Upgrade to ML and install new SSD

[archdelux]

What is the best strategy for upgrading my mid-2010 MBP (running SL) to mountain lion and installing a new SSD? I am installing the old HD into the optical bay.

What is the best way to make this work? What steps do I need to take?

Thanks!

 

[maxwelltech]

1. Buy and download OS X Mountain Lion (referred as ML)
2. Create bootable OS X ML flash drive using this guide http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/0...arstechnica/index+(Ars+Technica+-+All+content)
3. Install new SSD (don't put the optibay hard drive in just yet)
4. Boot off the flash drive and install ML clean
5. Install optibay hard drive, and startup from the SSD
6. Format optibay hard drive in disk utility so the computer won't have two startup drives
Done!

 

[archdelux]

1. Buy and download OS X Mountain Lion (referred as ML)
2. Create bootable OS X ML flash drive using this guide http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/0...arstechnica/index+(Ars+Technica+-+All+content)
3. Install new SSD (don't put the optibay hard drive in just yet)
4. Boot off the flash drive and install ML clean
5. Install optibay hard drive, and startup from the SSD
6. Format optibay hard drive in disk utility so the computer won't have two startup drives
Done!

Great, thanks! just a couple clarification questions:

1. So with a computer with a completely blank SSD and a flash drive plugged into the USB slot, it will just boot up fine and offer to install ML? So I don't need to do anything to the SSD before installing it and removing the original drive?

2. After installing ML to the SSD and then putting the optibay drive in, technically, both will be startup drives, right? So do I need to format the HDD before installing it into the optibay slot?

3. after I have my SSD with ML and my original HDD in the optibay slot, can I just drag and drop applications to the SSD, or do I need to do something special to reconfigure my mac as it was? (in terms of apps and startup programs / etc)

Thanks!!

 

[thefredelement]

When the ML installer starts, you can use Disk Utility to format the SSD. (I suggest post install to grab Trim Enabler if your SSD doesn't natively support this).

You don't need to format the other drive before hand, holding down the option key during boot will let you select a startup disk. Alternatively, if your old installation starts, just go to preferences and startup disk and select your SSD.

If you want to bring your old user/apps back, after the fresh ML installation starts for the first time (after installation), you can use Migration assistant, even from another disk to bring all your data and stuff over. If you want to do this manually or one by one, it's my experience some apps just can be dragged over, while I had to re-enter my information for Office.

Great, thanks! just a couple clarification questions:

1. So with a computer with a completely blank SSD and a flash drive plugged into the USB slot, it will just boot up fine and offer to install ML? So I don't need to do anything to the SSD before installing it and removing the original drive?

2. After installing ML to the SSD and then putting the optibay drive in, technically, both will be startup drives, right? So do I need to format the HDD before installing it into the optibay slot?

3. after I have my SSD with ML and my original HDD in the optibay slot, can I just drag and drop applications to the SSD, or do I need to do something special to reconfigure my mac as it was? (in terms of apps and startup programs / etc)

Thanks!!

 

[gonca]

What is the best strategy for upgrading my mid-2010 MBP (running SL) to mountain lion and installing a new SSD? I am installing the old HD into the optical bay.

What is the best way to make this work? What steps do I need to take?

Thanks!

Hi,

Which optical bay ssd caddy did you buy? i have also the mbp mid 2010 and wanna make that change this days.

Ram add as well. From 4 to 8Gb.