upgrading Macbook hard drive

[wurm]

Well, I broke down and ordered this replacement hard drive for my daughter's Macbook. I don't anticipate any problem with the actual physical installation. But I want to confirm the best way to transfer the contents of her existing 60GB drive. I'm planning on hooking up the new replacement drive to the Macbook via one of those cable/adapter thingies like this. Is my best bet to then use CarbonCopyCloner to clone her existing drive's contents over to the new drive? Then I just physically swap the new drive into place? Seems fairly straightforward, or is there something I'm not thinking of?

[Black]

wurm wrote:
Well, I broke down and ordered this replacement hard drive for my daughter's Macbook. I don't anticipate any problem with the actual physical installation. But I want to confirm the best way to transfer the contents of her existing 60GB drive. I'm planning on hooking up the new replacement drive to the Macbook via one of those cable/adapter thingies like this. Is my best bet to then use CarbonCopyCloner to clone her existing drive's contents over to the new drive? Then I just physically swap the new drive into place? Seems fairly straightforward, or is there something I'm not thinking of?

I love that hard drive . . . I agree 100% with your plan. Don't forget the torx wrench to transfer the "sled." I ripped the tab off the sled first time I did this, so be gentle.

[jdc]

I have had zero luck with those adapters.

for the same cost: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+-+Fr...8199529445&skuId=9948596&st=seagate&cp=2&lp=18

[wickedsteve]

Why do I keep hearing so much about CarbonCopyCloner? Does it have something over Disk Utility?

[jdc]

wickedsteve wrote:
Why do I keep hearing so much about CarbonCopyCloner? Does it have something over Disk Utility?

CCC is full featured backup software and incredibly simple to use.

DU is neither of those.

[silvarios]

jdc wrote: CCC is full featured backup software and incredibly simple to use.

DU is neither of those.

To riff off jdc,
For an occasional clone, Disk Utility is fine. However, for scheduled clones, incremental clones, or if you want incremental archived data backup, Carbon Copy Cloner is superb. Disk Utility does not offer any of those features.

[Tofer]

I've used a number of USB / SATA adapters for 2.5" drives, and I've found that the WD drives are power hungry -- I've only had luck with the adapters that either come with an external power supply, or the double-usb cable that uses both USB ports for power.

-Tofer

[wurm]

Thanks for the comments, folks.
* Black, nice to hear good things about the drive itself. And I'll watch out for the sled issue.
* jdc, I already have the adapter and the two times I've used it, it's worked fine. Here's hoping for at least one more success.
* wickedsteve, to be honest, I totally forgot about Disk Utility. I'm sure it would work fine for this one time. But we also already have and use CCC, so it's a toss up.
* tofer, this adapter has an external power supply, so I think I'll be okay.

[Black]

I love CCC too . . .:boink:
As noted it's not really an apples/apples comparison to Disk Utility.
What about one of the $30 BlackX docks for the setup? It';; be plenty useful down the road (I think I've got 2 of those adapter thingies kicking around and haven't used them in a looong time . . .

[Jimmypoo]

D,

Was there something wrong with her drive? I've forgotten if you posted about it.

You might consider saving $15 and going with the NewEgg $39 Toshiba 320GB.

I say this because... there is no point in getting anything faster than SATA I --- and all that
cache, etc., in that drive, will make nothing faster. It's a great drive, but for an older MacBook,
the SATA II bus wasn't put into place until 2008, so even mine can't take advantage of the
added cache, RPMs and bus speed.

Of course... I just tossed their 2x/day mailings -- and checked the regular site prices, and don't
see it -- but I always made note because I put a 320 in mine about a year or so ago.

If that original is really only 60GB -- it's not worth much -- but you might consider going over to
MeritLine and getting a $7 USB case for SATA 2.5" drives. That was perfect for my fully functional
120GB drive that I replaced it with. I also made a full CLONE DMG (you might try that too) and store
that on my 2TB drive -- and it contains both partitions on the drive as well as all the installs,
many of which I stripped when I started over on the 320 (I don't know why---). The 120GB drive DMG
is only 74GB. And it is fully functional when double clicked for use on the desktop too.

If nothing else - a 60GB could make a good holder of an iPhoto Library or an iTunes library, if you
ever had need to back-up just that, or ship off to one of the kids, etc. Those little cases are very nice.
My experience has been that the ones that ship with just a single USB cord (powered by USB) are flakey,
and getting one that already comes with a dual head USB cable is the way to go. The drive likes the
extra amps from the twin connection. One of the plugs I have, has a USB pass-thru on the back of the
plug, like Xmas tree lights do on the backside of the plug. (the MiniB Y cable)

The BEST case I've gotten so far (I've got 4, IDE and 1 SATA) is an "Eagle" with the case being a mesh metal for air access on all sides.

Another great place to look for more cases than you know what to do with--- is: http://search.directron.com/sorteditems/25encusba.php

This case at MeritLine includes the Y cable -- if you weren't sure which one I meant, it's pictured.
(some have pass-thru, some do not).

$6.99
http://www.meritline.com/2-5-inch-usb-ex...44911.aspx