Q: Transferring files from old HD to new SSD

Okay....thank you etresoft for all that info.  The key is what you say about HD life span and mine is way beyond it.  So I will check all those things out later, once I get the new SSD installed.

And thank you to everyone else for confirming that's what I should do, including etresoft. 

I will check back in later and let you all know how it went.  I did manage to get a clean copy of Mavericks installed on the SSD that is attached externally.  So it's time now to fire up Migration Assistant and get everything else transferred over and then install it.  That will definitely be the easy part.

Oh wait, I forgot, I installed SuperDuper so I guess I'll use that.  Right?  Honestly, if the new Macs had a DVD drive I'd just go out and buy a new one.  I am so annoyed they don't have the DVD drives anymore. 

Thanks again; it's nice I'm not alone on this.

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT.  I'm sure you can tell from my posts that this is a really big deal for me.  And yep, it's simple once you know how to do it.  I used SuperDuper  (thank you David Nanian for a great program and letting us have it for free, you are a great guy). it took just 3.5 hours for the transfer. 

Booted into it and it looks FABULOUS, I'm home     Have booted out and am back on the old HD.  Will install the SSD tomorrow which has all along looked easy with all the great YouTube videos.

So THANK YOU everyone for helping me out.  And etresoft, I wanted to thank you again for all the detailed info and will be going through that once I get the SSD in to check some things out to see if there are some systemic issues I need to inspect.

Have a stupendous evening........I surely will     Oh what a relief it is  

Aw, well, the happy dance is over.  You were right etresoft....something more is wrong.  I don't have time right now to start a new thread but will.  It usually crashes when I'm logging onto a website that has more graphics than usual and just now it crashed while I was watching a DVD.  It also crashed often when working in iPhoto. Here's the EtraCheck report:

EtreCheck version: 2.6.3 (223)

Report generated 11/15/15, 10:56 AM

Runtime 1:29

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.

Hardware Information: (What does this mean?)

    MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

    [Click for Technical Specifications]

    [Click for User Guide]

    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,2

    1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

    8 GB RAM Upgradeable

    [Click for upgrade instructions]

        BANK 0/DIMM0

            4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

        BANK 1/DIMM0

            4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

    Battery: Health = Replace Soon - Cycle count = 1418 - SN = W0020PEDXBWZA

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

    Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 256 MB

        Color LCD 1440 x 900

System Software: (What does this mean?)

    OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 (13F1112) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB disk0 : (250.06 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)

        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

        New SSD (disk0s2) / : 249.20 GB (92.57 GB free)

    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898   ()

USB Information: (What does this mean?)

    Sunplus Innovation Technology  USB to Serial-ATA bridge 7.61 GB

    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

    Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

    Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

    Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: (What does this mean?)

        /Library/Extensions

    [loaded]    com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.3 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

    [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a...plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.brother.LOGINserver.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitealerts.plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitestatus.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.coupons.coupond.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitedaemon.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.malwarebytes.MBAMHelperTool.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

    [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.akamai.single-user-client.plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.amazon.music.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Click for support]

    [running]    com.google.Chrome.framework.plist [Click for support]

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

    Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)

    Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)

    smcFanControl 7.27.18 PM    UNKNOWN  (missing value)

    GrowlHelperApp    Application  (~/Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resources/GrowlHelperApp.app )

    ANPAdvancedModemView.nib    Document  (/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Network.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ru.lproj/A NPAdvancedModemView.nib)

    Dropbox    UNKNOWN  (missing value)

    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    UNKNOWN  (missing value)

    Radioshift Helper (1419127606)    Application  (~/Library/Application Support/Radioshift/Helper Agent/Radioshift Helper (1419127606).app)

    TextExpander    Application Hidden (/Applications/TextExpander.app)

    MoonMenu    Application  (/Applications/MoonMenu.app)

    Meteo2    Application Hidden (/Applications/Meteo2.app)

    LOGINserver    Application  (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app)

    InstUtilLaunch    Application  (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/InstallUtility.app/Contents/Resources/Inst UtilLaunch.app)

Other Apps: (What does this mean?)

    [running]    N4RA379GBW.com.busymac.busycal2.alarm

    [running]    [0x0-0x2a02a].com.globaldelight.Boom

    [running]    [0x0-0x30030].com.smileonmymac.textexpander.helper

    [running]    [0x0-0x9009].com.busymac.busycal2

    [running]    com.Growl.GrowlHelperApp.59872

    [running]    com.brother.utility.NETserver.61104

    [running]    com.brother.utility.USBserver.60928

    [running]    com.etresoft.EtreCheck.84336

    [running]    com.globaldelight.BoomDaemon

    [running]    com.heat.meteo2.98240

    [running]    com.rogueamoeba.AHTD.60048

    [running]    com.rogueamoeba.RSPublisher.61632

    [running]    com.selznick.MoonMenu.22032

    [running]    com.smileonmymac.textexpander.24496

    [running]    org.herf.Flux.16400

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 65 build 17 Check version

    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

    Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.0 [Click for support]

    WidevineMediaTransformer: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.40728.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

User internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

    CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Click for support]

    Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 2.6.1f3 [Click for support]

Safari Extensions: (What does this mean?)

