Need Advice: 2011 Mac Mini HD SSD Upgrade w/ Mavericks

[mikochu]

Hey folks,

I have a 2011 Mac Mini and I'm planning to upgrade my 500GB 5400RPM hard drive to a 2xx GB SSD when OS 10.9 Mavericks comes out. However, I've gone a bit cross-eyed thinking about how I'm going to get it done. Here's what I've jotted down:

1. Purchase/Download Mavericks via App Store.
2. If Mavericks is like Mountain Lion, "restore" the InstallESD.dmg file to a thumbdrive to make it a bootable install drive.
3. Shutdown system and get hands-on:
- Swap 500GB HD for SSD
- Make 500GB a secondary using the OWC secondary drive kit
4. Boot back up using the Mavericks thumbdrive
5. Install Mavericks, pointing the install to the 500GB HD to restore my user data.
This is where I'm a bit more unsure:
6. Once everything is done, delete the OS 10.8 folder on the 500GB HD? Is there a some type of master boot record on the drive that I have to remove?

Also, what happens if my iTunes folder does not fit on the SSD? Is there an easy way to move it to a different drive?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[alphaod]

Get Carbon Copy Cloner and migrate your boot disk.
Install said new SSD.
Upgrade to Mavericks.

 

[blanka]

Just ADD the SSD. The Mini 2011 has an empty upper slot. You only need an upper bay SATA cable. Then clone the current system to the SSD and wipe the HD or keep it as backup. Purchase Mavericks afterwards. It will install faster on the SSD than on the HD.
Another option: do a clean install on the SSD and use the migration assistant to copy all apps/settings/files.
Oh, and don't remove the logic board, so pick the right instruction video.
And make sure you have a 2mm hex bit too, most people use the Torx for the 2mm hex screws too, but the screws wear out from that.

 

[mikochu]

Ah, okay. Thanks guys

 

[satcomer]

Ah, okay. Thanks guys

Make sure you watch some install videos to get an idea of how to install drives into the Mini.

 

[mikochu]

Make sure you watch some install videos to get an idea of how to install drives into the Mini.

Yeah, I watched OWC's video, but used the instructions that came with their secondary drive kit.

I ended up putting the 1TB HDD in the upper bay and the 256GB SSD in the lower bay. I fused them together and installed Mountain Lion using a thumbdrive. It's blazin' fast!