I've always been a Windows guy (and .net developer) that admires Apple hardware, so I finally got a 2011 Core i7 15" MBP over the weekend. It's being shipped to me now. I have a 256MB SSD on its way too. I plan to use the SSD as the main drive, then remove the optical and slave out the 500GB disc already in the MBP using this or the like:
OptiBay® Hard Drive and SSD Drive for MacBook Pro, MacBook, PowerBook G4, and Mac mini
I'll be rebuilding the system to be 50/50 mac/win partitions. I already have a BOOTABLE SD card with my x64 Win7 install on it. I've used it to install on several windows boxes already.
I've read up a fair amount already, but see issues here and there with others saying that they get a black screen with prompt after they use Boot Camp to create the partition. They're unable to boot off a USB. However I think I've seen other posts where people ARE able to boot from their USB drive or SD card and run the windows install on the blank partition. The best I can tell, the people with the problems are those without a working, bootable SD or USB key already created, trying to use their mac to create the bootable USB/SD. I already have one of these I created on my Windows box.
My plan is this:
- Image the Mac OS on the installed 500Gb drive already in the MBP to my new SSD. (What's the best approach for this?)
- Install SSD in the MPB, boot up to Mac OS.
- Run disk utility Boot Camp, Create partition for my Win7 x64 install.
- Power down, boot up with my SD card in the machine, run Win7 setup from SD on new partition
^^^ in an ideal world this will all just work! ^^^
- install the 500Gb drive in the optical bay using he OWC adapter.
- live out my days in dual-boot bliss
Anyone see any flaws in my approach? Gotchas I'm not taking into account? What's the best approach to back up the MacOS install on the stock 500Gb drive? Any RTFM replies, would you kindly provide relevant links for me to read? I've read a lot of posts and could use some guidance weeding out the detritus.
Thanks in advance!
OptiBay® Hard Drive and SSD Drive for MacBook Pro, MacBook, PowerBook G4, and Mac mini
I'll be rebuilding the system to be 50/50 mac/win partitions. I already have a BOOTABLE SD card with my x64 Win7 install on it. I've used it to install on several windows boxes already.
I've read up a fair amount already, but see issues here and there with others saying that they get a black screen with prompt after they use Boot Camp to create the partition. They're unable to boot off a USB. However I think I've seen other posts where people ARE able to boot from their USB drive or SD card and run the windows install on the blank partition. The best I can tell, the people with the problems are those without a working, bootable SD or USB key already created, trying to use their mac to create the bootable USB/SD. I already have one of these I created on my Windows box.
My plan is this:
- Image the Mac OS on the installed 500Gb drive already in the MBP to my new SSD. (What's the best approach for this?)
- Install SSD in the MPB, boot up to Mac OS.
- Run disk utility Boot Camp, Create partition for my Win7 x64 install.
- Power down, boot up with my SD card in the machine, run Win7 setup from SD on new partition
^^^ in an ideal world this will all just work! ^^^
- install the 500Gb drive in the optical bay using he OWC adapter.
- live out my days in dual-boot bliss
Anyone see any flaws in my approach? Gotchas I'm not taking into account? What's the best approach to back up the MacOS install on the stock 500Gb drive? Any RTFM replies, would you kindly provide relevant links for me to read? I've read a lot of posts and could use some guidance weeding out the detritus.
Thanks in advance!
