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SSD Upgrade Help

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payne0391

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 12, 2013
27
0
Apologies if this has been asked already!

I'm looking to upgrade the HDD in my mid 2010 MacBook Pro to an SSD.

My Question is what is the best way to get all my data, apps and settings across to the SSD?

I've heard the easiest way is to use my USB Mavericks install disk to setup as new and then use Migration Assistant with my Time Machine backup to move everything across?

Is this a good way to do it or is there a better/easier way?

Thanks in advance :)!
 
payne0391 said:
Apologies if this has been asked already!

I'm looking to upgrade the HDD in my mid 2010 MacBook Pro to an SSD.

My Question is what is the best way to get all my data, apps and settings across to the SSD?

I've heard the easiest way is to use my USB Mavericks install disk to setup as new and then use Migration Assistant with my Time Machine backup to move everything across?

Is this a good way to do it or is there a better/easier way?

Thanks in advance :)!
Click to expand...

If your Time Machine backup was made with Lion 10.7.2 or later, there is a much easier way. Just install the SSD, then option key boot to the Time Machine drive. This will bring up the recovery screen. From there use Disk Util to erase the SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Then quit Disk Util and click restore. This will move the OS and all your apps and data onto the new SSD.

Last step is to restart to the SSD after the restore then go into the Startup Disk pane in System Prefs and set the SSD as the boot drive.
 
The migration assistant/TM restore is probably the best automated way to do it - I would not recommend that you manually try to copy apps/system files as this will cause many a problem. The above comments are correct in the processes
 
If your Time Machine backup was made with Lion 10.7.2 or later, there is a much easier way. Just install the SSD, then option key boot to the Time Machine drive. This will bring up the recovery screen. From there use Disk Util to erase the SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Then quit Disk Util and click restore. This will move the OS and all your apps and data onto the new SSD.

Last step is to restart to the SSD after the restore then go into the Startup Disk pane in System Prefs and set the SSD as the boot drive.
Click to expand...

So with this method I would not need to install the OS first I could just go straight through the TM method and that would install the OS as well as restore everything else?
 
DoFoT9 said:
Within reason, it shouldn't move any of the old system files - just "user orientated" files.
Click to expand...

No.. it moves everything. You are thinking of Migration Assistant that requires an OS install first then imports users files. A TM restore like I described moves everything to the new drive. This is essentially the same as using third party cloning software.
 
DoFoT9 said:
Within reason, it shouldn't move any of the old system files - just "user orientated" files.
Click to expand...

So would it not restore my settings? I basically want it to be an exact copy of what I had before? Is it better to go down the hard drive caddy and cloning method?
 
payne0391 said:
So would it not restore my settings? I basically want it to be an exact copy of what I had before? Is it better to go down the hard drive caddy and cloning method?
Click to expand...

DoFoT9 is mistaken. What I described is the same as if you cloned and will move everything.
 
Weaselboy said:
DoFoT9 is mistaken. What I described is the same as if you cloned and will move everything.
Click to expand...

I don't believe I am mistaken. It is not the same as a clone. For example, if you use the Migration Assistant, it will not copy the /System folder (and thusly, any older driver/kext, etc files with it), it will reinstall the /System folder taking the new machine into consideration, and then copy over user specific items (/Users, /Applications, etc) where related. That is the entire concept of the "migration", making the old user related data compatible with the newer system/hardware, etc. Make sense?
 
DoFoT9 said:
I don't believe I am mistaken. It is not the same as a clone. For example, if you use the Migration Assistant, it will not copy the /System folder (and thusly, any older driver/kext, etc files with it), it will reinstall the /System folder taking the new machine into consideration, and then copy over user specific items (/Users, /Applications, etc) where related. That is the entire concept of the "migration", making the old user related data compatible with the newer system/hardware, etc. Make sense?
Click to expand...

You are mistaken because we are talking about two, different things.

You are correct about how Migration Assistant works. You first install the OS then import specific (mostly user) data using MA.

But that is not what I suggested to the OP. I am not suggesting using Migration Assistant at all. I am telling him to restore from a Time Machine backup. This moves everything over at once... same as a clone would. This process does not use Migration Assistant at all.
 
Weaselboy said:
You are mistaken because we are talking about two, different things.

You are correct about how Migration Assistant works. You first install the OS then import specific (mostly user) data using MA.

But that is not what I suggested to the OP. I am not suggesting using Migration Assistant at all. I am telling him to restore from a Time Machine backup. This moves everything over at once... same as a clone would. This process does not use Migration Assistant at all.
Click to expand...