    AdBlock

    eWallet AutoPass

    Make It Short

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

    Akamai NetSession Preferences  [Click for support]

    Carbonite  [Click for support]

    Flip4Mac WMV  [Click for support]

    Growl  [Click for support]

    Java  [Click for support]

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

    Skip System Files: NO

    Mobile backups: ON

    Auto backup: YES

    Volumes being backed up:

    Destinations:

        Buffalo External HD [Local]

        Total size: 499.76 GB

        Total number of backups: 16

        Oldest backup: 5/13/14, 11:06 AM

        Last backup: 11/4/15, 5:57 AM

        Size of backup disk: Excellent

            Backup size 499.76 GB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

        40%    CarboniteDaemon

         6%    mdworker(4)

         5%    coreaudiod

         4%    WindowServer

         3%    fontd

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

    650 MB    kernel_task

    205 MB    Safari

    131 MB    mds_stores

    115 MB    com.apple.IconServicesAgent

    98 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

    4.85 GB    Free RAM

    3.15 GB    Used RAM (1.02 GB Cached)

    0 B    Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

    Nov 15, 2015, 10:47:39 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-15-104739_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 15, 2015, 10:47:27 AM    Self test - passed

    Nov 14, 2015, 08:42:31 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-14-204231_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 13, 2015, 09:35:01 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-13-213501_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 13, 2015, 09:10:44 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-13-211044_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 13, 2015, 07:22:08 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-13-192208_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 13, 2015, 04:46:20 PM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent_2015-11-13-164620_ [redacted].crash

    Nov 13, 2015, 09:10:34 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-13-091034_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 12, 2015, 09:36:59 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-12-213659_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 10, 2015, 08:47:20 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-10-204720_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 10, 2015, 08:50:54 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-10-085054_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 8, 2015, 07:15:40 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-08-191540_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 8, 2015, 05:11:32 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-08-171132_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 7, 2015, 05:48:09 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-07-174809_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 7, 2015, 04:48:59 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-07-164859_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 7, 2015, 11:08:09 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-07-110809_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 6, 2015, 04:20:12 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-06-162012_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 6, 2015, 09:02:34 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-06-090234_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 4, 2015, 09:14:27 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-04-211427_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Nov 1, 2015, 06:30:08 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-11-01-183008_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 31, 2015, 08:42:23 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-31-204223_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 31, 2015, 07:26:26 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-31-192626_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 31, 2015, 11:45:01 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-31-114501_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 31, 2015, 08:19:08 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-31-081908_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 30, 2015, 05:53:22 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-30-175322_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 30, 2015, 05:09:34 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-30-170934_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 28, 2015, 08:41:42 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-28-084142_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 27, 2015, 08:31:21 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-27-083121_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 24, 2015, 06:08:07 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-24-180807_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 22, 2015, 08:38:57 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-22-203857_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 21, 2015, 04:31:03 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-21-163103_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 18, 2015, 09:00:31 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-18-210031_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

    Oct 16, 2015, 06:30:08 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-10-16-183008_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Have you tested Carbonite to be sure that it is able to return your data in a usable format when you need to restore it?

Yes, I did.  Shortly after switching to a Mac I accidentally dragged the iPhoto icon into the trash.  Ugh, I glimpsed it as I was hitting empty.  I was able to get all my pictures back with carbonate but not the format.  The tech woman said: "well it doesn't always work" when I asked how to get the original albums/folders back. 

However I finally got an external drive last year and started doing back ups but dang it renewed the subscription just last month.

I'm hoping to get a refund and have deleted it off my Mac.  So far, no crashes  

Thank you for looking it over.  I will look at some of the panics.  And have uninstalled Boom for now.  However, I love that little guy, it boosts the volume on my DVD player considerably.

Hopefully this will do it and the logic board is still okay.  I love the new SSD, really speeds things up.  Even after a crash things come back lickity split!!

Just crashed and there was a clicking sound as it shut off.  Did I get a bad SSD? 

Hello again:

Uninstalled Carbonite yesterday.  No crash until now, 2 back to back.  I can't get the kernel report to copy/paste. 

Figured out how to copy/paste the report   

But I think I've found the culprit:  the external DVD drive that I started using in May.  I think the crashes started sometime in June, reference point I can make from a trip I took at that time and it wasn't crashing.

Anyhow, yesterday 3 crashes back to back, each time I'd start the DVD player.

I always have a DVD in and watch it on and off during the day.  Today I did not use it at all and it's now been 12 hours......not one single crash.  I am praying that's it and wanted to let you all know.

Thank you again for all your help.  And I got a/an SSD out of it so it was almost worth it.  Learned a lot too   

If anyone has suggestions on a better DVD I'm all ears.  This is the one I have:  http://amzn.com/B007FUDKB4

It is NOT the DVD player.  And want to say that Seatech, the folks that sell it have outstanding CS.  He agreed to send out another one immediately, no charge until received and found to be okay.  I will be sending it back, unopened.

I'm onto something new now, the GPU, Apple even had a program to fix them....expired March of 2015. 

Like I said before I would gladly buy a new Macbook Pro if they still had the optical drive.  To pay more and get less.  Oh well!!  Made a ton of money on their stock even if, never mind.

THE END!!!

PS, why won't this board let me edit or delete a post like all the other boards I use?

Thanks Allan.