Replacing HDD with SSD

[PCforever?]

I am going to replace my HDD with an SSD and put my HDD in the optical drive bay. My question is how do I now load OSX on to the SSD, what is the process for formatting, partitioning? and in general setting it up.
Thanks for your input

 

[simsaladimbamba]

MacBook, MacBook Pro: Replacing the Hard Disk Drive, transferring data to the new HDD

the guide includes:

• 0. Identify your MacBook or MacBook Pro
• 1. Getting a new HDD
• 2. Guides to replace the internal HDD with a newer one
• 3. Transferring data from the old HDD to the new HDD
• 4. Using the optical disk drive (ODD) slot for placing an SSD or HDD inside the MB/P (OPTIBAY)

​

To create a Clean Install (formerly known as Erase & Install) of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (the 29 USD Upgrade DVD is a fully working retail version of Mac OS X and does not need a prior installation of Mac OS X on the Mac), follow one of the following guides:

• Short version: Clean Install of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
• Long version: Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

Perform a Clean Install of OS X Lion on Your Mac

 

[daleski75]

I am going to replace my HDD with an SSD and put my HDD in the optical drive bay. My question is how do I now load OSX on to the SSD, what is the process for formatting, partitioning? and in general setting it up.
Thanks for your input

Do you wish to clone the hdd to the ssd or to start afresh?

If 10.7 boot from the recovery partition go into disk utility partition/format and then install it couldn't be easier.

 

[PCforever?]

If 10.7 boot from the recovery partition go into disk utility partition/format and then install it couldn't be easier.

I'll probably do a clean install when ML is released as I'm due a free upgrade. But if I can't wait how would I boot from recovery partition if I've moved my HDD. Sorry for my naivety.

 

[daleski75]

I'll probably do a clean install when ML is released as I'm due a free upgrade. But if I can't wait how would I boot from recovery partition if I've moved my HDD. Sorry for my naivety.

Hold down the ALT key when you power on your macbook pro and it should let you boot from any device with a boot signature on it and this also includes external devices as well.

 

[PCforever?]

Hold down the ALT key when you power on your macbook pro and it should let you boot from any device with a boot signature on it and this also includes external devices as well.

Thank you very much!

 

[Weaselboy]

I'll probably do a clean install when ML is released as I'm due a free upgrade. But if I can't wait how would I boot from recovery partition if I've moved my HDD. Sorry for my naivety.

If you have a 2010 or newer Mac portable, you can boot to Recovery even with a blank disk installed since the recovery is in EFI (firmware).