I am interested in replacing my SuperDrive with a SSD for OS/apps. I am fairly confident with the parts and procedure to physically swap the drives. However, I am confused as to the initial setup of the OS, and system, program, & user files. What is the easiest way to install the OS + apps on the SSD? Also, should my "Library" and app related files, prefs, etc. go in the SSD for optimal performance? I would like to keep only media files in my traditional HD. Any help and suggestions would be great. Thank you.
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iMac 21.5 SSD Upgrade
- Thread starter remonster
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Aren't you going to use the SSD as your boot drive? Why wouldn't you just install Snow Leopard from the included DVD?
I do plan on using the included DVD but the SuperDrive will no longer be in the iMac. I would need an enclosure to connect the SuperDrive externally. I am more interested in getting help with the organization of the Library files and Pref files, etc.
Sorry, I still don't get it. Why is Snow Leopard's default setup for those files not acceptable?
I'm not 100% sure of the behavior of those files vs. media files. How do I seperate the two after setting up the SSD with the OS? Could I bring back my media files through Time Machine or would I have to drag and drop Folders indivdually to keep them seperately in the HDD?
Sorry if I'm having trouble communicating my question. Every time I have upgraded my HDD to another HDD it's been straight forward. Everything goes from 1 place to another. In this case I am migrating from one place to two destinations. I just want to make sure I have everything covered before beginning the swap.
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get an external hard drive, move all your media and stuff that you don't want on the SSD onto that, then do a time machine backup onto the same external drive of your current boot drive (minus all the media you just moved off it). Make a bootable USB stick from the snow leopard dvd (google how to do it) then put the SSD in and boot off the usb stick, restore the SSD with the time machine backup from the utlities menu of the snow leopard installer and then erase the original hdd and move your media back onto it from the external and return the external to where you bought it (assuming you dont have one).
get an external hard drive, move all your media and stuff that you don't want on the SSD onto that, then do a time machine backup onto the same external drive of your current boot drive (minus all the media you just moved off it). Make a bootable USB stick from the snow leopard dvd (google how to do it) then put the SSD in and boot off the usb stick, restore the SSD with the time machine backup from the utlities menu of the snow leopard installer and then erase the original hdd and move your media back onto it from the external and return the external to where you bought it (assuming you dont have one).
Using this method I don't have to install the OS on the SSD using the original discs? The Time Machine restore does it?