Clone A1502 hard drive

[z06this]

I have tried searching and posting on multiple sites. I haven't even received a response. Is it possible to clone the hard drive, which I believe is a mSATA hard drive, from a MacBook Pro (A1502)? If so, how does one accomplish this task? With Windows, I would use a cradle and CloneZilla.

In short, I want to upgrade the hard drive on my MacBook Pro. When I replace it, I will need to install an O.S. on the drive for it to work. As long as I get the O.S. I can use Time Machine or manually transfer the files. I just need help with installing the O.S.

 

[Needleroozer]

I have tried searching and posting on multiple sites. I haven't even received a response. Is it possible to clone the hard drive, which I believe is a mSATA hard drive, from a MacBook Pro (A1502)? If so, how does one accomplish this task? With Windows, I would use a cradle and CloneZilla.

In short, I want to upgrade the hard drive on my MacBook Pro. When I replace it, I will need to install an O.S. on the drive for it to work. As long as I get the O.S. I can use Time Machine or manually transfer the files. I just need help with installing the O.S.

The A1502 uses the NVMe protocol but with a proprietary Apple edge connector.
If your plan is to use an NVMe drive with an adapter like in the following thread, you can use a USB3-to-NVMe converter to be able to format the drive before installing it.
You could use something like SuperDuper! to make a bootable clone of your current system on this drive and then install it in your laptop, or you could use your Time Machine method - either will work, though the former will be faster.

Upgrading 2013/2014 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

This thread is about upgrading MacBook Airs & Macbook Pros (2013-2015) with new high speed and/or high capacity NVMe SSDs. This thread was one of the first to talk about MacBook Pro NVMe SSD upgrades on Macrumors, and was started by user "maxthackray", which we can thank and give tribute for...

forums.macrumors.com

Example USB to NVMe converter:

SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps NVMe PCI-E 6Gbps SATA M-Key / B+M Key Solid State Drive External Adapter with UASP Trim, for SSDs 2242 2260 2280

SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps NVMe PCI-E 6Gbps SATA M-Key / B+M Key Solid State Drive External Adapter with UASP Trim, for SSDs 2242 2260 2280

www.amazon.com

You could also use an Apple OEM drive as your upgrade, but a USB converter for those is around $130, so it would be cheaper to chain an Apple-to-NVMe converter with an NVMe-to-USB converter.
Example Apple-to-NVME converter:

chenyang 12+16Pin MAC SSD to Motherboard M.2 NVME NGFF M-Key Convert Adapter Card for 2013 2014 2015 A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 MAC Pro Air SSD

PCI Express PCI-E 4X M.2 NGFF M-Key to 2013 2014 2015 Apple Macbook SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 4-lane (x4) PCI Express M.2 NGFF M-Key throughput rates up to 5 Gbps It only support the Macbook SSD to NGFF M-key SSD, It cannot convert to NGFF B-key or B+M key. Please make sure you...

www.amazon.com

I’d recommend the NVMe option, though - Apple OEM drives are really expensive compared to equivalent m.2 NVMe options.

 

[Fishrrman]

CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.

Both are FREE to download and use for 30 days.
If all you need to do is a "one-time" clone, either of these will do the job and do it right.
And if you get this done within the pre-registration period, won't cost you anything.

My advice would be to do any system software upgrades BEFORE you swap drives.
You want this done with the factory-installed drive in place.
Reason why:
I've read the reports of others that if you replace the factory drive with a 3rd-party drive (at least with some drives, may not be "all"), the upgrade may fail (probably due to firmware upgrade problems).

Are you using "an adapter" and an nvme drive
or
Are you using a 3rd party drive that has the same pin layout as the factory drive?.

If it's an nvme drive (with adapter), you could put this into a USB3.1 gen2 enclosure, connect that to the MBP, and clone from the factory drive to the nvme drive.
And then "do the swap". Easier.

If the drive has the proprietary pin layout, you will need either
A custom enclosure that fits (a few out there, but they are pricey)
or
You could clone the factory drive to a USB3 external drive, swap the MBP drive, and then clone from the USB3 external to the replacement internal.
Hopefully, that will work.

 

[z06this]

The A1502 uses the NVMe protocol but with a proprietary Apple edge connector.
If your plan is to use an NVMe drive with an adapter like in the following thread, you can use a USB3-to-NVMe converter to be able to format the drive before installing it.
You could use something like SuperDuper! to make a bootable clone of your current system on this drive and then install it in your laptop, or you could use your Time Machine method - either will work, though the former will be faster.

Upgrading 2013/2014 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

This thread is about upgrading MacBook Airs & Macbook Pros (2013-2015) with new high speed and/or high capacity NVMe SSDs. This thread was one of the first to talk about MacBook Pro NVMe SSD upgrades on Macrumors, and was started by user "maxthackray", which we can thank and give tribute for...

forums.macrumors.com

Example USB to NVMe converter:

SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps NVMe PCI-E 6Gbps SATA M-Key / B+M Key Solid State Drive External Adapter with UASP Trim, for SSDs 2242 2260 2280

SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps NVMe PCI-E 6Gbps SATA M-Key / B+M Key Solid State Drive External Adapter with UASP Trim, for SSDs 2242 2260 2280

www.amazon.com

You could also use an Apple OEM drive as your upgrade, but a USB converter for those is around $130, so it would be cheaper to chain an Apple-to-NVMe converter with an NVMe-to-USB converter.
Example Apple-to-NVME converter:

chenyang 12+16Pin MAC SSD to Motherboard M.2 NVME NGFF M-Key Convert Adapter Card for 2013 2014 2015 A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 MAC Pro Air SSD

PCI Express PCI-E 4X M.2 NGFF M-Key to 2013 2014 2015 Apple Macbook SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 4-lane (x4) PCI Express M.2 NGFF M-Key throughput rates up to 5 Gbps It only support the Macbook SSD to NGFF M-key SSD, It cannot convert to NGFF B-key or B+M key. Please make sure you...

www.amazon.com

I’d recommend the NVMe option, though - Apple OEM drives are really expensive compared to equivalent m.2 NVMe options.

Thank you for the prompt reply. This is so incredibly helpful. I will post my results later.