How to make an SSD my main drive.

[Silmarien]

I just got a Crucial M4 256GB for my 2012 15" cMBP. I have no idea how to proceed though. I have also bought a superdrive enclosure and caddy since I will be putting my HDD there. Could someone guide me through it? Or point me to the right direction? I have tried to keep up with the guides but I am not sure which is best. I have read about Carbon Copy Cloner but also have read that its better to reinstall ML because of the way data is stored in HDD that wont work as good on the SSD and then migrating the files. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Can this help?

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X onto (or make a bootable copy onto)​

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

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)

​

 

[GGJstudios]

Here's a simple approach:

1. Buy an external enclosure and put your old drive in it.
2. Install your new drive in your Mac.
3. Boot from your old (external) drive by holding the Option key on startup.
4. Use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the old (external) drive to the new (internal) drive.
5. Boot from the new internal drive.
6. Your now running on your new internal drive and your old drive is now an external drive, useful for backups or additional storage.

 

[Silmarien]

Thank you both for your answers! I didnt quite get simsaladimbambas' method though. Is that another way instead of using Carbon Copy Cloner?

Here's a simple approach:

1. Buy an external enclosure and put your old drive in it.
2. Install your new drive in your Mac.
3. Boot from your old (external) drive by holding the Option key on startup.
4. Use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the old (external) drive to the new (internal) drive.
5. Boot from the new internal drive.
6. Your now running on your new internal drive and your old drive is now an external drive, useful for backups or additional storage.

About these steps, would it be possible instead of booting from and external enclosure to boot from the HDD in the optibay?

 

[bigboar]

i went the external enclosure route. I formatted my new drive using disk utility before using CCC. I don't know if you have to though...

 

[GGJstudios]

About these steps, would it be possible instead of booting from and external enclosure to boot from the HDD in the optibay?

Yes.