I recently bought a base 2012 mac mini and was wondering if there would be any issues if I was to temporarily use an external SSD in an enclosure as my boot drive with OSX and later on down the road put it inside the mini using the data doubler. Would this be a clean switch without the need to format? What settings would I need to change to make this possible? Thanks in advance!
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Convert external SSD to internal SSD
- Thread starter chinofx
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In theory, nothing. When the computers starts up looks for bootable devices. If the external SSD is your only bootable drive then it would boot from there. Same thing if you then put it inside the Mini.
EDIT: If you leave untouched your regular drive when using the external SSD, during first boot you'll need to hold down Option key and select the SSD as the boot drive. Then into OSX's Preferences select the SSD as the regular booting device.
EDIT: If you leave untouched your regular drive when using the external SSD, during first boot you'll need to hold down Option key and select the SSD as the boot drive. Then into OSX's Preferences select the SSD as the regular booting device.
It will be easier to get the internal drive clone to ssd, then replace with SSD.
There is a lot of instructions to replace HD with ssd.
Thanks for the replies! Since it is still a fairly new computer (and my first mac!), I will just back up the home folder and start from scratch using the recovery to install ML on the SSD. The HDD inside the mini will just be used for storage.
I have to do some research on how to install apps to the SSD and videos/pictures on the HDD. (Having different folders within the home folder pointing to different drives). Later on, I will get around to installing the SSD inside the mini and hopefully that will go smoothly!
I have to do some research on how to install apps to the SSD and videos/pictures on the HDD. (Having different folders within the home folder pointing to different drives). Later on, I will get around to installing the SSD inside the mini and hopefully that will go smoothly!
You just need to move your home directory to the HDD. Pretty easy. It's all done through System Preferences if I recall correctly.
EDIT: Here.
I considered doing it this way but read that this setup is not optimal as it moves caches and other system files to the hard drive as well. Instead, I set it up using symlinks for my music, pictures, videos and everything seems good so far!
Link: http://mattgemmell.com/2011/06/21/using-os-x-with-an-ssd-plus-hdd-setup/
Link: http://mattgemmell.com/2011/06/21/using-os-x-with-an-ssd-plus-hdd-setup/