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brsedu

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 9, 2009
22
3
Sacramento, CA
I have the 13" 2011 MBA 4,2 with 256GB SSD. Love this machine, but the smaller form of the 11" MBA would work better for me for commuting, etc.

I'm thinking about buying a 11" 2012 MBA 5,1 with 64 GB SSD, but I want all the content of my current MBA to make it to the 11" MBA, and for cost I'd rather get the 64 GB 11" and transfer the older, higher-capacity SSD into the newer machine.

Is it possible to transplant/swap the SSDs from these 2 machines? The process of switching drives doesn't worry me, I just want to make sure these 2 machines have compatible SSDs.

Thanks!
 

Stetrain

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2009
3,550
20
The 2012 models have a different SSD connector so you can't swap them.

As far as moving all of your stuff over the best way would probably be to make a time machine backup on an external drive and then restore from it to the new machine.
 

Navdakilla

macrumors 65816
Feb 3, 2011
1,100
13
Canada
I got the base 2012 air, with the 64gb ssd. What I did was find a cheap 35$ 64gb usb key and I store all my non essential items on there.

Luckily my important files were small enough to all fit on the air, with about 10gb to spare.

If I had to go back and do it again I would have gotten the bigger ssd when I bought it.
Hope that helps a bit with your decision
 

brsedu

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 9, 2009
22
3
Sacramento, CA
Great, thanks for the info! I'm thinking a better option would be to find ain inexpensive 11" from 2011 and swap SSDs from the same year as my 13". That'll work it sounds like, as long as the 11" and 13" from the same year have the same kind of connector.
 

FuNGi

macrumors 65816
Feb 26, 2010
1,122
33
California
Great, thanks for the info! I'm thinking a better option would be to find ain inexpensive 11" from 2011 and swap SSDs from the same year as my 13". That'll work it sounds like, as long as the 11" and 13" from the same year have the same kind of connector.

Yes that will work - swapping from a 13" 2011 to a 11" 2011. You need do nothing else than swap the blade SSD's and reboot. All the necessary drivers etc. will be there. You will need to reenter a couple license keys though depending on your software (ehhmm Office:Mac).
 
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