I need Help setting up my MBP's new SSD with OSX Lion!

I just ordered 8GB RAM and a 160GB Intel 320 Series SSD for my 2010 Macbook Pro 13" and a USB SATA Enclosure.

I plan to make my current 250GB Hitachi HDD into an external HD for old files with the enclosure.

I want some help with the following things:

(a) How to install OSX Lion on my new SSD with either a USB, DVD, or my current HD (I don't want to clone so it'll be "clean" nor do I want to use the AppStore download because of slow and intermittent internet)

(b) How to turn my current drive (soon-to-be "old") into a back-up drive (Like a flash drive, without the OS files, since I won't be booting up from it anymore)

(c) What tweaks would be good at optimizing my Macbook Pro's performance? Like disabling spotlight indexing and disabling dashboard? Which programs I can live without like Garageband and X11 and how to remove them?



-Johann

comics sans ms ftw HAHA!

Z) I know it looks bad, just used it coz I was bored, sorry.

A) Thanks, I'll make that Bootable USB Installer

B) I plan to just move documents, pictures, and music while they very easily fit into my 160GB drive. Eventually I'll have to migrate them back into the "back-up HDD" when they get old and when I need more of my 160GB for more current files.

SO YES, after I move the files that I want to keep back into my SSD, I can wipe the HDD. I just need to format it into Mac OS Extended (Journalized) and it'll be like work like a USB flash drive?

C) Okay, yeah, seems like I could leave it on.

I'll go through each of those sites you sent now. Thanks.