New mini internal hard drive - best way to transfer old information? [Archive]

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 10:30 AM

I'll be fitting my new 09 mac mini internal hard drive hopefully tonight. I want to copy all the information (programs etc) onto my new hard drive before I install it. Whats the best way of going about this?

I already have an external caddy, so am I right in thinking I can put the new hard drive into that, connect it up to my mini, format it, install osx, and use migration assistant, or I vaguely remember something called 'cloner' or something similar to that name to copy all the data? That when all the info is copied I can take out the stock hard drive, remove the new drive from the external caddy and place it into the mac mini? Then it should boot up fine?

Sorry if this has been posted before, I've had a quick search and could not find what I was looking for. If someone could direct me to somewhere I can read about it then that would be great :D

flopticalcube

Apr 7, 2009, 10:39 AM

Carbon Copy Cloner. (http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html) Its donationware.

GregE

Apr 7, 2009, 10:39 AM

This should work for you to copy the drive. Carbon Copy Cloner (http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html)

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 10:46 AM

ah that's it! Thanks :D I'll have a look

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 10:49 AM

After you clone the drive, make sure you can boot from it (by USB or FW) before opening up your Mini. That way you can isolate any problem that might have arisen during the cloning.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 10:52 AM

ok that sorts out the hard drive copy, but what about the install of osx? Do I have to boot from the osx disks and select the destination disk as the external hard drive? Or will cloner do that? :confused::confused:

After you clone the drive, make sure you can boot from it (by USB or FW) before opening up your Mini. That way you can isolate any problem that might have arisen during the cloning.

Do I go about that by going into system preferences and changing the start up disk options to the external drive? Then restarting the mini? Then vice versa if it works okay? :confused:

pjashley1

Apr 7, 2009, 10:53 AM

ok that sorts out the hard drive copy, but what about the install of osx? Do I have to boot from the osx disks and select the destination disk as the external hard drive? Or will cloner do that? :confused::confused:

CCC does it all - there's no need to install OS X.
A direct bit-for-bit copy of your internal hard drive should boot up with no problems.

(and just hold down 'option' as your mini is starting up and choose the external drive to test that it all copied ok)

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 10:55 AM

ok that sorts out the hard drive copy, but what about the install of osx? Do I have to boot from the osx disks and select the destination disk as the external hard drive? Or will cloner do that? :confused::confused:

Not necessary. CCC makes a bootable copy of your current drive. So long as you're using the same computer, there is no need for reinstall. Be absolutely certain that you set the new drive to GUID partition table when you initialize it with Disk Utility (Partition > Options) and before you clone it with CCC or it will not boot on your Mini.

Do I go about that by going into system preferences and changing the start up disk options to the external drive? Then restarting the mini? Then vice versa if it works okay? :confused:

When you turn the computer on, press and hold the Option key until you're presented with bootable volumes. Use the arrow keys to choose the new drive in the external enclosure and press <return>. That'll select the new drive for booting.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 11:23 AM

Ace! Thanks :D

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 11:43 AM

So just to confirm:

1. Insert the new hard drive into the external caddy and plug it into the usb on my mini.
2. Go into disk utilities and initialize the drive to GUID partition
3. Open CCC and select the option clone the drive to my new drive in the external enclosure
4. When it's complete restart the mini and hold down the option key until the new drive appears. Select it.
5. Make sure the new drive is working okay

Okay so if it is then where do I go from here? If I shut down the mini and insert the new drive will it start up from it, or do I have to restart the mini with the stock drive and hold that option key and select the original stock drive again. Then when it boots up shutdown the mini and then insert the new drive?

Sorry about all the questions, just want to get it right without any hiccups. It's nerving enough fitting a new drive alone in the mini, without having anymore things on my mind! :o:o

flopticalcube

Apr 7, 2009, 12:00 PM

It should restart from the new internal drive.

