Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Those of you who upgraded 09 mini to 7200rpm Hard drive - favour please

B

beatmonkeytwo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 22, 2009
101
0
UK
Would some of you do me a favour please - shutdown your mini. Then start it by the power button and time how long it takes from the chime noise until the desktop appears? And let me know :):)

I think my new 320GB 7200rpm hitachi travelstar I installed may have a osx problem, and I may have to do a fresh wipe and install. It seems to run fine when it's booted up, but the boot up times taking 60 seconds, the standard 5400rpm 120GB drive only took 40ish.
 
beatmonkeytwo said:
Would some of you do me a favour please - shutdown your mini. Then start it by the power button and time how long it takes from the chime noise until the desktop appears? And let me know :):)

I think my new 320GB 7200rpm hitachi travelstar I installed may have a osx problem, and I may have to do a fresh wipe and install. It seems to run fine when it's booted up, but the boot up times taking 60 seconds, the standard 5400rpm 120GB drive only took 40ish.
Click to expand...

OK, just did it, 59 seconds from button press to login screen. I know why it takes longer than stock, but I'm not concerned. When I eventually upgrade to Snow Leopard, everything will be fine. When we both cloned our 120GB HD's to the 320GB Hitachi's we used CCC using file level cloning instead of block level cloning. Block level copies the HD exactly as the original, block for block where they originally were in the exact order. File level cloning only clones the files, not necessarily in the original order. To do block level cloning, the Mini must be externally booted, either from the install DVD or from a utility like Diskwarrior. I was too lazy, so I used file level cloning. When booting, the OS requires the files in a specific order. After file level cloning, they are no longer in optimal order, thus the longer boot time. If you want faster booting, reinstall the OS from the install DVD and you should then be faster than the original boot speed. For me, I don't care as I rarely shut down my Mini. Again, I'll wait for Snow Leopard. Perhaps the forthcoming 10.5.7 update will help, but I doubt it.
 
Bout 44 seconds, but that was from pressing the power button, I have my chime turned off.
 
bigbird said:
OK, just did it, 59 seconds from button press to login screen. I know why it takes longer than stock, but I'm not concerned. When I eventually upgrade to Snow Leopard, everything will be fine. When we both cloned our 120GB HD's to the 320GB Hitachi's we used CCC using file level cloning instead of block level cloning. Block level copies the HD exactly as the original, block for block where they originally were in the exact order. File level cloning only clones the files, not necessarily in the original order. To do block level cloning, the Mini must be externally booted, either from the install DVD or from a utility like Diskwarrior. I was too lazy, so I used file level cloning. When booting, the OS requires the files in a specific order. After file level cloning, they are no longer in optimal order, thus the longer boot time. If you want faster booting, reinstall the OS from the install DVD and you should then be faster than the original boot speed. For me, I don't care as I rarely shut down my Mini. Again, I'll wait for Snow Leopard. Perhaps the forthcoming 10.5.7 update will help, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh okay, thanks mate. :D Makes sense, I kind of though it may have been something to do with the install, but was not sure what.

So the way we have done it only effects the boot up time? There is no chance it could hinder performance in applications? For me I am also not to fussed at it taking that long to boot, as It only once a day I have to do it.

If I wanted to do a clean install am I right in thinking that there is an option to keep your applications and files, but wiping and installing the os? :confused:
 
davemulheran said:
apart from your log in issue.. how are your apps at opening etc?

snappier than the std HDD?
Click to expand...

I pretty sure that my applications open quicker, and the systems snappier when it's booted up, but unless I have the old drive set up in a mini next to it and click on the same applications at the same time it's hard to tell exactly how much quicker. :(

But know I have found the issue with my drive and the way I cloned it I am now paranoid the drive is not performing to it's full potential. :confused:
 
beatmonkeytwo said:
If I wanted to do a clean install am I right in thinking that there is an option to keep your applications and files, but wiping and installing the os? :confused:
Click to expand...

Yes, it's called archive and install. It keeps the old OS and all preferences in a separate folder. Then you can slowly migrate your old preferences in to the new OS if you wish. When you're satisfied, you then delete the old OS. Let me know how it goes.
 
bigbird said:
Yes, it's called archive and install. It keeps the old OS and all preferences in a separate folder. Then you can slowly migrate your old preferences in to the new OS if you wish. When you're satisfied, you then delete the old OS. Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...

I might try it over the weekend. I'll keep you posted.

The way we used CCC, do you think it could also hinder performance in applications etc? Or just the boot up?
 
"iDefrag" takes a long time but I bet it would restore the files back into their optimum locations following a file-level clone. It will probably be much quicker to just do the block-level clone instead though. :)
 
jdryyz said:
"iDefrag" takes a long time but I bet it would restore the files back into their optimum locations following a file-level clone. It will probably be much quicker to just do the block-level clone instead though. :)
Click to expand...


Probably faster and easier to just do an archive and install of a new OS. You have to boot from the system disk to do a block level clone anyway.
 
reinstalled OS

OK, you got me curious, so I reinstalled the OS using archive and install, did software update, and then shut down the Mini. From pressing the power button to the log in screen is now back down to 30 seconds, so my assumption about the file level copying must be true. If you want peace of mind, do what I did. BTW, everything besides booting seems snappier as well.
 
bigbird said:
OK, you got me curious, so I reinstalled the OS using archive and install, did software update, and then shut down the Mini. From pressing the power button to the log in screen is now back down to 30 seconds, so my assumption about the file level copying must be true. If you want peace of mind, do what I did. BTW, everything besides booting seems snappier as well.
Click to expand...

Haha you beat me to it. I was going to do mine tonight :D:D:D How long did that take?
 
beatmonkeytwo said:
Haha you beat me to it. I was going to do mine tonight :D:D:D How long did that take?
Click to expand...

The longest part of the install was where you are asked if you want to check the integrity of the master install DVD before installation actually starts. You can decline that inspection if you wish. That took over 10 minutes. The actual install took about 10 minutes and then another 10 minutes of software updates after the initial boot. So count on at least 1/2 hour for everything. The more I use everything, the faster everything seems. Definitely worth the re-install of the OS.
 
Okay, installed and it's sorted now! :D:D:D Boot up time is just over 30 secs compared to the 60 secs it was before. Just got to try the system out now opening up applications etc to see if thats any faster.

Oh and it took near to 2 hours for mine to do the reinstall! :eek:
 
Well I've had a chance to use my mini over the weekend, and got to say now i've reinstalled osx it's like it's a different machine!!! :D :D Well chuffed. Applications open up in a matter of seconds. Everything else is much faster and responsive. It also seems much faster than my 08 imac 2.4ghz :D :cool:
 
36 seconds from bong to log on screen on a cold start.

Old 2007 mini with 3.5" 1TB drive 7200rpm.
 
Thanks for this thread. Clarified my exact problem. Did a full reinstall of the OS from a fw800 external which took me 5 minutes. Now to reinstall all my crap!


GOD I LOVE FW800
 
JustGretchen said:
Thanks for this thread. Clarified my exact problem. Did a full reinstall of the OS from a fw800 external which took me 5 minutes. Now to reinstall all my crap!


GOD I LOVE FW800
Click to expand...

:D Good!

Still loving my new mini... but I have noticed slightly more vibration, which produces a tiny bit more noise on my desk. Hardly noticeable, but I wanted it near to the original 5400rpm, so I placed 4 tiny foam pads in each corner on the base and the noise has gone :D:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back