OWC Guide | OS X & Data Transfer Instructions

OWC Guide
OS X & Data Transfer Instructions

Restore your data and operating system after upgrading the boot drive in Macs that shipped without a system DVD.

On Macs that shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you cannot simply remove the stock drive and replace it with a new one without some initial preparation due to the introduction of a recovery partition that many cloning programs don't account for.

There are two methods you can select to transfer your data and OS. Method #1 is preferred for users that already have the recovery partition on their drive or a broadband Internet connection. Method #2 is preferred for users without broadband Internet access.

The third method listed below provides a process in which a fresh install of OS X is performed on the new drive before migrating your data.

METHOD #1

Internet Recovery Mode

Internet Recovery Mode via Apple Knowledge Base Article #HT4718 http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Note: If moving a drive from another Mac, using this method will completely erase the drive's data. Make SURE you have a Time Machine^® backup or clone of your drive on another device.

METHOD #2

Recovery Partition Restore Mode

STEP 1
Perform your drive upgrade.

STEP 2
Place your original drive in an external enclosure.

If running OS X 10.7 or later, boot to the recovery partition on your original drive by holding down Command-R and starting up.
If running OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, boot normally (external drive selected automatically as boot drive)

STEP 3
Use Disk Utility to Restore to your new drive.

STEP 4
Restart or Boot your Mac to the new drive.

METHOD #3

Fresh OS X Installation/ Migration Assistant

STEP 1
Install your upgrade drive in your computer.

STEP 2
Place your original drive in an external enclosure.

If running OS X 10.7 or later, boot to OS X Internet Recovery by holding down Command-R during startup, as in Method #1.
If running OS X 10.6, boot to the Mac OS X installer on the USB thumb drive that came with your computer.

STEP 3
Open Disk Utility and format your new drive.

STEP 4
Install Mac OS X on your new drive.

STEP 5
When you have booted to the fresh installation of Mac OS X on the new drive, use Apple's Migration Assistant utility (Applications>Utilities>Migration Assistant) to transfer your data from the original drive. Apple support article on Migration Assistant

STEP 6
Run Apple's Software Update to ensure that all your software is up to date.

STEP 7
Repair disk permissions on the new drive in Disk Utility.