of 12 windows open at one time. Never see the spinning ball. I went w/ the smaller SSD for budget reasons. If I needed a lot of storage I'd run a conventional hard drive as a disk doubler (Check OWC site for that.) or an external.

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:38 AM in response to sportibabe552

sportibabe552 wrote:

My main question/concern is this: Will I be able to download OS X Snow Leopard back on my machine without a disc? I am up to Mavericks, which is a huge mistake, and I'm sure part of the reason why my machine has slowed down so much.

No. to install Snow leopard will require a retail disk. There are no download options for Snow Leopard. Purchase this:

store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Then run the combo update:

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399?locale=en_US

Lastly, do I need to completely erase my old harddrive if I am putting in a new SSD? Would it be better just to have a clean slate?

The first step in installing a new HDD/SSD is format it in Disk Utility>Erase to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). The you may install the OSX and user data. You do not have to erase the HDD. I assume you will be transferring user data from that HDD to the new SSD.

Ciao.

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