Ah yes - quite true. My mistake.

However, on that point - and I've not actually tested this before, but is there any documentation on this process? If I were to test this myself, would I see the cloning process, or could I be right and it still performs the same method as I explained in my above post?
 
DoFoT9 said:
Ah yes - quite true. My mistake.

However, on that point - and I've not actually tested this before, but is there any documentation on this process? If I were to test this myself, would I see the cloning process, or could I be right and it still performs the same method as I explained in my above post?
Click to expand...

It really is a clone. You can read about it here (look at the green box section) and here.

You get a progress bar like this:

3qvpcnb.png


In your defense, this is all very confusing and commonly misunderstood. :)
 
Im extremely confused now!

There is a TM option within MA would this not do the same as Weaselboy's initial method?
 
payne0391 said:
Im extremely confused now!

There is a TM option within MA would this not do the same as Weaselboy's initial method?
Click to expand...

You can use MA to move your user-orientated data from a TM backup.

When I installed my SSD, I used a Mavericks install USB to install the OS, then used MA (during the OS setup) to migrate my data from my old HDD, with the drive in a USB enclosure. Worked beautifully. I only had 2 or 3 apps that needed extra attention as a result of the new OS/migration, and that was very minimal.
 
DoFoT9 said:
I have discussed with a few colleagues, and we all believe that the system files are not a clone, merely the user related files. Just FYI.
Click to expand...

Sorry... but your friends are mistaken. You can take a blank drive and option key boot to the TM disk, format then restore and you have just cloned the TM backup to the new drive. I provided documentation and I have done this myself as well as suggested it to many forum members who have had the same result.

Your friends are thinking of the Migration Assistant process.

payne0391 said:
Im extremely confused now!

There is a TM option within MA would this not do the same as Weaselboy's initial method?
Click to expand...

No it is not the same. To use Migration Assistant you have to first install the OS onto the drive in some way. That can be through Internet recovery or off a USB key... then after the OS install one can run Migration Assistant to import your user data and select the Time Machine backup as the source for that Migration Assistant import.

What I am suggesting skips having to install the OS. You just option key boot from the TM drive, format the new disk then restore. This puts everything back on the new drive. The entire OS, your apps, your personal data... everything.
 
Weaselboy said:
Sorry... but your friends are mistaken. You can take a blank drive and option key boot to the TM disk, format then restore and you have just cloned the TM backup to the new drive. I provided documentation and I have done this myself as well as suggested it to many forum members who have had the same result.

Your friends are thinking of the Migration Assistant process.
Click to expand...

Your links don't actually give any evidence to prove that it's a direct clone. It goes over the steps and procedures of how to restore the older TM backup to a new disk very well, but no justification whatsoever to state otherwise.

If you really like, I could simulate this scenario - capturing data as it goes along during the restore to show you that only SOME directories are restored and others are installed fresh from the "installation image". I stand by my original claim, sorry.

Now, it's WWDC. I'm going to go enjoy the new products :)
 
Weaselboy said:
What I am suggesting skips having to install the OS. You just option key boot from the TM drive, format the new disk then restore. This puts everything back on the new drive. The entire OS, your apps, your personal data... everything.
Click to expand...

I will try this method and as long as i have my original drive, usb install drive and my TM backup i can always re-do it another way.
 
DoFoT9 said:
Your links don't actually give any evidence to prove that it's a direct clone. It goes over the steps and procedures of how to restore the older TM backup to a new disk very well, but no justification whatsoever to state otherwise.

If you really like, I could simulate this scenario - capturing data as it goes along during the restore to show you that only SOME directories are restored and others are installed fresh from the "installation image". I stand by my original claim, sorry.

Now, it's WWDC. I'm going to go enjoy the new products :)
Click to expand...

We must be reading different articles then. The pages I linked show how to use a TM backup to completely restore a system to a new disk. If the OS folders or whatever are not coming from that TM backup, where do you think they are coming from?

I don't even understand any more what you think is happening with a TM restore. What "installation image" are you talking about here? Nothing gets downloaded over the Internet with this restore. It all comes from the TM backup disk.
 
Weaselboy said:
We must be reading different articles then. The pages I linked show how to use a TM backup to completely restore a system to a new disk. If the OS folders or whatever are not coming from that TM backup, where do you think they are coming from?

I don't even understand any more what you think is happening with a TM restore. What "installation image" are you talking about here? Nothing gets downloaded over the Internet with this restore. It all comes from the TM backup disk.
Click to expand...

WWDC! Come back later :D
 
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