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No, go as big as you like. There are no limits on SSD or hdd sizes. Only the depth of your pocket...



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Awesome! I was looking at this Annotation 2019-06-14 115612.png which is what caused the confusion. :)

- - - Updated - - -

No, go as big as you like. There are no limits on SSD or hdd sizes. Only the depth of your pocket.../QUOTE]

Maybe cherry_bomb was thinking of the size limits imposed with some older Windows formatting that still lingers, or can still occur.

Just a thought...


- Patrick
======

Thankfully I haven't been an at home Windows user since about 2009 or so! LOL
 
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The only thing I know is the Samsung Pro had compatibility issues with certain older Macs. I'm not sure if OS updates/upgrades overcame that issue, or if it was a hardware compatibility issue.


Thanks for that Bob as I was just about to post the same thing about something about the the Samsung Pro drives being a bit goofy with some Macs but couldn't recall the details, but thinking about that, who cares about the details.

I believe harry has posted that info previously. Anyway, I'd be inclined to give them a pass. There are lots of other brands that haven't given any troubles and also for a cheaper price. And it doesn't seem as if the OP is really in need of a bleeding edge super fast SSD. Just a good solid really reliable Mac compatible SSD would be best and almost any would still be more than fast enough.

EDIT:
This search would be enough to discourage me using the Samsung Pro SSDs:
Samsung EVO 850 860 SSD Mac problems
Samsung EVO 850 860 SSD Mac problems - Google Search

NOTE ?: Does that mini need the temp sensing cable that OWC macsales supplies with their replacement drives???

Just a thought and question...



- Patrick
======
 
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Thanks for that Bob as I was just about to post the same thing about something about the the Samsung Pro drives being a bit goofy with some Macs but couldn't recall the details, but thinking about that, who cares about the details.

I believe harry has posted that info previously. Anyway, I'd be inclined to give them a pass. There are lots of other brands that haven't given any troubles and also for a cheaper price. And it doesn't seem as if the OP is really in need of a bleeding edge super fast SSD. Just a good solid really reliable Mac compatible SSD would be best and almost any would still be more than fast enough.

EDIT:
This search would be enough to discourage me using the Samsung Pro SSDs:
Samsung EVO 850 860 SSD Mac problems
Samsung EVO 850 860 SSD Mac problems - Google Search

NOTE ?: Does that mini need the temp sensing cable that OWC macsales supplies with their replacement drives???

Just a thought and question...



- Patrick
======

I'm not sure if it does need the cable. How would I go about finding out?

So the Samsung would be out. What do we think about the OWC vs Crucial?

I probably don't need top of the line, but like I mentioned before I don't mind investing in it, especially if it is going to help with the irritating buffering I am dealing with.
 
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The only thing I know is the Samsung Pro had compatibility issues with certain older Macs. I'm not sure if OS updates/upgrades overcame that issue, or if it was a hardware compatibility issue.

If you were to upgrade your SSD what would you prefer?
 
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If you were to upgrade your SSD what would you prefer?


Considering your novice level and their Mac experience and help, I'd be inclined to suggest OWC and choose which model you prefer, good or better, the latter has a better 5 year warantee I believe.

OWC Solid State Drives For Mac mini (2012)

HDD to SSD Upgrade Kit

OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012

I have always been satisfied with their products and support.

Be aware that Crucial produces and sells some cheap SSDs with minimal warranty and I bought one for my old 2007 MBPro some years ago as it was not going to be used as a critical drive and was also on super sale and also supported the old slow bus speed of 1.5GB/s that wouldn't concern you or your mini.

So, for you and your Mac mini, I'd suggest OWC: OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012


- Patrick
======
 
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Considering your novice level and their Mac experience and help, I'd be inclined to suggest OWC and choose which model you prefer, good or better, the latter has a better 5 year warantee I believe.

OWC Solid State Drives For Mac mini (2012)

HDD to SSD Upgrade Kit

OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012

I have always been satisfied with their products and support.

Be aware that Crucial produces and sells some cheap SSDs with minimal warranty and I bought one for my old 2007 MBPro some years ago as it was not going to be used as a critical drive and was also on super sale and also supported the old slow bus speed of 1.5GB/s that wouldn't concern you or your mini.

So, for you and your Mac mini, I'd suggest OWC: OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012


- Patrick
======

I’d agree. It’s a good deal, and OWC have excellent support. And products.




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I’d agree. It’s a good deal, and OWC have excellent support. And products.

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Thanks rachalmers.
And all support is good and nice to have, both from us agreeing advisors types and sellers!! :Smirk:


- Patrick
======
 
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I’d agree. It’s a good deal, and OWC have excellent support. And products.




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Perfect! My external drive is arriving today and once I get that handled I will decide which OWC to buy. Thank you again for your help!

- - - Updated - - -

Considering your novice level and their Mac experience and help, I'd be inclined to suggest OWC and choose which model you prefer, good or better, the latter has a better 5 year warantee I believe.

OWC Solid State Drives For Mac mini (2012)

HDD to SSD Upgrade Kit

OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012

I have always been satisfied with their products and support.

Be aware that Crucial produces and sells some cheap SSDs with minimal warranty and I bought one for my old 2007 MBPro some years ago as it was not going to be used as a critical drive and was also on super sale and also supported the old slow bus speed of 1.5GB/s that wouldn't concern you or your mini.

So, for you and your Mac mini, I'd suggest OWC: OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For Mac mini 2012


- Patrick
======

I concur. Thank you, Patrick!
 
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Thanks rachalmers.
And all support is good and nice to have, both from us agreeing advisors types and sellers!! :Smirk:


- Patrick
======

Hey there!

