Replacing Superdrive..

[c0nscius1nertia]

My plan was (and I think still is) to replace my 500GB HDD with 120GB SSD. Then move the 500 GB SSD to where the Superdrive is.

Once I do this, can I buy a 3.5 enclosure and put the removed Superdrive in that and hook it up to the MBP when needed? Or at that point, do I need to buy a separate external Superdrive piece, and just lay the removed one to the side in case I ever decide to put it back in the MBP?

Hopefully my question makes sense...

Also, when I have both the SSD and the HDD in the machine, where do I go to change settings of where things download to?

 

[thatoneguy82]

My plan was (and I think still is) to replace my 500GB HDD with 120GB SSD. Then move the 500 GB SSD to where the Superdrive is.

Once I do this, can I buy a 3.5 enclosure and put the removed Superdrive in that and hook it up to the MBP when needed? Or at that point, do I need to buy a separate external Superdrive piece, and just lay the removed one to the side in case I ever decide to put it back in the MBP?

Hopefully my question makes sense...

Also, when I have both the SSD and the HDD in the machine, where do I go to change settings of where things download to?

This is actually discussed a lot around here. Also, this is an upgrade I just did myself. I used a 256GB SSD and 500GB HDD. I removed my SuperDrive from my optibay and placed the HDD in there and then placed the SSD into the HDD bay, where the 500GB was previously. Now, some people will saying you can just copy it over into the SSD, at least the system stuff. I never really understood that. I reinstalled everything on the SSD as if I just re-formatted. You first have to boot up from your CD to do any of this reinstallation. And you can choose which drive to boot from my pressing the option at the sound the mbp makes when turned on.

So, let's say now that OSX is installed in your SSD and you successfully booted into and at your desktop. Make sure you can see your other HDD, the one you previously used. You can do one of two things for this one. Delete everything but what you want to stay or reformat and add back only what you want (I did this).

I'm not sure if App installation has to be done on the SSD or HDD to take advantage of the speed, so I just reinstalled all the apps. The only data on my HDD is my media (music, photos, videos). There are are settings for iTunes, iPhoto, Aperture to redirect where it should "look" for the library. Make sure the directory looks exactly the same as it would if it were in the SSD.

I think that's it.


And as for the enclosure, you can buy an external enclosure to put the SuperDrive in and have it work as an external SuperDrive. However, I don't believe it's 3.5, it's much smaller. And also, make sure the enclosure is SATA. There's a lot that are not.

 

[c0nscius1nertia]

I reinstalled everything on the SSD as if I just re-formatted. You first have to boot up from your CD to do any of this reinstallation. And you can choose which drive to boot from my pressing the option at the sound the mbp makes when turned on.

In a previous thread, someone said I can put the SSD in an enclosure, hook it up to the MBP, and use Carbon Copy Cloner to, I guess, move everything from HDD over to SSD? Does the booting from CD, as you mentioned, and cloning method serve the same purpose? Do I still have to boot from CD if I do the cloning? I'm not understanding what purpose booting from CD serves...

So, let's say now that OSX is installed in your SSD and you successfully booted into and at your desktop. Make sure you can see your other HDD, the one you previously used. You can do one of two things for this one. Delete everything but what you want to stay or reformat and add back only what you want (I did this).

My MBP's estimated delivery date is tomorrow, so there's nothing on the HDD. But assuming I had stuff on the HDD, how do you reformat on Mac?

Make sure the directory looks exactly the same as it would if it were in the SSD.

Not sure what you mean here. Are you just saying in those programs' settings, to set it to where they look for the media files from HDD rather than SSD? (I also plan on using HDD for all my media)

And as for the enclosure, you can buy an external enclosure to put the SuperDrive in and have it work as an external SuperDrive. However, I don't believe it's 3.5, it's much smaller. And also, make sure the enclosure is SATA. There's a lot that are not.

I was going to buy this enclosure for the cloning to the SSD drive, as recommended:

http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-NexSta...UTF8&coliid=I3E3PG3HRM7Z09&colid=8NW136AIEWGK

Would this enclosure also work for the Superdrive?

Looks like I'll finally officially be a Mac owner tomorrow.
I'm trying to fill in as many pre-ownership holes possible and step my Mac knowledge game up. Thanks for your help!

EDIT: I see now that it looks like the optical drive enclosure is different from the hard drive enclosure. So, scratch that.

