Then, you run Lion Diskmaker, and it auto-discovers the ML installer, extracts what is needed to build a bootable USB stick, and you are done.
ML downloaded from the App Store is an upgrade solution only. The latter will be the only practical choice for future drive firmware updates, providing they are data non-destructive. You might have Win7 available through bootcamp. I popped the side panel off a Dell tower and directly connected a spare SATA cable.
So, you will need a Windows PC to install the updater software, and then connect the SSD before the mini installation. Most storage vendors neglect to provide an OS X firmware updater.
You will still need the different Torx drivers for success in the first video. There is a "U" shaped tool in that OWC SSD install kit that is critical for success in the second video. Am I transferring Mountain Lion from the existing HDD first (using Lion Diskmaker or Time Machine as macbeep mentioned) and then reformating the HDD or is there some way I can re download Mountain Lion from the app store to do a clean install?
I am unclear about how to perform this clean install of Mountain Lion once the new SSD is installed.
Third, regarding your comment about a clean install to the SSD, my intent would be to do a clean install of Mountain Lion and the few third party apps I use on the brand new SSD (as well as reformatting the existing HDD). Second, how do you ensure the firmware is up to date prior to installing the SSD I have a couple of questions/comments for you please.įirst, you weren't kidding about "open heart surgery" to install an additional hard drive! I wouldn't have any problem with that procedure and will do the same when I'm ready to install the SSD. Timemachine will attempt to back up the 500GB too. You may not like that, and it is fixable in System Proferences Spotlight.
Spotlight will now try to index both the SSD and the mounted 500GB drive.
If you do not reformat that 500GB drive and leave OS X installed, it will confuse Software update about another Apple ID has purchase authority, when there is only one Apple ID. As did my 65GB of VirtualBox guest accounts. Large, little accessed folders went onto the 500GB. Lion Diskmaker will automate the creation of this tool.Īll of my applications reside on the SSD with my home directory. You should perform a clean install on the SSD from a bootable external USB stick. Personally, I would not drag system components back from an external drive. Many firmware updaters are Windows only, or ISO Linux DVD. I made certain that the firmware was current on the SSD before it was installed. You must be very patient and methodical in either video. This kit is critical for having the right tools for the job including the correct drive connector. I purchased the OCW Data Doubler, 2.5 inch hard drive/SSD installation kit for $45 USD. I did the latter, as it provides for securing the SSD with screws to the drive carrier. The first does not remove the entire contents of the mini, and the second approach walks you through removing everything inside the mini. Here are a couple of installation videos from YouTube. Boot time to desktop is now about 12 - 15s. I upgraded my 2011 Mac mini to primary SSD and secondary 500GB. Second question is if anyone can point me to a step by step tutorial on how to upgrade to an SSD and if I would need to do a clean install of Mountain Lion or is there a way to transfer just the OS and Applications from the HDD to the new SSD? My first question is if it is even worth it to upgrade to an SSD - in what areas would I actually see an improvement in performance? I have the Corsair Force GT 120GB SSD. My intent would be to run Mountain Lion and all my applications from the SSD drive and keep the 500GB HDD for file storage. Also beware, that you can not clone the macOS on MacBook's drive to the Mac Mini because the macOS builds are different.I'm considering an SSD upgrade for my 2011 i5 Mac Mini. Sometimes CarbonCop圜loner or SuperDuper will work and sometimes they won't, cloning with Disk Utility Restore almost never works. You can also erase and format the SSD, then clone from the old HDD in or out of the Mac Mini, but macOS is fickle and so don't be surprised if you end up having to start over using one of the steps above.
install macOS, then migrate from the old drive in an enclosure or your Time Machine backup. Install the SSD the Mac Mini and the old HDD in an enclosure, startup in macOS Recovery mode, erase and format the SSD GUID/Mac OS Extended (Journaled).You can successfully do it a few different ways.