install questions for Macbook Pro Mid 2009

pka4916 wrote:

I have a few questions, and hope if someone knows some (of all the) answers.

1. I am going to replace the HDD for an SDD. Can I just put it in and activate the SDD? (In Windows, in needed to activate it with the Samsung Magic program) in order to use it.

The best way to install a new drive, HDD or SSD is to insert it in an enclosure and then connect it to the MBP via USB. Then use Disk Utility>Erase to format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Then clone the existing internal HDD to the SSD via Disk Utility>Restore or use a third party application such as Carbon Copy Cloner. Test to see if it will boot the MBP externally and if so, swap it with the HDD.

2. When I use Command - R it will install OS 10.10 on the macbook through the internet. Is there a way to make it default 10.11 ?

No. You will have to go to the App store and download and install El Capitan. You can do that before or after you install the SSD.

3. The macbook didn't have a DVD so used the Command - R to download and verify the Macbook Pro. Is there a way to make an Install DVD for 10.10

or even better for OS 10.11 ? Or is that not possible.

Use Diskmaker X. http://diskmakerx.com/

You can make a USB installer for both OSX's if you are so inclined. This also takes care of #4.

Ciao.

Hi Pka4916:

Here are some instructions which may be helpful.

OWC is a good place to go for upgrading your Macbook Pro.

OWC SSD's: OWC SSD's

I upgraded my Early 2011 13 inch Macbook Pro using a Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB SSD and I have seen a dramatic speed increase.

Once you decide on an SSD, I suggest that you install it in an enclosure OWC external case or using a USB to SATA adapter USB to SATA adapter and connect it to your MBP via USB.

Open Disk Utility>Erase and format the SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and a GUID partition.

Then use a third party application such as Carbon Copy Cloner Carbon Copy Cloner (Not free, but worth the price) or Super Duper to copy all data from the internal HDD as well as the recovery partition.

The clone will be a exact copy of your hard drive and it will be bootable.

Boot the MBP with the OPTION key (Startup Manager) and select the new SSD. How to choose a startup disk on your Mac

If it boots the MBP, perform the physical swap of drives.

Also now that you have your computer open you may want to upgrade the memory. It is very easy.

OWC OWC memory or crucial Crusial Mac memory are good places to get memory.

You could look at a video guide to see how much is involved.

OWC install videos

Note the model identifier of the computer you have as most applications are shown in page.

Check this link to identify your MacBook Pro model.

• How to identify MacBook Pro models - Apple Support

Kim

I am assuming that you MBP currently is working. Right now forget about the USB installer.

Install the SSD in an enclosure and connect it to the MBP via USB.

Boot the MBP and the SSD should appear on the desktop.

Open Disk Utility and select Erase. Select the SSD and format it Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Then open Disk Utility>Restore. The Internal HDD will be the SOURCE. The SSD will be the destination. Click on RESTORE. This may take several hours depending upon how much data you have on the HDD. It will clone the SSD from the HDD. (This step can also be done using Carbon Copy Cloner)

When done, restart the MBP holding the OPTION key.

The HDD and the SSD should appear. Click on the SSD and it should boot the MBP.

If so, swap the two drives and install the HDD in the enclosure you used to prepare the SSD.

Ciao.

I tried using DiskmakerX and got the same thing. I had to use terminal to create a bootable flash drive installer. That worked. http://www.macworld.com/article/2981585/operating-systems/how-to-make-a-bootable -os-x-10-11-el-capitan-installer-drive.html If you triple click on the terminal command you can drag it to the desktop. Then use it to create the bootable flash drive by inserting it into terminal.

How do you know there is no recovery volume? Did you try starting from Command R off the boot volume? While in the boot volume and going to disk utilities that partition will not show up. With no usb installer or a recovery partition the 2009 MBP will not do internet install or recovery. You had to have a newer MBP that came with lion or newer to do that. As far as the old drive. If it was a bootable volume before, then you may have a defective usb devise or cable. With the old hard drive plugged in, try holding down the option key at startup and see if you get that drive as an option to boot too. Also if you have done a fresh clean install of the operating system. You may have to go to the top menu under finder preferences, general and make sure the boxes are checked.

My daughter has a 2009 Macbook in which I had to replace the internal hard drive. I used my Macbook to download Yosemite. Then using terminal, I make a flash drive installer for it. Used then the flash drive to install Yosemite on her clean blank internal drive. Once installed and setup ,I found that in disk utilities thru the operating system, the recovery partition did not show. But if I booted to recovery and used disk utilities, from there it did show. When installing Yosemite or El Capitan from a flash drive , it should also install a recovery volume. I have never had it not do so. Now as I said, I never used diskmaker as I could not get it to work right.

When doing an install off a flash drive to a new or clean hard drive. You have to use the disk utilities option to setup the drive. The install does not do it for you. The way to do so is to use the installer to open disk utilities. Then you click on the main drive(not the indented one) and then go to the partitions tab. Select 1 partition in the partition map. Go to options and make sure GUID is selected. The in formate select mac os extended journaled. Then click on apply. Then you can close disk utilities and go back to recovery and select the install option. back sure you have a good internet connection. Ethernet is the best.

OK. The way it works is that the usb install stick you are using starts the install. But you still need internet to complete it. What you have is a base system with internet to download the install Included within this is disk utilities, recovery, time machine and internet help. At the top you have some other options including,terminal and password reset. You must have the internal drive set as I described. That would give you in disk utilities in the left column the drive by name and an indented volume If you have no indented volume,you cannot go back to recovery to install.

If you have a proper USB installer, an Internet connection is not necessary to install the given OSX. I have done this with Lion, Mt.Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan. If the OSX will not install in a MBP that meets the OSX requirements, then you are dealing with a faulty USB installer.

Ciao.