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ssd swap concerns

H

homeshre

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 31, 2018
7
2
After watching yesterday's event I have made my decision. I am swapping out the hd in my mini (late 2012) for an ssd. I am comfortable with the physical swap and ready for the challenge. However, all aspects of the data swap are really a bit muddled for me. I thought I might sketch out what I think is the proper course of action and invite comment or clarification.

So, after receiving the ssd and ctsatausbcable I have purchased my thinking is as follows:

step 1: mount ssd with the crsatausbcable externally and format properly through disk utility
step 2: shut down and perform the physical swap
step 3: reboot into recovery mode with the ssd now internal
step 4: install Mohave onto the ssd
step 5: use time machine backup to migrate all data

I would like comment or clarification to the sketch I have here.

thank you
 
jmiddel said:
I cloned the internal to the ssd, then swapped. Of course you will have to formst the ssd in APFS before the cloning.
Click to expand...
thanks for replying. is it the case that the ssd has to be in apfs? also, are you saying your method is another option, or the way it needs to be done:
 
I usually clone first, and then boot to external clone and test before the swap. Easy to test the hardware and clone to be sure all is right before surgery.

Removes alot of variables after surgery....if there are any problems.
 
hobownkenobi -

thanks for the thoughts. i have a concern about this approach. doing it this way may remove variables and concerns but it also seems to bring over all of the crud and buildup of years of use which I had hoped to remove by virtue of a clean install. that was my primary consideration in the approach I was using. I see the virtue in your approach, but really don't want the crud. I don't have the experience to know for certain which is the better approach.
 
homeshre said:
hobownkenobi -

thanks for the thoughts. i have a concern about this approach. doing it this way may remove variables and concerns but it also seems to bring over all of the crud and buildup of years of use which I had hoped to remove by virtue of a clean install. that was my primary consideration in the approach I was using. I see the virtue in your approach, but really don't want the crud. I don't have the experience to know for certain which is the better approach.
Click to expand...

Personally I’ve done both and in my own experience there doesn’t seem to be that much crud for a normal user if you delete unwanted apps as long as you use a uninstaller clean up program (e.g. free AppClean), plus keep an eye on stuff you’v left around in Documents / Downloads / Movies / Pictures etc. It can be quite a lot of hassle reinstalling everything and then also sometimes you have PITA licensing issues e.g. MS Office installs (deactivate before you wipe).But if you are having unexplained issues e.g. random OS freezes/crashes it could help.
 
homeshre said:
hobownkenobi -

thanks for the thoughts. i have a concern about this approach. doing it this way may remove variables and concerns but it also seems to bring over all of the crud and buildup of years of use which I had hoped to remove by virtue of a clean install. that was my primary consideration in the approach I was using. I see the virtue in your approach, but really don't want the crud. I don't have the experience to know for certain which is the better approach.
Click to expand...

Sure, makes sense. I was just pointing out that if one is doing sensitive surgery, it's nice to know before you button up the patient that the OS is happy, and the drive is tested good. You can still do the clean install before you make the swap too:
  1. Plug in external SSD
  2. install fresh OS on new SSD
  3. Run Migration Assistant (or restore from Time Machine)
  4. Boot to new external and test OS and restored data
  5. Swap drives

I've done it hundreds of times the other way (swap first, clone second) and 99% of the time there are no issues. But it stinks when there is.
 
IF you have a way to connect and access the SSD -BEFORE- you "do the swap", I suggest that you "prep and test" it that way first.

- connect it
- initialize to HFS+
- install Mojave (will be automatically converted to APFS as part of the install)
- get OS up-and-running (while still connected externally)
- once the OS is "confirmed good", THEN "do the drive swap".

Could save you some headaches.
 
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OK I've cloned, booted and tested the ssd. so far so good. today or tomorrow I'll do the physical swap.
 
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