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Sam-w

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 20, 2020
4
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Hello all. I have a late 2011 13 inch MacBook Pro. It has the standard 500gb HDD and I have just purchased a crucial MX500 500gb SSD to change to improve its performance. I have also bought a USB to SATA cable.
The bit I need a bit of guidance with is how to transfer all of my data from the HDD to the SSD. I thought it was just a case of restoring the drive using the data on the HDD from disk utility, but I keep reading about cloning the software using CCC or super duper. It would be greatly appreciated if I could be pointed in the right direction for this.
I just want to make sure I get it done right so I don’t lose anything or completely mess the laptop up.
Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
I can help you.

PRINT OUT this post and keep it for reference.

First, BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, connect the SSD to the MBP using the USB/SATA adapter cable.

When you plug it in, the MBP is probably going to give you a msg to the effect:
This disk is unreadable, do you want to initialize it?
YES, you want to do this.
So open disk utility (if it doesn't open automatically) and erase it.

You didn't tell us WHICH VERSION OF THE OS you're using.
So...
If you're using High Sierra or earlier, erase to "Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format".
If you're using Mojave, erase to "APFS, GUID partition format".

Let the erase go through and the SSD should appear on the desktop (empty).
At this point, you might give it a name that is recognizable. (example "MacBook SSD")

Now we're ready for the next step.
Download CarbonCopyCloner from here:
CCC is FREE to download and use for 30 days, this will cost you nothing.

Open CCC and accept the defaults for now.
In the main window, you'll see "3 boxes".
Source Destination Schedule

For source, select the internal drive.
For destination, select the SSD
IGNORE the schedule box -- you don't need it

Now click "clone" and follow through.
CCC may ask if you want to clone the recovery partition.
YES, let it do this for you as well.
It will take a little while to copy everything over.
When done, quit CCC.

Once the clone is done, it's time to TEST IT to see if it works.
REBOOT and HOLD DOWN THE OPTION KEY CONTINUOUSLY until the startup manager appears.
Do you now see the SSD as a bootable device?
If yes, click on it and hit return.

Do you get a "good boot"?
If so, log in and look around.
IMPORTANT:
Go to the "about this Mac" (apple menu) and check to be sure you're booted from the SSD.
If you are, ALL IS GOOD SO FAR.
It's time to shut down and "do the drive swap".

Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
IT'S EASY.
BUT USE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB.
You need a Phillips #00 driver (for screws on the back)
and
A TORX T-6 drive (to remove the "bosses" on the side of the drive).

Find these at local hardware stores or online, they're cheap.

In my experience, you DO NOT need to disconnect the battery for a simple drive swap.

Get the new drive in, then use A FEW screws to temporarily "tack on" the back.
Now turn it over and try a bootup again.
USE THE OPTION KEY TRICK, as you did above.
Do you get a good boot?
Fine, we're almost done.

Go to the startup disk preference pane, and select the SSD to be the "new boot drive".
Close startup disk, and reboot WITHOUT the option key.
Do you get right to the login screen?
Then login and look around.
Look OK?
Finished!
(be sure to put the rest of the screws back in to secure the rear cover)

I'd suggest this for the old drive:

It can now become your backup, or use it for extra storage.
 
Since you're switching from a HDD to a third-party SSD, you may also want to enable TRIM as it can increase the life-span of the ssd (but depending on the number of years you plan to use it, may not be as useful. However, you could always pull the drive out an use it as an external if yo upgrade Macs in a few years):
 
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Thank you both for your help. I have macOS High Sierra installed. I have carried out the SSD swap following your guidance above and all seems good. It has definitely improved the performance of the machine.

I think next on the cards will be a RAM swap. Are there any recommendations as to which is the best upgrade kit to go for?
 
Although Apple only sold this with up to 8GB (2x4GB) you can put 16GB (2x8GB) in.

Having lots of RAM can help with SSD life. If you don’t have enough RAM the swap memory on the SSD will be heavily used using up valuable writes.
 
Will look into getting RAM changed ASAP then. Are there any recommendations to a decent brand?
 
If i have a Crucial SSD, is it wise to keep to the same brand for the RAM, or does it not matter too much?
 
I've used Crucial, Hynix, OWC, Kingston. The last 16gb kit I bought was two used 8gb Kingston's on ebay for $48 US. My 2012 MacBook Pro came with Hynix ram.
 
OP wrote:
"I think next on the cards will be a RAM swap. Are there any recommendations as to which is the best upgrade kit to go for?"

How much RAM do you have NOW?
4gb?
Or.. 8gb.

IF you currently have 4gb...
For an older MBP, I'd suggest changing ONLY ONE of the DIMMs -- the top one when you have the back cover off.

Change out the top DIMM for 8gb.
This will give you a total of 10gb of installed RAM.
That will almost certainly be "more than enough" for the rest of the life of the MBP...
 
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