2012 MBP SSD migration with encryption

[windowstomac]

Hi there,

I have a 2012 MBP 13" i7 and am tempted to finally swap for a 500gb SSD.

I am currently on Mountain Lion and have full disk encryption enabled. My time machine backup is also encrypted.

I figure I may as well move to Mavericks, so my plan for migration is as follows:

-download Mavericks from App Store and create a USB install key.
-fit SSD
-clean install Mavericks
-restore all apps and data from Time Machine backup (usb3 so hopefully quite quick)

A few questions:

1. Has anyone done this with full disk encryption on?

2. Will this be (at least nearly) as good as a full clean install?

3. Will I then have to re-encrypt the SSD?

4. Do I have to do anything about TRIM on the new drive?

Drive recommendations also appreciated. Read somewhere that Samsung drives don't "play nice" with MBPs, not sure if there is any truth in that?

Many thanks
B

 

[RMXO]

Hi there,

I have a 2012 MBP 13" i7 and am tempted to finally swap for a 500gb SSD.

I am currently on Mountain Lion and have full disk encryption enabled. My time machine backup is also encrypted.

I figure I may as well move to Mavericks, so my plan for migration is as follows:

-download Mavericks from App Store and create a USB install key.
-fit SSD
-clean install Mavericks
-restore all apps and data from Time Machine backup (usb3 so hopefully quite quick)

A few questions:

1. Has anyone done this with full disk encryption on?

2. Will this be (at least nearly) as good as a full clean install?

3. Will I then have to re-encrypt the SSD?

4. Do I have to do anything about TRIM on the new drive?

Drive recommendations also appreciated. Read somewhere that Samsung drives don't "play nice" with MBPs, not sure if there is any truth in that?

Many thanks
B

Can't help you with encryption since I tend to do the long route and decrypt then xfer or migrate and re-encrypt but I might be able to help you with a few other questions.

Just google the commandline to check if trim is enabled but I have a feeling you might have to enable it, but it doesn't hurt to check first. There's an app called Trims Enabler Pro you might want to try out.

I've yet to have any issues with any Samsung SSD's in my previous MBP's ranging from late 2008 to mid 2011.

When it comes to apps, I've always just re-installed. Just a piece of mind thingy for me esp on a clean OS install.

 

[Weaselboy]

1. Has anyone done this with full disk encryption on?

Having the current disk encrypted won't matter, but restore or migrating from an encrypted TM backup is a bit different. Read this thread, particularly my comments in post #7 there.

2. Will this be (at least nearly) as good as a full clean install?

No it won't. A true clean install involves installing the OS clean (like you are going to), but then after that manually reentering all settings and manually reinstalling all apps then manually copying all data like documents and music back to the new drive.

That said, is you current install working okay? If it is, there is likely little or nothing to be gained from a clean install.

Here is what I would do. Install Mavs now over top of Mountain Lion on the existing drive. If that is working okay, update your TM backup. After that do an option key boot to the TM disk to make sure it boots to the recovery screen as we will need that to move to the new disk.

Then pop in the new disk and option key boot to the TM disk. Use Disk Util from the recovery screen to format the new SSD to Mac OS Extended. Then quit Disk Util and select restore. Select and unlock your TM disk when prompted then go ahead with the restore. This will move the Mavs OS and all your apps and data to the new drive.

Reboot to the SSD then go to System Prefs Startup Disk pane and set the new SSD as the boot drive.

3. Will I then have to re-encrypt the SSD?

Yes. Once you finish what I suggested above you will need to reenable Filevault encryption on the new SSD.

4. Do I have to do anything about TRIM on the new drive?

Yes. You will need to use something like the Trim Enabler app to turn on TRIM.

Drive recommendations also appreciated. Read somewhere that Samsung drives don't "play nice" with MBPs, not sure if there is any truth in that?

The Samsung EVO and Crucial M500 are both very popular here and reasonably priced. Never heard about any specific compatibility issue with the Samsungs.