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 12:02 PM

So just to confirm:

Yes, that's the order and should work for you.

Okay so if it is then where do I go from here? If I shut down the mini and insert the new drive will it start up from it, or do I have to restart the mini with the stock drive and hold that option key and select the original stock drive again.

The Mini will look for the default drive, which is on the HD SATA bus. No need to do anything, it'll just boot.

michael.lauden

Apr 7, 2009, 12:10 PM

SuperDuper is also a great program!

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 01:48 PM

Okay just about to do it, sitting at my mini now. A few things:

Just needs to be 1 partition GUID?

What format do I use as there are 6 options in the format menu?

Mac OS extended (journaled), mac OS extended etc etc :confused::confused:

I'm pretty sure its Mac OS extended (journaled)

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 02:12 PM

Just needs to be 1 partition GUID?

Unless you want more than one volume mounting on your desktop, just choose one partition.

I'm pretty sure its Mac OS extended (journaled)

Yes, that's what you want.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 02:36 PM

Thank you for your help Cave Man :D

I'm just waiting for CCC to finish now :D

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 03:13 PM

I'm just waiting for CCC to finish now :D

This is when I usually have a couple of beers. ;)

The Hammer

Apr 7, 2009, 03:13 PM

Is time machine not suitable for what the original poster wants to do?

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 03:14 PM

Is time machine not suitable for what the original poster wants to do?

Yes, it's suitable. But slower and unnecessary.

The Hammer

Apr 7, 2009, 03:24 PM

Yes, it's suitable. But slower and unnecessary.
So it's unnecessary because it's slower, or are there more steps involved?

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 03:25 PM

This is when I usually have a couple of beers. ;)

Unfortunately I drank the ones in my fridge on Saturday :D:D I've had a curry instead to pass time, although it's not quite the same without some beers! :D

CCC is taking it's time:rolleyes:

11800506

Apr 7, 2009, 03:27 PM

So it's unnecessary because it's slower, or are there more steps involved?

Time Machine doesn't create a bootable copy of the drive - it only backs up files from the drive. As a result, you'd have to reinstall OS X on the new drive and restore from Time Machine. It's just much quicker to clone the old drive and then put the clone on the new drive and install it.

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 03:28 PM

So it's unnecessary because it's slower, or are there more steps involved?

When I've used MA to move to a new hard drive I always have to re-enter my serial numbers for some of my software (e.g., Final Cut, etc.). When I clone the drive that doesn't happen. IMO, the only time you should use MA is when you're moving to a new computer, since there will be machine-specific code that may cause problems if you clone.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 03:55 PM

CCC done. I've just restarted my mini and pressed down the option key, but it just stays on the grey screen, no menu come up to select a bootable drive? Do I have to press it at a certain time? And just to be sure the option key is known as the 'alt' key is it not? With a little symbol like half a bath on the bottom?

Had to restart it as it just stayed on the grey screen

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 04:00 PM

That's strange. At the very least your internal drive should have showed up. Do this: turn it on and as soon as you hear the chime press and hold the Option key until the volumes show up.

Can you tell me more about your drive caddy, in particular it's interface and speed? If it's USB1.1 that could be the problem.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 04:10 PM

This is the one I brought, and as far as I am aware it's USB 2.0

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/External-USB-2-0-2-5-SATA-HDD-Hard-Disk-Case-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ370172071700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item37 0172071700&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Will try what you said cave man

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 04:12 PM

Uh oh. What's the size of your new hard drive?

MorzillA

Apr 7, 2009, 04:15 PM

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 04:22 PM

Uh oh. What's the size of your new hard drive?

320GB... and I've just thought you saying that, the enclosure I brought says for up to 120GB. :eek:

But the external caddy with the new 320GB drive in it shows up on my desktop with a complete clone of what was on my 120GB Hard drive, so has CCC worked, but it just wont boot from a selectable drive, or has it not worked properly?

