Replacing HDD - Can I double triple check this with you guys?

Hi all

As per title, I've ordered a larger HDD for my macbook.

Now, I've not synced any of my data (itunes, iphoto, documents etc) with Time Machine, I plan on whipping all of those files over to my external HDD - replacing HDD, reinstalling everything fresh with the 2 mac discs, then I'll import all my files back.

Is that a reasonable process? Is there anything you would or wouldn't necessarily do?

Thanks

TheDiceMan said:

Hi all

As per title, I've ordered a larger HDD for my macbook.

Now, I've not synced any of my data (itunes, iphoto, documents etc) with Time Machine, I plan on whipping all of those files over to my external HDD - replacing HDD, reinstalling everything fresh with the 2 mac discs, then I'll import all my files back.

Is that a reasonable process? Is there anything you would or wouldn't necessarily do?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I would use SuperDuper to create a bootable backup of your system on an external hard drive. Then, install the new drive, boot from your external (hold the option key down at startup) and format the new internal drive (HFS+ Journaled).

Then you simply backup the external to the new internal drive, again using SuperDuper. Shut the machine down, remove the external and you should be able to boot as normal.

cwa107 said:

I would use SuperDuper to create a bootable backup of your system on an external hard drive. Then, install the new drive, boot from your external (hold the option key down at startup) and format the new internal drive (HFS+ Journaled).

Then you simply backup the external to the new internal drive, again using SuperDuper. Shut the machine down, remove the external and you should be able to boot as normal.

Click to expand...

Ohhh now that sounds easy, thanks for the prompt reply.

When you say "HFS+ Journaled".... whatyoumean?

TheDiceMan said:

Ohhh now that sounds easy, thanks for the prompt reply.

When you say "HFS+ Journaled".... whatyoumean?

Click to expand...

When you go to format your new hard drive, you'll have your choice of filesystems to use. Be sure to pick "Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)" (AKA HFS+ Journaled).

using

applications->utilities

disk utility

Right, my HDD and RAM were delivered today and I've just went out to buy the Torxy torx srewdriver.

After reading around, I've decided to get a USB enclosure - clone my to-be-replaced drive directly onto the new one and swap them over.

Using my the old drive as an external drive now and again.

My new drive is the WD '320G SATA 2.5 MOB WD3200BEVT 0411286340'

Am I right to assume that buying one of these off FleaBay would be alright for both drives, especially the one thats inside my MB atm?

Yours,

annoying n00b

TheDiceMan said:

Right, my HDD and RAM were delivered today and I've just went out to buy the Torxy torx srewdriver.

After reading around, I've decided to get a USB enclosure - clone my to-be-replaced drive directly onto the new one and swap them over.

Using my the old drive as an external drive now and again.

My new drive is the WD '320G SATA 2.5 MOB WD3200BEVT 0411286340'

Am I right to assume that buying one of these off FleaBay would be alright for both drives, especially the one thats inside my MB atm?

Yours,

Click to expand...

That's right, just make sure it's a 2.5" SATA enclosure and it should work just fine regardless of whether it states that it's specifically "Mac" compatible.

annoying n00b

Click to expand...

Not at all - keep the questions coming...

cwa107 said:

Not at all - keep the questions coming...

Click to expand...

Oh dear, you do know you can't put the pin back into grenade

I think I'm going to go with this one. It's USB powered.

There won't be any problems with performance? It'll squeeze out enough juice to run the drive? Others I've seen come with an external power supply - which I'm obviously looking avoid.

I would go with a firewire one - but they're expensivio.

Some of them come with a power supply, but depending on the drive, it's not always necessary. I would definitely make sure that the one you get at least has the option to use an external power source, just in case.

if you put about 160 GB or less in a usb enclosure, you should have enough power with usb2.0.

i just did a hard drive swap, all i did was buy a 100 dollar 160GB external drive, formatted it HFS+, then swapped it with the 80GB one in my macbook and did a fresh install on the new 160 in my macbook. then i just copied what i needed from the old 80 that i swapped into the new enclosure.