Upgrading hard drive on 13" mid 2009 MacBook Pro.

[Microwe]

I apologize if this question has been asked before but I have had problems using the "Search" function.

I am waiting delivery of a new Seagate Momentus 7200.4 - 500 Gb - 7200rpm - 16 Mb - 2.5" - SATA (ST9500420AS) to install in my MBP replacing the factory fitted h/d. I have OS X 10.6.7 installed. Regular backups have been made using SuperDuper to an external h/d.

I am confident I can fit the new drive but am absolutely clueless about the procedure for restoring my h/d to as it was from the backup. I have searched the web for hours until I am now completely confused and frustrated.

Can some knowledgeable person give me step by step easy guidance as to what procedure I should follow. I am truly confused how I format the new drive when fitted. How can I go to Disk Utility to do it if there is no OS installed?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and I apologize for my ignorance.

Michael.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Can this help?

MacBook, MacBook Pro: Replacing the Hard Disk Drive, transferring data to the new HDD​

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X or make a bootable copy onto​

 

[Microwe]

Thank you very much indeed. That information has helped me understand the process.

Michael.

 

[DanielCoffey]

If you have any other issues, you could ask folks in the MacBook forum.

 

[mugtastic]

note that with super duper you can't boot from an external that has incremental backups on it.

if you just want to install the new hard drive and boot from your external, then copy your backup, you need to do one whole fresh backup that clones your laptop hard drive.

seeing as you would lose stuff you only had on your external you may want to use another hard drive.

if i've only complicated things i apologize. it wouldn't be the first time.