Ntfs ssd...

I've bought a optical drive to hdd caddy converter, and have already bolted the SSD into it, as I was eager to make sure it would fit together okay. My issue is that it still contains a Windows 7 installation on it (from it's previous life in my PC), and I would like to double check it's contents, without removing it from the caddy. Basically I don't want wear out the the connector, or it's captive screws!

If I just bolt it into my MBP, will I be able to boot into OS X and view it's contents okay? I know OS X can read from ntfs, but will it cause issues when trying to boot into OS X, and what kind of access will I have to it's contents once booted?

 

Thank you, I'll cross my fingers hope...users is where downloads, docs etc are? That will be exactly where I'll want to check!

Also, I've been reading about setting up fusion drive, do you think it would be better than having just two seperate drives? ...can I do it with my mid 2010 C2D MBP13?

Is this worth buying; http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5499/hgst-travelstar-7k1000-1tb-2-5-hard-drive-review/index.html ? Basically, would it + my Crucial M4, be better than a the 750GB Momentous XT?

Lastly, I'm correct in think it's best to keep the HDD in the original spot, so as to keep the shock protection? I won't have hibernation issues with the SSD in the opti bay?

 

Really, I'd read through all this, http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1347247

It's says both connections are sata-II in pre-2011 machines, and that it's best to keep the hdd where it is, for the shock protection; is all this wrong? I thought it was only if you had a 2011 model, where only the hdd bay has sata-III, that you should stick the SSD in the HDD bay (optibay has SATA-II)!

As for the version of OS X, that's easy...it's the latest.

 

Well, today my memory turned up, so now was the time to pop the hood and embark on the upgrade...

So far success! Although it felt tense ruffling around with the internals, and getting the memory out proved tough (it was very stiff), I've booted the machine up and all is good! Not only does it report 8GB RAM, but also that the sata connection to optibay (Crucial M4), is running at 3GB/SATAII i.e. 'Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit'! So all in all, I'm a rather happy bunny!

Another plus, is that I managed to access my Windows 'Users' folder, on the Crucial M4, and subsequently copy off the files I wished to save, on to a USB stick!

Only one question remains really, that is, I've made a Time Machine back-up of my whole system, and assume that I will be able to copy over individual files, rather than just do a compete restore? Basically I don't want to do full restore, as I'd rather start a fresh!

I've also decided to do a plain install, a I'd rather not mess up a 'Fusion hack'; that is unless you think it would be easy, and know of some good instructions?

 

Anybody able to assist with the above questions; I'm sure there must be more than a few Time Machine veterans here...?

There must even be, one or two people that know something about setting up Fusion?!

 

Awesome, so I can go ahead and build a fresh install, and when I hit the desktop, I'll be able to right-click Time Machine, and just select "Browse other backup disks..."? Will it ask me for my previous system password, I would hope so!

I'm thinking I might skip Fusion...

...Big thank you for the help btw, that goes to you too hallux!

P.S. do you think I'll be able to select the optibay SSD as the install drive, and do I need to format the drive first, or wiil I be able to do that during setup...I will want to format both drives btw?

 

Well, somewhat nervously, I went ahead last night with my system rebuild! In the end I did opt to go the fusion route; after watching this beautiful 'How To...' on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4NqbGEJpN4, I realised just how easy it was to do!

WOW, that's all I can say! This thing is like the bullet train now! I can't believe I sat on my SSD (in draw for 4-5 months) for so long (came out of PC, after 256GB upgrade), fearing about what would happen to my files! Seriously, before the upgrade things were taking excruciatingly long to open/boot, now it's instant for everything! It can't of helped that the old 5,400rpm hdd was linked at 1.5Gbps; the M4 is linking at 3Gbps

Only one question remains, sure enough I was able to access my old Time Machine backup, but rather than the files all being in there respective locations, i.e. pictures, music etc, they were all lumped together. This obviously makes it very hard to locate a file; is there a way to see them indexed in there correct locations? I must add, my heart pounds at the thought of clicking the wrong button...

Can I just say a big thank you again, your guidance helped big time, and the advice elsewhere on this forum has also proved invaluable!

 

...right, not all plain sailing after all... after I'd set up my system, pretty much the first thing I did was download Trim Enabler, and switch it on. It needed a reboot, but after this it showed as on; great I thought...! However, I then asked the system to sleep, and thought it was odd that it took about 45 secs for the light to start throbbing! When I tried to wake the system, it just displayed the login screen, and constantly pinwheeled... I had to do a hard shutdown!

When I powered the system back on, all I got was the chime, and a grey screen, no logo; nada, zip all else... I cycled it a few times before it allowed me to select a boot device.

I've now got Trim Enabler off, in fact I deleted it and all seems okay, but it's still taking 45-47 secs to sleep; does anybody have any advice?

 

What I mean't was that the pictures and Music folders etc, are greyed out, i.e. I can't click on them. It's just one big pool of files sorted into file types...basically I can whizz through 100s of picture etc, but not view the folder "pictures"!?

 

I'll certainly give that a read through, and perhaps give it another go, once I know my systems stable. I spotted the option to transfer stuff when I was setting up, it mentioned using migration assistant later...?! To answer your question, I have to say I'm not sure, I'll have another look in a bit.

Right now, I'm a bit bothered about the long delay before my system sleeps. That, and the more worrying fact the sudden motion sensor (SMS) dosen't seem to be kicking in; especially annoying given it's the reason I left the hdd in the main bay! Maybe the heads are already parked, as it's not being used; unlikey but possibly!?

p.s., forgot to add, I've done a check using the command "sudo pmset -g", and can verify that OS X believe SMS is enabled; it's value was "1"

 

Yes, it appears to just be sleep... Startup and shutdown are super speedy, and almost all applications open with one bounce. I ran blackmagic speed test and it was showing roughly 175-180W, and 260-280R... does that seem pretty fair for a Crucial M4, on a sata-II connection?

When I say sleep, I'm just talking regular sleep; I haven't had a hibernation yet, god forbid; I'd heard there could be issue with hibernation... come to think of it, I did read something about turning it off to improve sleep times; could you advise the best way to do this... Plus, do you think it's a big sacrifice to make?

 

It's ironic, that the one process tailor made by Apple to be simple, actually turns out to be the hardest, most convoluted step of the lot! I think I'll have to do a bit more thinking when I'm less tired... muchas gracias for the detailed steps; if I still can't figure it, I'll post again!

As an aside to that, my mbp now sleeps instantly; the sacrifice, I had to turn off hibernate... doubt it'll cause me many issues, I've usually got the machine tethered anywho! If anybody else want the command to turn it off; it's "sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0", if you want to turn it on again, just swap the 0 for a 3. Big thanks agaskew