Changing SSD's and keeping everything
I have a mid 2010 13" MBP.
I have an SSD, its not big enough so I am upgrading from 128GB to 256GB.
How can I take everything from the current SSD and then upload it to the new SSD - effectively giving me the same machine without installing OSX all over again?
Presumably I will need some new tech to read the SSD, copy it and then copy everything back once I have changed the SSD into the MBP?
Solution 1:
How can I take everything from the current SSD and then upload it to the new SSD - effectively giving me the same machine without installing OSX all over again?
I upgraded my SSD some time ago in a similar configuration (128 GB->256 GB, MacBook Pro 15-inch early 2011).
Below is the procedure that worked for me, but note that for this to work your Mac must support OS X Internet Recovery. According to KB article "OS X: About OS X Recovery" (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718):
Mac models introduced after public availability of OS X Lion include the ability to start up directly from an Internet-based version of the OS X Recovery system.
which means that models manufactured before July 20, 2011 need a firmware update.
In your case you must have MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) EFI Firmware Update 2.5 or later installed, and that's probably the case, because most firmware updates are available as regular updates in Software Update/App Store.
To find out whether it is installed: Go to Apple menu > About This Mac, press System Report...:
and check if Boot ROM/SMC Version Information is MB71.0039.B0E or greater. If that's the case, you're good to go. Otherwise install it.
These are the steps:
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Back up old SSD with Time Machine by selecting "Back Up Now" in menu bar:
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Shut down Mac and replace SSD.
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Start Mac while holding down ⌘-R and choose "Restore From Time Machine Backup":
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Choose new SSD drive as target, wait until restore is completed and reboot.
This will let you keep everything.
Solution 2:
One option is to get an external drive enclosure and plug the new SSD into it. Use a tool like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner to image the old SSD onto the new one. Then switch the drives around, keeping the old one as a backup drive.
Solution 3:
Best practice IMO:
- Get an external HDD mount(or SDD mount - they are the same), and put your current SSD in it leaving it at it is right now.
- Put your new SSD in the Macbook and install a clean version of OSX.
- You can now copy everything you think you need from the one SSD to the other, leaving you with a clean install without possible installed rubbish and overhead files you do not need. (This will always leave you with more empty space than doing a full copy of your current SSD)
Since it's at maximum 128GB we're talking about, this is the best way without getting corrupt data or files.