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Switching out HDD for an SSD?

R

RWil85

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 2, 2010
587
170
How involved a process is it to switch out an MBP's original HDD for an SSD?

I got my 13" MBP a week or so ago and am interested in the performance enhancements users have acquired with the use of SSD's; however, since its a fresh, new MBP - i don't know how comfortable I'd be with having to wipe or reinstall an OS (or whatever it is that needs to be done - my reason for this post) as I have never done it before...thanks for the info..
 
Switching the HDD in the Unibody MBP is a super simple process. You do need a specialty screwdriver(can't recall the name off the top of my head) to remove the bracket holding in the HDD however.

There are alot of online tutorials on how to do it (video ones are the best) and it'll take 15 minutes tops from start to finish.

The best way to do it is a fresh install in my oppinion. Backup everything you want to keep, and after your done swapping the drive, boot from the OSX install disk that came with your system and you'll be up and running in no time.
 
MoLiva said:
Switching the HDD in the Unibody MBP is a super simple process. You do need a specialty screwdriver(can't recall the name off the top of my head) to remove the bracket holding in the HDD however.

There are alot of online tutorials on how to do it (video ones are the best) and it'll take 15 minutes tops from start to finish.

The best way to do it is a fresh install in my oppinion. Backup everything you want to keep, and after your done swapping the drive, boot from the OSX install disk that came with your system and you'll be up and running in no time.
Click to expand...

The physical switching of the drives i'm cool with..i wasn't specific enough, i'm worried more about what comes after..

so, all it would involve - would be to use the boot disk to do a fresh install of mac os x on the ssd..then take my latest backup from time machine and restore it?
 
RWil85 said:
The physical switching of the drives i'm cool with..i wasn't specific enough, i'm worried more about what comes after..

so, all it would involve - would be to use the boot disk to do a fresh install of mac os x on the ssd..then take my latest backup from time machine and restore it?
Click to expand...

yep thats it.
 
RWil85 said:
sweetness..i'm diggin' this whole mac thing.
Click to expand...

Even sweeter if you have a full TM backup, you can just restore everything from that after booting from the install disc. No need to reinstall the MacOSX beforehand.
 
mmulin said:
Even sweeter if you have a full TM backup, you can just restore everything from that after booting from the install disc. No need to reinstall the MacOSX beforehand.
Click to expand...

ohhh...so, i wouldn't even need a fresh install of the OS? just the disc to get me up and going?
 
mmulin said:
Even sweeter if you have a full TM backup, you can just restore everything from that after booting from the install disc. No need to reinstall the MacOSX beforehand.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just took out my 500 5400 drive and put in an Intel G2 160 that was in a small windows netbook. The restore was fast and easy and the machine is awesome now. No more worries about moving the laptop while its busy also.
 
i know swapping out an HDD for an SSD doesn't void your warranty, but does putting your HDD in the optibay compromise your warranty at all? it doesn't say in the manual.

edit: wait wait wait. are you guys telling me that i can use time machine to an external HDD, then install the new SSD, install a clean copy of 10.6 and then import ALL my programs and documents/pictures/music from that time machine backup? that's it? coming from being a windows tinkerer.... that blows my mind.
 
Sankersizzle said:
i know swapping out an HDD for an SSD doesn't void your warranty, but does putting your HDD in the optibay compromise your warranty at all? it doesn't say in the manual.

edit: wait wait wait. are you guys telling me that i can use time machine to an external HDD, then install the new SSD, install a clean copy of 10.6 and then import ALL my programs and documents/pictures/music from that time machine backup? that's it? coming from being a windows tinkerer.... that blows my mind.
Click to expand...

from what i read..i understand it that - you DO NOT need a fresh install of the OS..you simply boot from the install disc of OS X and then run your time machine full restore..this is also my first mac, good stuff.
 
its super simple.
i remember when i first did mine.
i was so nervous but the process was so simple,
it made me feel dumb for being so cautious ;3
 
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