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 04:44 PM

PrinceOfEgypt

Apr 7, 2009, 04:55 PM

I'm stuck :confused::confused:

I just tried holding the option key after restart with a osx install disk in the drive to see if that showed up as a bootable option, but just stays on the grey screen and had to restart. Any ideas? :(

can't you only boot from firewire drives anyways? I don't think you can actually boot off usb drives..

try putting the new drive into your mini.. worst case, you'll just have to go back to the old one

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 05:02 PM

can't you only boot from firewire drives anyways? I don't think you can actually boot off usb drives..

try putting the new drive into your mini.. worst case, you'll just have to go back to the old one

Yeah I was tempted to do that, but don't want to open it all up and then put in the new drive, put it all back together and then it does not boot! :mad:

And I think usb one's are supported - the apple website:

You can press the Eject key on the keyboard to eject DVD media. Inserting a startup DVD will add that DVD to the list of startup volumes (as in the image above). You can also attach FireWire or USB external hard drives to add to the list of startup volumes.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 7, 2009, 05:30 PM

PHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW! The bootable options came up this time, and typing this from the external caddy booted drive. I removed all my usb devices apart from mouse, keyboard and external caddy, then restarted, starting with a turn off at the mains. All I can think of is some usb device had a conflict with the option key???

All seems to be running okay. It's to late now to take it out of the caddy and put it in the mini, so i'll have to wait until tomorrow.

The caddy seems to of worked fine even though it states only up to 120GB can be used in it.

bigbird

Apr 7, 2009, 09:31 PM

Your next step is to open up the Mini and replace the stock drive with your new drive. When you put it all back together and start it up again, don't hold down any keys. It will boot from the new HD. Expect the first boot up process to take significantly longer than a normal boot. That is because the OS is scattered all over the new drive and it must all be "put together", as in spotlighted and indexed. When you do a file level clone, which you probably did with CCC, it isn't an exact duplicate of the original HD. The exact same content is there, but the exact same order is not. Be patient. It will boot. After that initial boot, it will boot up quicker than ever with the bigger faster new HD.

Cave Man

Apr 7, 2009, 09:50 PM

The caddy seems to of worked fine even though it states only up to 120GB can be used in it.

I would keep your original drive in a nice safe place for a couple of weeks to ensure nothing is amiss.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 8, 2009, 05:02 AM

Be patient. It will boot. After that initial boot, it will boot up quicker than ever with the bigger faster new HD.

Thanks for that, least I won't be so concerned now if it takes ages to boot :o

Defo keeping the 120GB stock drive in the external caddy for a few weeks like you say cave man, before I format it for a drive that I think I'm going to put in my ps3

Wotan31

Apr 8, 2009, 09:22 AM

USB sucks. you should have bought a firewire drive caddy instead.

Cave Man

Apr 8, 2009, 09:56 AM

USB sucks. you should have bought a firewire drive caddy instead.

USB is perfectly fine for testing purposes. The issue is that there are so many controllers out there, some of which are better than others - and why I buy from the Usual Mac Sales Suspects (OWC, Macally, etc.).

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 8, 2009, 03:45 PM

USB sucks. you should have bought a firewire drive caddy instead.

To expensive, only needed a cheap caddy just to get the job done, as old drives going to go into my ps3.

Well I've installed the new 320GB and so far everything seems fine. Just trying out applications, movies, burning etc. Is there anything else I can try to make sure the drive is functioning as normal?

The new 7200rpm sounds as quiet as the stock 7200rpm did. The only difference I can see is the northbridge temp is slightly higher than the 5400rpm drive was.

Everything seems more snappy. :D:D + I have the big HD I need.

beatmonkeytwo

Apr 8, 2009, 04:08 PM

I'm sure the 7200rpm boots around the same time as the 5400rpm did. I think I remember reading something one day about resetting the PMU, as the computer still thinks the old hard drive is in it. Or am I talking rubbish? :confused: