How to install Lion onto new SSD on the new 2011 mac mini?

[AppleMactablet]

I just bought all the parts and plan on installing a OWC SSD into my new mac mini-I have an older mac mini running lion currently-how would I go about installing lion into that new ssd going into my new 2011 mac mini?

Any help is helpful.

 

[tbayrgs]

I just bought all the parts and plan on installing a OWC SSD into my new mac mini-I have an older mac mini running lion currently-how would I go about installing lion into that new ssd going into my new 2011 mac mini?

Any help is helpful.

Either take out the original HDD from the new mini, attach both the HDD and SSD to your old Mini (use something like this) and clone the HDD to the SSD using something like Superduper or Carbon Copy Cloner, then install SSD into new Mini, or...

Install the SSD and then use Lion internet recovery.

 

[AppleMactablet]

I thought this might work what do ya think?
boot up my new mac
backup up new mac stuff to time machine with ext. drive
install sdd
then restore with ext drive

what ya think?

 

[AlphaDogg]

Attach the SSD to the Mini with a SATA-USB adapter. Then open CCC and clone the internal drive to the SSD. Then take apart the Mini, swap drives, and boot up normally.

 

[djc6]

I thought the new mac mini supported 'Internet Recovery' (bottom of the page):

http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/

Just pop in the new HD, and it would download/install the OS over your network connection?

 

[manicwinter]

I thought the new mac mini supported 'Internet Recovery' (bottom of the page):

http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/

Just pop in the new HD, and it would download/install the OS over your network connection?

That's all I did on mine - I put in my SSD and held down command-R and it worked fine.

 

[christophermdia]

Carbon Copy Cloner worked for me with a new hard drive I installed...I also tried the restore function as well and it worked just fine, just need to reinstall everything....

 

[philipma1957]

I install via clone (super duper) under 30 minutes every time. I also did it via internet download. shortest time 90 minutes lonest time 2 and 1/2 hours.


I have cablevision my speed ratings are 15 MB/s download and 2Mb/s upload. At no time did any download go faster then 1.2 MB/s more like 250Kb/s. Now if you have dsl it will be slower for some.

 

[indiekiduk]

I install via clone (super duper) under 30 minutes every time. I also did it via internet download. shortest time 90 minutes lonest time 2 and 1/2 hours.


I have cablevision my speed ratings are 15 MB/s download and 2Mb/s upload. At no time did any download go faster then 1.2 MB/s more like 250Kb/s. Now if you have dsl it will be slower for some.

Cablevision speed is only 15Mbps so the fastest you are going to get is 1.7MBps. There are some providers that can do 100Mbps you could look into.

 

[OTACORB]

Well I have Suddenlink Cable and my download speed is 15mb down and I was able to do the Lion Recovery Download in 30 minutes. Then the Lion install took another 20 minutes total time was little less than an hour.

Personally I wanted to try out the Internet Lion Recovery to see exactly how it worked. I think it works great, but of course it would all depend on ones internet service because if all you have is a 1.5mb download it would take a pretty long time, so doing it the clone route would be the smart way to go.

Oh one thing I will share is that I took the SSD drive from my old mac mini and initially all I got was a flashing circle with a line through it. I actually had to put my SSD drive in my other Mac, repartition the drive and leave it raw. It was then that the Internet Recovery actually came up automatically. If you are using a new drive then it will be raw by default.

 

[wordoflife]

Enter Lion Recovery and it will start downloading Lion by itself

 

[AppleMactablet]

Thanks everyone-will use the Internet recovery
Really appreciate all the help

 

[floridonet]

That's all I did on mine - I put in my SSD and held down command-R and it worked fine.

Which SSD did you install?

 

[manicwinter]

Which SSD did you install?

I put in the OCZ Vertex 2 that I had in my old mini. I made sure to wipe it out first though.