Adding SSD to 2012 MBP

Lorddalron · Sep 5, 2012

Hi guys,
1st time on the forum and first time mac user. It really is "Insanely great".

I received my new MBP today as well as a 128GB Samsung 830 SSD and im just waiting on a caddy to arrive.

My original plan was to replace the HDD with the SSD and place the HDD in a caddy and replace the superdrive with it.

However, ive watched a good few videos on youtube showing this but a few people on overclockers tell me to stick the SSD in the caddy where the superdrive is an let the HDD remain where it is to restrict any unwanted noise.

Can i hav some opinions please.

I look forward to talking to you all

Darren

iggibar · Sep 5, 2012

Do a simple search through the forums. You will find LOTS of opinions on this.

Short and simple:

Having the OS drive in the optibay can lead to some erratic sleeping/hibernating issues.
The HDD bay is made to absorb slight shocks with its cushions. It also is controlled by a gyro motion sensor to shut the hdd off and park it if it senses any sudden motions that might cause damage to the drive.

Searching you give you more details.

What I would recommend:
Get rid of the hdd from your MBP all together. Keep it as an external drive for data. Save up for 2 solid-state drives for your MBP and you'll be in business

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

Ok, so i think i may go with the option of putting the ssd into the caddy and into the optibay.

When using norton ghost that came with the samsung ssd, can i keep whats on the hdd as a back up?

what way do i then choose the ssd as the boot drive or is this all covered in norton ghost?

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

Ghost can never be used with cloning with OSX, you have to use either Carbon copy or Super duper.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
Ghost can never be used with cloning with OSX, you have to use either Carbon copy or Super duper.

Ive just this very minute came across that small bump in the road $:\$

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

i have been using 830 ssd from samsung, fact is ghost is for window system.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
i have been using 830 ssd from samsung, fact is ghost is for window system.

Did you use carbon cloner or what?

Give me a little breakdown of the steps you took if you dont mind. Last thing i want is to cock up everything!!

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

Get yourself an external enclosure, plug in to ssd,
Then, initialize it using Disk Utility.
Then, launch CCC.
On the left, pick your "source drive" (your current internal)
On the right, pick your "target" (your new drive)
Then, choose to backup everything and let CCC do its thing.

When this is done, you should have a Bootable clone of your internal drive. Before you swap drives, try a test boot by doing this:
1. Restart
2. As soon as you hear the startup sound, hold down the option key and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN
3. In a few moments, the startup manager should appear
4. Use the mouse or arrow key to select the ssd,

then hit enter
5. You should now boot from the external
CAUTION! Once you get to the desktop, the new docked drive should "show up" EXACTLY as your old internal -- it's important not to get the two confused. You can check to see from which drive you're booted by going to the "About this Mac" menu item (right under the apple menu). I suggest you give the ssd drive a distinctive name, and also change its desktop picture to remind you it's NOT the internal.
If you get a good boot, if everything looks as it should be -- then it's time to "do the swap".
and you have the ssd drive working.
As for the optical drive with old drive I believe you can keep the data in there.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
Get yourself an external enclosure, plug in to ssd,

Can i not just use the sata to usb cable to do the transfer that came with the norton disc?

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

Lorddalron said:
Can i not just use the sata to usb cable to do the transfer that came with the norton disc?

sure.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
sure.

Sweet. Thanks for the help so far. I will start shortly.

In regards to everything i have on the hdd (which isnt alot as i only got the mbp yesterday). This will remain as it is should anything happen to the ssd letting me resort back to the hdd?

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

Lorddalron said:
Sweet. Thanks for the help so far. I will start shortly.

In regards to everything i have on the hdd (which isnt alot as i only got the mbp yesterday). This will remain as it is should anything happen to the ssd letting me resort back to the hdd?

Let us make life easier, you just have to use the ssd as your hd drive. leave the optic drive as it is.Keep the original hd out, if ssd is not okay, always put original one back.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
Get yourself an external enclosure, plug in to ssd,
Then, initialize it using Disk Utility.
Then, launch CCC.
On the left, pick your "source drive" (your current internal)
On the right, pick your "target" (your new drive)
Then, choose to backup everything and let CCC do its thing.

Ive ultilised it by creating one partition (journled) now im in ccc. When selecting the backup method. i take it i choose the 1st option: "temporarily archive modified and deleted item"???

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

yes, follow on screen instruction.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

good man. The reason i want the hdd to remain is im planning on using that for storage. music, pictures etc etc. The SSD is only 128gb and would probably do me for now but id like to have the extra storage to hand

Unless i do as you say as it will probably be a while before id get close to the 128gb limit as im not a big gamer and there wont be massive amounts of programs installed. And get an external enclosure as you suggest???

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

Sorry mate. its saying i dont have a recovery partition. Would this be recommended?

Shall i go back in and create 2 partitions, one as a recovery say 25gb?

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

"And get an external enclosure as you suggest??? "
You do not have to get an external enclosure, if you have the cable from samsung to transfer data.
I do not know what you have for osx, if it is Lion then the CCC is free. otherwise if Mountain Lion, you may have to use super duper to clone, it is free.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
"And get an external enclosure as you suggest??? "
You do not have to get an external enclosure, if you have the cable from samsung to transfer data.
I do not know what you have for osx, if it is Lion then the CCC is free. otherwise if Mountain Lion, you may have to use super duper to clone, it is free.

Yea im running ML. Im just wondering whether or not i need to create a recovery partition on the ssd?

The external enclosure would be for the hdd should i keep it out and just use it as and when needed!!

Sorry for the hassle!!\

edit: CCC is ready for ML by the way

ycl1688 · Sep 6, 2012

I have a mountain lion installer created I do not know about recovery partition.
you do not have to buy the external enclosure if you so desire, what I meant is you can use the samsung sata to usb cable to create back up.

Lorddalron · Sep 6, 2012

ycl1688 said:
Get yourself an external enclosure, plug in to ssd,
Then, initialize it using Disk Utility.
Then, launch CCC.
On the left, pick your "source drive" (your current internal)
On the right, pick your "target" (your new drive)
Then, choose to backup everything and let CCC do its thing.

When this is done, you should have a Bootable clone of your internal drive. Before you swap drives, try a test boot by doing this:
1. Restart
2. As soon as you hear the startup sound, hold down the option key and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN
3. In a few moments, the startup manager should appear
4. Use the mouse or arrow key to select the ssd,

then hit enter
5. You should now boot from the external
CAUTION! Once you get to the desktop, the new docked drive should "show up" EXACTLY as your old internal -- it's important not to get the two confused. You can check to see from which drive you're booted by going to the "About this Mac" menu item (right under the apple menu). I suggest you give the ssd drive a distinctive name, and also change its desktop picture to remind you it's NOT the internal.
If you get a good boot, if everything looks as it should be -- then it's time to "do the swap".
and you have the ssd drive working.
As for the optical drive with old drive I believe you can keep the data in there.

ok so tht didnt exactly work. When i restarted as you said it booted and gave me the option to select the ssd but when i done that it went into os x ultility manager

???