Help with Upgrading to New SSD

[Rob JJ]

I have a mid-2014 15" Retina MBP and I want to upgrade the SSD from the current 512GB to a 1TB as I'm running out of space. I will have run Time Machine just before the upgrade process. I would like to wipe the current SSD to make it available to sell to try to recoup some of my cost, so the question is how best to do this. The way I see it, I can wipe it after doing the TM backup using disk utility...then removing it and putting in the replacement SSD. Or, I can get an enclosure and create an external drive and wipe it after I know the restore went as planned.


Here is my dilemma...I will have two good TM backups (redundant, but safer), so not too concerned about the install going bad. So, rather than buy an enclosure for a one-time need, I'd prefer to wipe prior to removing the old SSD. This will obviously remove the OS, so, do you install a new OS onto the new SSD? Or how does the MBP recognize the new SSD when it would come without any OS installed? Should I download a copy of the OS onto a flash drive or some other external HD, or can this be done via an Internet connection?


I'm just not clear on what happens the first time I boot up the MBP after installing the new SSD. It will obviously not have any OS on the SSD like would be the first time you booted up the newly purchased computer. So how does it get that first OS. I believe I would be offered an option to do a restore from the TM backup, but my preference would be to first do a standalone OS install and THEN, restore the data from the TM backup.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

The best option I can see for this is:
Create a Time Machine, or, better, a Carbon Copy Cloner backup to a regular (USB) external hard drive.
Create a bootable macOS installer of your current OS.
Install the new SSD, then option boot to the USB macOS installer. Install macOS.
When that completes, you'll return to the setup screen. Proceed forward a few screens (set language, join Wi-Fi), then you'll be given the option to transfer data. Select from a Mac, plug in the external, and let the migration happen.

Once you're back up and running, you can re-install the original SSD, boot up onto the USB again, wipe the SSD in disk utility, then reinstall macOS once more.

Bear in mind these ssds are unique to apple, a 1 TB will likely run well over $500 and likely closer to $1000 on ebay.

 

[hobowankenobi]

If you have an external drive big enough....you could clone to the external via CCC or similar, and then boot to it.

Once booted, and sure your clone is working and complete, you can wipe the internal SSD.

Install new SSD, boot to external clone, and clone from the booted external to new SSD. All you have to do is run Disk Utility to format the SSD first, and then away you go.

You still have your 2 existing backups for safety.

 

[Fishrrman]

Just wondering -- do you have the "replacement" SSD yet?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Reading over my directions, I realized you don't need to install macOS off USB. You can:

Create a Carbon Copy Cloner backup to a regular (USB) external hard drive. (Do not use Time Machine for this.)
Install the new SSD, then option boot to the external hard drive.
Now, do the 'opposite' of step 1: clone the external hard drive data to the SSD. This will include macOS.

When that completes, you should be able to shut back down, unplug the external, and option boot to the internal, new, SSD. (You don't need to option boot every time.)

Once you're back up and running, you can re-install the original SSD, boot up onto the USB again, wipe the SSD in disk utility, then reinstall macOS once more.

 

[Weaselboy]

I have a mid-2014 15" Retina MBP and I want to upgrade the SSD from the current 512GB to a 1TB as I'm running out of space. I will have run Time Machine just before the upgrade process.

You have everything you need right here to accomplish this.

Plug in your TM backup and option key boot to it. That will get you to the recovery utility on the TM disk. Use that to erase the old internal drive with Disk Util. Then shut down and swap in the new drive. Now option key boot to the TM disk again and from there use Disk Util to erase the new disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Then quit Disk Util and click restore. That will put the OS and everything back on the new drive.

 

[Rob JJ]

Just wondering -- do you have the "replacement" SSD yet?

Well, I thought I would, but then read some not so great things about the OWC drive I bought, so returned it and now waiting to find the right actual Apple SSD replacement, so on hold for awhile yet I guess.

 

[goslowjoe]

Bear in mind these ssds are unique to apple, a 1 TB will likely run well over $500 and likely closer to $1000 on ebay.

True. I also have a 2014 15" and want to do the same. The "unique to Apple" (actually made by Samsung but with Apple's firmware) drive is very expensive ($800 on Amazon) but it is also ridiculously fast, especially if it is the 4x link width unit found in the 2015 MacBook Pro and which the 2014 model's logic board can also handle. While I am sure that other units may be OK, I doubt whether they can match the speeds reported by reviews and users that the real deal has. I have also read about overheating with some other manufacturers' units but never the Apple unit.