My SSD arrive today and I've been trying to get it going but CCC said it was not compatible, but that I could use disk utility to fix it. I thought I did it, but still seem to be having some issues. Can I fix this or do I need to find a different external drive? Any help is appreciated.

471e28a5f8d478bd9c22dd12f907c3f6.jpg



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de1b8f110c37074bfe23627d97bca5f8.jpg


Weird...it seems to be working now. How will I know it go everything referenced in the pic above that it said it couldn't copy?
 
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Can I fix this or do I need to find a different external drive? Any help is appreciated.


First of, and just to confirm, what version of macOS is your current boot drive using?

Next, what does Disk Utility.app say about the new external hard drive when it's connected?


- Patrick
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First of, and just to confirm, what version of macOS is your current boot drive using?

Next, what does Disk Utility.app say about the new external hard drive when it's connected?


- Patrick
======

Using the latest version of Mojave. The disk utility recognized it after I erased it and did the reformat. It's possible that warning message above popped up before I gave CCC full permissions to clone. Computer was moving at a snails pace when I was getting it going.


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433eb1a41ee28641d6b580252ed3c28e.jpg
 
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Well, it looks like CCC has been doing its thing for the last 1 1/2 hours and got 120+GB copied when the screen shot was taken.

The first clone always takes longer than later incremental backups.


- Patrick
======
 
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Well, it looks like CCC has been doing its thing for the last 1 1/2 hours and got 120+GB copied when the screen shot was taken.

The first clone always takes longer than later incremental backups.


- Patrick
======

Slow and steady! Hope it's done by the morning


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When I woke up this morning, it had completed everything but the stuff I needed to grant access to. I followed the steps after access was granted it said to restart CCC and it will only clone the items that weren't copied last time.

So! Once this is done, what is my next step? How do I make sure the mini can boot off the external drive SSD? Then I assume I will use disk utility to erase the HDD?

Again...I really appreciate all the help.


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When I woke up this morning, it had completed everything but the stuff I needed to grant access to. I followed the steps after access was granted it said to restart CCC and it will only clone the items that weren't copied last time.

So! Once this is done, what is my next step? How do I make sure the mini can boot off the external drive SSD? Then I assume I will use disk utility to erase the HDD?

Again...I really appreciate all the help.


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Good job there.
So, from now on, CCC will only copy files to the destination that are new, or newer than those on the target drive. This will usually only take minutes, unless you have installed something really big.
To ensure you can boot from the new drive, you set your boot drive in Settings to be the new drive. Temporarily. You don’t want your boot drive to be a usb connected drive.

IMPORTANT
Once you know it boots ok, reset the boot drive back to the mini internal drive in Settings and shutdown and put the new drive into your mini, taking out the old one.

You change your startup disk by following these instructions.
How to select a different startup disk - Apple Support

This is the uk site, so it may direct you to what ever country you are in.

WHEN YOU REBOOT ITWILL START UP ON YOUR NEW DRIVE. you may get warnings and so on, but be patient. Let it do its thing.

Once running off your newly installed drive, do what you like with the old drive. Put it on the usb and erase it, use it for time machine whatever.

DON’T leave your mini running on the new drive attached to the usb. Put it into the mini case.


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Good job there.
So, from now on, CCC will only copy files to the destination that are new, or newer than those on the target drive. This will usually only take minutes, unless you have installed something really big.
To ensure you can boot from the new drive, you set your boot drive in Settings to be the new drive. Temporarily. You don’t want your boot drive to be a usb connected drive.

IMPORTANT
Once you know it boots ok, reset the boot drive back to the mini internal drive in Settings and shutdown and put the new drive into your mini, taking out the old one.

You change your startup disk by following these instructions.
How to select a different startup disk - Apple Support

This is the uk site, so it may direct you to what ever country you are in.

WHEN YOU REBOOT ITWILL START UP ON YOUR NEW DRIVE. you may get warnings and so on, but be patient. Let it do its thing.

Once running off your newly installed drive, do what you like with the old drive. Put it on the usb and erase it, use it for time machine whatever.

DON’T leave your mini running on the new drive attached to the usb. Put it into the mini case.


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Hey there! Thank you for all the tips!

Right now my cloned copy is an external SSD. What Patrick had suggested is that I clone my boot drive to the external SSD, make it my boot drive, then wipe out my existing HD and then clone from the SSD back to the HD (that is if I am understanding him correctly). I still plan to install a larger internal SSD, and I guess the thought behind me doing it this way is to see if my current HD needs to be replaced as well because its failing?

Can I still follow your instructions above and boot from the external SSD to make sure it works? Then I would move on and clear out the old HD?
 
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Good job there.
So, from now on, CCC will only copy files to the destination that are new, or newer than those on the target drive. This will usually only take minutes, unless you have installed something really big.
To ensure you can boot from the new drive, you set your boot drive in Settings to be the new drive. Temporarily. You don’t want your boot drive to be a usb connected drive.

IMPORTANT
Once you know it boots ok, reset the boot drive back to the mini internal drive in Settings and shutdown and put the new drive into your mini, taking out the old one.

You change your startup disk by following these instructions.
How to select a different startup disk - Apple Support

This is the uk site, so it may direct you to what ever country you are in.

WHEN YOU REBOOT ITWILL START UP ON YOUR NEW DRIVE. you may get warnings and so on, but be patient. Let it do its thing.

Once running off your newly installed drive, do what you like with the old drive. Put it on the usb and erase it, use it for time machine whatever.

DON’T leave your mini running on the new drive attached to the usb. Put it into the mini case.


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I'm in the start up disk and I don't see my new external drive.

11cd0faeb66c35c6edb39eba66f45b8b.jpg



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