2012 iMac Upgrading to SSD from stock 1TB HD... Where to get special OS?

Kmad86 · Dec 28, 2012, 01:42 PM

I've done some research and it seems like the Mountain Lion OS that comes on the 2012 iMac stock is a special version of Mountain Lion. Any idea how I would get that version on my SSD if I swap out the HD with the SSD? Or can I safely just use the standard 10.8 in AppStore?

apunkrockmonk · Dec 28, 2012, 01:45 PM

All new macs have Internet recovery built in. As long as you have an Internet connection the iMac can get the proper OS itself.

Tanax · Dec 28, 2012, 01:46 PM

What wouuld be special about it? And where have you read that?

Kmad86 · Dec 28, 2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

What wouuld be special about it? And where have you read that?

I had read it on here, I think in the teardown thread. I believe a specific story was somebody putting a Crucial M4 512 in their computer and it wouldn't boot because it had the OS on it from their other computer, and it was a different build??

ConCat · Dec 28, 2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmad86

I had read it on here, I think in the teardown thread. I believe a specific story was somebody putting a Crucial M4 512 in their computer and it wouldn't boot because it had the OS on it from their other computer, and it was a different build??

This is correct. Apple uses a custom build containing code specific to the new model, until the next Mac OS update, where the differences are consolidated. However, it's irrelevant nowadays as the above poster mentioned because of Internet Recovery.

Kmad86 · Dec 28, 2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConCat

This is correct. Apple uses a custom build containing code specific to the new model, until the next Mac OS update, where the differences are consolidated. However, it's irrelevant nowadays as the above poster mentioned because of Internet Recovery.

Great! Will go that route.

Tanax · Dec 28, 2012, 01:54 PM

So ...
- Install OS X on SSD
- Boot Mac from SSD
- Use Internet Recovery?

apunkrockmonk · Dec 28, 2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

So ...
- Install OS X on SSD
- Boot Mac from SSD
- Use Internet Recovery?

With just the ssd the only valid boot option should be Internet recovery and it should boot into it automatically. If not I think you hold the R key while booting.

themcfly · Dec 28, 2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

So ...
- Install OS X on SSD
- Boot Mac from SSD
- Use Internet Recovery?

nope...

- install SSD
- boot with command + R
- system will detect there is no recovery partiton, nor boot drives, and will load up internet recovery
- select where to install OS X
- let it download and install

tdhurst · Dec 28, 2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themcfly

nope...

- install SSD
- boot with command + R
- system will detect there is no recovery partiton, nor boot drives, and will load up internet recovery
- select where to install OS X
- let it download and install

Just did this on a MBP. Not a hybrid, but hd to ssd. Works great.

Then used time machine.

Tanax · Dec 28, 2012, 02:11 PM

Ohh, so the SSD will be completely empty, insert it in the Mac and try booting from it and it will bring up Internet Recovery? That's awesome! No need to manually install OS X on the SSD beforehand then!

tdhurst · Dec 28, 2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

Ohh, so the SSD will be completely empty, insert it in the Mac and try booting from it and it will bring up Internet Recovery? That's awesome! No need to manually install OS X on the SSD beforehand then!

Yes. I also believe it will install the latest OS you've purchased and installed (from the Mac App Store), not the OS that originally came with the computer, which saves you another step.

Can't confirm that, but I don't remember having to reinstall 10.7 and then upgrade to 10.8 when I replaced my hd with an ssd.

Tanax · Dec 28, 2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdhurst

Yes. I also believe it will install the latest OS you've purchased and installed (from the Mac App Store), not the OS that originally came with the computer, which saves you another step.

Can't confirm that, but I don't remember having to reinstall 10.7 and then upgrade to 10.8 when I replaced my hd with an ssd.

Awesome! Thanks

Having to upgrade manually is just a minor thing though.

seigaroo · Dec 28, 2012, 03:25 PM

Would this be the same for adding a ssd to a mid-2011 iMac with the original hd still in? Got a refurb with os x 10.8 already installed & didn't want to have to download for another $20.

Kmad86 · Dec 29, 2012, 11:53 AM

Just did the internet recovery. Am I crazy, or does that log into a wireless connection without a password? I swore it was formatted and somehow still recovered from the internet. Once I installed it, it then asked for a password.

Dec 28, 2012, 01:42 PM	#1
Kmad86 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2009	2012 iMac Upgrading to SSD from stock 1TB HD... Where to get special OS? I've done some research and it seems like the Mountain Lion OS that comes on the 2012 iMac stock is a special version of Mountain Lion. Any idea how I would get that version on my SSD if I swap out the HD with the SSD? Or can I safely just use the standard 10.8 in AppStore?
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Dec 28, 2012, 01:45 PM	#2
apunkrockmonk macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rochester, NY	All new macs have Internet recovery built in. As long as you have an Internet connection the iMac can get the proper OS itself. __________________ iPad White 16GB iPad3 iOS 6.1.2\|WiFi iPhone Black 32GB iP5 iOS 7\|T-Mobile MacBook Air i5 1.8GHz\|4GB\|128GB\|10.9 Hackintosh i5 3570k @ 4.2GHz\|24GB\|7TB\|10.8.3
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Dec 28, 2012, 01:46 PM	#3
Tanax macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	What wouuld be special about it? And where have you read that?
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Dec 28, 2012, 01:54 PM	#7
Tanax macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	So ... - Install OS X on SSD - Boot Mac from SSD - Use Internet Recovery?
	0

Dec 28, 2012, 02:11 PM	#11
Tanax macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	Ohh, so the SSD will be completely empty, insert it in the Mac and try booting from it and it will bring up Internet Recovery? That's awesome! No need to manually install OS X on the SSD beforehand then!
	0

Dec 28, 2012, 03:25 PM	#14
seigaroo macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Would this be the same for adding a ssd to a mid-2011 iMac with the original hd still in? Got a refurb with os x 10.8 already installed & didn't want to have to download for another $20.
	0

Dec 29, 2012, 11:53 AM	#15
Kmad86 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2009	Just did the internet recovery. Am I crazy, or does that log into a wireless connection without a password? I swore it was formatted and somehow still recovered from the internet. Once I installed it, it then asked for a password.
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