 

[thatoneguy82]

In a previous thread, someone said I can put the SSD in an enclosure, hook it up to the MBP, and use Carbon Copy Cloner to, I guess, move everything from HDD over to SSD? Does the booting from CD, as you mentioned, and cloning method serve the same purpose? Do I still have to boot from CD if I do the cloning? I'm not understanding what purpose booting from CD serves...

Yes, you can do this. But, this would make you buy an extra equipment you won't need after everything is done. Especially since your MBP will be brand new, I would just recommend doing a quick swap of the SSD and the HDD. Basically, take out the HDD, put the SSD in, put your installation CDs in your drive that's still inside your MBP and install everything. You would need to boot from the CD since the SSD has nothing on there. The restore CDs will reinstall everything. I think this is better than the cloner. But that's just me. And plus, you won't need to buy an extra equipment that you won't use after unless you have a 2.5" drive laying around somewhere.

My MBP's estimated delivery date is tomorrow, so there's nothing on the HDD. But assuming I had stuff on the HDD, how do you reformat on Mac?

Use Disk Utility. But of course you can't format f you're actually using the disk or partition the program is running on. You can also perform this via booting up from your CD and the utilities menu would have the Disk Utility there.

Not sure what you mean here. Are you just saying in those programs' settings, to set it to where they look for the media files from HDD rather than SSD? (I also plan on using HDD for all my media)

iTunes and other programs are automatically set to look for the data in a certain folder on the same disk. Therefore, you will need to go to the settings and change it and redirect it to your HDD drive.

And make sure you those photo/music/etc folders "look" the same. Example, drag the entire music folder onto HDD and copy it onto there. Leave the one in the SSD alone, don't delete. Make sure all the files and folders are all in there. You can put a "music" folder within any folder just as long as it has its complete files and data inside. (i.e. My HDD for my music is /Media/Music/)

I was going to buy this enclosure for the cloning to the SSD drive, as recommended:

http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-NexSta...UTF8&coliid=I3E3PG3HRM7Z09&colid=8NW136AIEWGK

Would this enclosure also work for the Superdrive?

Looks like I'll finally officially be a Mac owner tomorrow.
I'm trying to fill in as many pre-ownership holes possible and step my Mac knowledge game up. Thanks for your help!

EDIT: I see now that it looks like the optical drive enclosure is different from the hard drive enclosure. So, scratch that.

I don't know what you want to do regarding getting data on the SSD, it's your choice. I think mine is quite simple and you need to buy 2 enclosures, just 1 for the SuperDrive that you will be taking out. However if you do the cloning, you have to get an external enclosure to connect to your computer since it is internal. You won't need this enclosure again unless you have a 2.5" HDD/SSD laying around.

SuperDrive enclosure is actually the toughest around, I spent a lot time looking and I just finally gave up and got the OWC one. And it actually looks great and it's pretty slim. I put one of my white apple stickers on it and it looks like an Apple product.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLSS9TOPTU2/

It's 39.99 which is pretty steep, but I was tired of looking around. I don't trust ebay when it comes to anything electronic so the enclosures there weren't available but there were a few options. There are a few options on Amazons too, most are PATA/IDE which the SuperDrive is NOT. You need SATA. Also, some of those have no front cover since those cases are normally designed for tray loading drives that would fill the space in the front. I had a case like that with this drive, there's just a big empty space, it looks unfinished, and I just wasn't liking it and it was only a $20 difference (I think) but the S&H at OWC. OMG.

 

[c0nscius1nertia]

I see. Seems like there's no point buying the ssd enclosure. And thats a sexy Superdrive enclosure you picked. You've cleared up pretty much everything I was wanting to know, much appreciated.

Only other question I have at the moment: where do you get the white Apple sticker??

 

[thatoneguy82]

I see. Seems like there's no point buying the ssd enclosure. And thats a sexy Superdrive enclosure you picked. You've cleared up pretty much everything I was wanting to know, much appreciated.

Only other question I have at the moment: where do you get the white Apple sticker??

Those stickers that come with every single Apple product that you buy. Your MBP should have it and it will be the bigger one rather than the smaller ones from the iPhone and such. It's a white sheet with 2 white apple logo stickers on it. It's usually within the manuals paperwork.

 

[heisenberg123]

theoneguy didnt you start a thread yesterday saying you had issues with superdrive inclosers and external superdrives?


maybe chosing your advice would be putting the OP in your same problem

 

[thatoneguy82]

theoneguy didnt you start a thread yesterday saying you had issues with superdrive inclosers and external superdrives?


maybe chosing your advice would be putting the OP in your same problem

I'm not sure if you understood those threads. But with the external SuperDrive that I purchased, which was Apple, didn't work. I just found out that it only worked for some models. My problem with enclosures and USB ports seem to be isolated to me as there are many others out there with external enclosures with their removed SuperDrives and have no reported issues.

