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SamSmith

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2011
37
0
United Kingdom
So I just got my new late-2012 i7 2.3GHz Mac Mini (I couldn't wait for Haswell) and it came with an internal 1TB hard drive. I'm looking at adding an 128GB SSD into the second drive bay in the mini - so that it has both the SSD for the OS and apps plus the 1TB HD for all of my files. I just want to make sure this will work they way I think it will before I order anything. So, correct me if I'm wrong:

- I can create a bootable USB key of Mavericks

- I can use this SSD
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-SDS...UTF8&qid=1388186227&sr=1-1&keywords=128gb+ssd

- I can buy this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/
and follow their tutorial on using it to install the SSD into the second bay, keeping the HD in it's place.

- I can then boot off of the USB key and wipe the internal HD blank, then install Mavericks on the SSD.

- I can then boot to the SSD with Mavericks and install apps directly on to it.

Does this mean that I will have the (now blank) internal HD show up as another hard drive in Finder allowing me to, for example, save documents to it from the regular save dialog? Also, will this speed up my system noticeably?

Thanks in advance! :)

Edit: As of 3/1/14 I have performed the upgrade exactly as I described in the above post and everything worked beautifully - so for any lurkers from the future looking to do this - it is entirely possible. It needs some time and patience but as long as you are at least fairy confident and don't have too shaky hands (the components are tiiiiny!) then this should be do-able for you.
 
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I did this with my Mid-2011 mac mini using the OWC data doubler kit, which is very well documented. Comes with a detailed manual full of pictures, but I ended up following along with the video.

I made a bootable USB flash drive, booted off of it and installed OS X onto the SSD. I ended up with my SSD for the OS and applications, and the HDD for my documents/media.

Here is a link to an official Apple tool to create a bootable Mavericks flash drive:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5856
 
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