Hi. I have a Sony laptop that I installed an SSD into a while back and it runs windows 7. I have a late 2013 iMac 21" with the standard 1tb HDD. I want swap drives between the 2 as I don't use the lap top often. Will I be able to use the SSD in the iMac even though it is formatted for windows? When I go to install Mavericks will it format the drive then, or do I need to get a whole new drive? Any advice would be great!
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Can I swap drives?
- Thread starter rblahetka
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You are correct. The 21.5" late-2012 iMac and later models do have a 2.5" laptop drive.
That's good to hear! So, other than taking the iMac apart, it should be a straight forward swap. That will def save the expense of buying a new drive! Thanks!
OP wrote above:
[[ When I go to install Mavericks will it format the drive then, or do I need to get a whole new drive? Any advice would be great! ]]
Before you go through all the trouble of opening a newer iMac (which isn't designed to be opened), why not just take your SSD and put it into an external USB3 enclosure, which you can buy for about $18 ?
Advantages:
- Will take 90 seconds to put drive into enclosure and connect it to iMac vs. quite a while to open the iMac
- You don't risk damaging anything inside
- You won't have any problems trying to get the cases back together
- Most importantly -- you won't notice any speed difference between running the drive externally vis-a-vis internally.
Disadvantages:
- You won't be able to enable TRIM via USB3 (however, this probably won't result in much of a slowdown over the long term, all-but un-noticeable in day-to-day usage).
Aside: if you spend more $$ for an external thunderbolt enclosure, you WILL be able to use TRIM. Whether the additional cost is worth it, only you can decide.
Some folks have used a piece of velcro to attach the external enclosure to the back of the iMac's stand -- off the desk, out-of-the-way, out of sight.
There's no law that says the boot drive -has to be- inside the case.
The iMac (or ANY Mac) will run as well when booted externally....
Here's a USB3 enclosure to consider:
http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Ina...0360474&sr=8-1&keywords=inateck+usb3+2.5+uasp
[[ When I go to install Mavericks will it format the drive then, or do I need to get a whole new drive? Any advice would be great! ]]
Before you go through all the trouble of opening a newer iMac (which isn't designed to be opened), why not just take your SSD and put it into an external USB3 enclosure, which you can buy for about $18 ?
Advantages:
- Will take 90 seconds to put drive into enclosure and connect it to iMac vs. quite a while to open the iMac
- You don't risk damaging anything inside
- You won't have any problems trying to get the cases back together
- Most importantly -- you won't notice any speed difference between running the drive externally vis-a-vis internally.
Disadvantages:
- You won't be able to enable TRIM via USB3 (however, this probably won't result in much of a slowdown over the long term, all-but un-noticeable in day-to-day usage).
Aside: if you spend more $$ for an external thunderbolt enclosure, you WILL be able to use TRIM. Whether the additional cost is worth it, only you can decide.
Some folks have used a piece of velcro to attach the external enclosure to the back of the iMac's stand -- off the desk, out-of-the-way, out of sight.
There's no law that says the boot drive -has to be- inside the case.
The iMac (or ANY Mac) will run as well when booted externally....
Here's a USB3 enclosure to consider:
http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Ina...0360474&sr=8-1&keywords=inateck+usb3+2.5+uasp
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
So, I can use the SSD drive hooked up to USB and make it my boot drive? That would be nice as I have a 1TB external drive for backs up now, and with the 1TB HDD inside, I can use both. I need to find a write up on this.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.