 

[heisenberg123]

I'm not sure if you understood those threads. But with the external SuperDrive that I purchased, which was Apple, didn't work. I just found out that it only worked for some models. My problem with enclosures and USB ports seem to be isolated to me as there are many others out there with external enclosures with their removed SuperDrives and have no reported issues.

gotcha i thought maybe the enclosure you had was not great and stoped working for you

 

[Agent-P]

Just to give a slightly different perspective on this, I'll provide my experience. I did something similar, but instead of moving my stock HDD, I put my SSD into the superdrive location. I was able to boot up fine after closing my MBP up. I then formatted the SSD using Disk Utility. After that I used Carbon Copy Cloner to move my OSX/Applications/etc to the SSD while keeping my music/movies/etc on the stock HDD. I found this to be the simplest way for me. I used the bottom part of this guide I linked below (starting with the heading "Check to See If the Drive Is Recognized") to do the rest of the software stuff. If you have any other questions I'd be glad to help.

http://lifehacker.com/5541774/how-to-install-a-solid+state-drive-in-your-macbook

 

[c0nscius1nertia]

Well I have to wait til early next week for the SSD to arrive in the mail before I can see what happens in my case.

But in the meantime, I got my MBP today and am LOVING it so far!! I can already tell I can't return to Windows after the little bit I've used OSX.

Question though, I was under the impression the OSX CD would come with the laptop?? I don't see it anywhere...

 

[thatoneguy82]

Well I have to wait til early next week for the SSD to arrive in the mail before I can see what happens in my case.

But in the meantime, I got my MBP today and am LOVING it so far!! I can already tell I can't return to Windows after the little bit I've used OSX.

Question though, I was under the impression the OSX CD would come with the laptop?? I don't see it anywhere...

You got jacked! Haha, j slash k


It should have came with 2 gray colored discs. It's only using for formatting, I think? . It uses both discs for installation.

 

[c0nscius1nertia]

Yeah... pretty sure I actually DID get jacked...

Is there a number I should call? Or should I go to an Apple store?

 

[thatoneguy82]

Yeah... pretty sure I actually DID get jacked...

Is there a number I should call? Or should I go to an Apple store?

Really? There are no discs at all in the box? Did you comb throw the manual, it gets stuck in there sometimes and also the warranty. Also, if there still the black cloth, look for it there. However you can always call AppleCare, 800.275.2273 aka 800.APL.CARE.

 

[bdodds1985]

if it came with lion it does not come with a disc. it has a built in recovery or you can buy the thumb drive.

 

[heisenberg123]

Really? There are no discs at all in the box? Did you comb throw the manual, it gets stuck in there sometimes and also the warranty. Also, if there still the black cloth, look for it there. However you can always call AppleCare, 800.275.2273 aka 800.APL.CARE.

there is no discs for MBP preinstalled with lion

 

[bdodds1985]

Just to give a slightly different perspective on this, I'll provide my experience. I did something similar, but instead of moving my stock HDD, I put my SSD into the superdrive location. I was able to boot up fine after closing my MBP up. I then formatted the SSD using Disk Utility. After that I used Carbon Copy Cloner to move my OSX/Applications/etc to the SSD while keeping my music/movies/etc on the stock HDD. I found this to be the simplest way for me. I used the bottom part of this guide I linked below (starting with the heading "Check to See If the Drive Is Recognized") to do the rest of the software stuff. If you have any other questions I'd be glad to help.

http://lifehacker.com/5541774/how-to-install-a-solid+state-drive-in-your-macbook

This is your best bet OP. as the ssd does not need the sudden motion sensor that is only works for the HDD slot.

Thatoneguy82 has no clue what he is talking about as far as your specific computer and is only worried about the fanboy stuff.

Also, you did not specify the SSD you bought. Sata II or III and what model? The argument you should be worrying about is wether the optical bay supports sata II or III, and using carbon copier rather than doing a clean install of lion. that is not needed, especially if your MBP is pretty much new and you don't have a whole lot of stuff on it.

what kind of HDD did you MBP come with? 13, 15 or 17? these are the things that is going to make your installation of the ssd variable to wether or not it can go in the optical drive slot.

there is no discs for MBP preinstalled with lion

lion recovery is downloadable through apple's servers. horrible way to have an OS recovery. just buy the thumb drive if you want a recovery without having to use wifi or the built in one that came with your MBP.