question about restoring my mbp

[matrix808]

I want to restore my mbp back to original settings, but i have a HDD in the optibay. if i restore the SDD in my HDD bay back to original settings when im done installing programs back onto the SDD, will i be able to just drop the HDD back into the optibay with all my original files still there?

i use my HDD mainly for storage and storing itunes. just want to know if i dont need to go through the hassle of backing it up before the restore.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You don't need to remove the HDD during a clean install, as you can select the actual partition you want to install Mac OS X onto.

Or am I understanding you wrong?

 

[matrix808]

You don't need to remove the HDD during a clean install, as you can select the actual partition you want to install Mac OS X onto.

Or am I understanding you wrong?

Well i wanted to take out my hdd from the optibay and put back in the superdrive so i can install all the programs i have loaded on discs (office and OS). everything else is digital. I am just not sure after having a clean OS lion installed if my mbp will be able to still read the old HDD or if it will need to be formatted first.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Well i wanted to take out my hdd from the optibay and put back in the superdrive so i can install all the programs i have loaded on discs (office and OS). everything else is digital. I am just not sure after having a clean OS lion installed if my mbp will be able to still read the old HDD or if it will need to be formatted first.

Do you have an enclosure for the SuperDrive? Do you have access to another computer (Windows or Mac OS X) with a DVD drive, which you could access via Remote Disc Sharing? That would be easier than the whole replacing steps.

Anyway, as Lion is just Mac OS X, as the version before, and the one before that, and the other five before that, it is capable of reading your HDD just fine, as it was readable before.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

 

[matrix808]

Do you have an enclosure for the SuperDrive? Do you have access to another computer (Windows or Mac OS X) with a DVD drive, which you could access via Remote Disc Sharing? That would be easier than the whole replacing steps.

Anyway, as Lion is just Mac OS X, as the version before, and the one before that, and the other five before that, it is capable of reading your HDD just fine, as it was readable before.

awesome thanks!