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URGENT HELP NEEDED: Installing HDD to Mac Mini mid2011?

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BeautifulWoman_1984

macrumors demi-goddess
Original poster
Sep 5, 2016
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Hey guys,

I've been doing so much research on this so I didn't want to make a thread, but I really need the help from the MacRumors community!

I just want to install a new internal 2.5" HDD to my Mac Mini mid2011.

I've already bought the new 1 TB 2.5" HDD and the tools I need to install.

I'm following this guide as all my research indicates it's the best guide: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Mid+2011+Hard+Drive+Replacement/6422

I've never done anything like this before so is there anything in particular I need to be careful of?

Thank you for any advice!
 
That is the correct guide to follow. The best advise is take it slow and don't rush anything. Be extra careful with disconnecting anything from the logic board and/or involving cables, since the cables and the sockets can get brittle with age. Other than that, you will be fine!
 
Software/Data question:

The original 2.5" HDD that came with the Mac Mini mid2011 is dead.

I've got the data from the original 2.5" HDD backed up Apple's Time Machine via an external USB HDD.

How do I restore the data from the external USB HDD running Time Machine to this new 1TB 2.5" HDD?
 
BE CAREFUL taking the Mini apart.
The small connections to the motherboard are VERY fragile and EASILY broken.

Let me understand this...
You're telling us you bought a platter-based HDD to replace the original HDD?
What did you do THAT for?
You should have bought a 1tb SSD instead -- for increased speed.

In any case...
Once the new drive is in, it must be formatted before you can restore to it.
Get the drive in.
Close up.
DON'T connect the backup yet.

Press the power-on button and IMMEDIATELY hold down
Command-SHIFT-option

This boots to INTERNET recovery.
If you're connected to wifi, you'll need your wifi password.
The internet utilities take a while to load -- be patient.

Once you get to the utilities, DO NOT open the OS installer.
Instead, open disk utility.
Format the internal drive to either:
- Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format (if you're using High Sierra or earlier)
or
- APFS, GUID partition format (Mojave or later)

When done, quit disk utility.
Now the drive is ready to be restored.

I don't know whether being booted to internet recovery will let you restore from time machine or not (I have never, ever used tm).
It's worth a try.
 
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BeautifulWoman_1984 said:
Hey guys,

I've been doing so much research on this so I didn't want to make a thread, but I really need the help from the MacRumors community!

I just want to install a new internal 2.5" HDD to my Mac Mini mid2011.

I've already bought the new 1 TB 2.5" HDD and the tools I need to install.

I'm following this guide as all my research indicates it's the best guide: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Mid+2011+Hard+Drive+Replacement/6422

I've never done anything like this before so is there anything in particular I need to be careful of?

Thank you for any advice!
Click to expand...
I agree that you should go with an SSD. That's the speed bottleneck on your computer.

I also think you should carefully watch the Other World Computing video on this replacement. You are essentially disassembling the entire computer and you can easily break things. The IR receiver is one of the lines that can easily be broken.

I also suggest you first clone your internal drive to the new drive in a USB enclosure using Carbon Copy Cloner. After you clone it, boot from the new drive in the external USB enclosure by holding the Option key when you power up. Once you're sure it boots from the external USB drive, THEN do the transplant into the mini.
 
I remember I had problems putting back Step 10 and Step 9 and wanted to throw away the thing. LOL.

Be patient on those steps.

Ideally put in an SSD and not an HDD.

The 2011 will be so much faster and is the secret why 2011/2012 machines are still relevant today.
 
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Cave Man said:
I agree that you should go with an SSD.
Click to expand...

I agree, but think that's "water under the bridge" at this point. :)

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