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Released on July 21, 2011. Core i5 or Core i7 Processor. Thunderbolt. This unit is also used to run the Mac mini Server configuration.

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How To Transfer HDD Data TO New SSD Mac Mini Mid 2011

I'm Buying A SSD for my Mac mini Mid2011 and would like to know how I can transfer all my data (photos,music ect....) from HDD to SSD without loosing any of it. I'm running Mountain Lion, I'm new to all of this .

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Hi Gian,

You will need to connect your HDD to your Mac Mini once you swap the hard drives. There are two options, a universal adapter which will allow you to connect the HDD and get the data or an enclosure, wich will do the same but at the same time could act as an external HDD as it protects the drive.

Now that you have a way to connect the old HDD, you will need to install OSX. To do so you will first need to format the SSD. Once you've done that you can install OSX and use the migration assistant to move all the data from your old HDD.

Hope you find this useful.

Here is the universal adapter.

Universal Drive Adapter

By the way, here is the guide to replace your HDD with a SSD.

Mac mini Mid 2011 Hard Drive Replacement

Universal Drive Adapter Image

Product

Universal Drive Adapter

$24.99

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thank you so much Jay for your quick respond and It's very clear and helpful on what i have to do. I have another question. How do I formay the SSD?

thank you again, Gian

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Sorry for taking this long. So, what you can do is BEFORE removing your HDD, plug the SSD to the adapter or enclosure and plug it via USB to your mini. This should detect it as an external drive. Use disk utility to format it OSX Journal Extended.

Since you are running Mountain Lion, we will need to make a bootable USB drive so we can install it later on. It's quite simple, here is a guide: http://itsalltech.com/2012/07/16/how-to-...

So, now your SSD is ready and you have a bootable USB with Mountain Lion. Proceed to swap the hard drives. Once that is done, plug the usb, turn the mini on and you should be ready to install OSX. It might ask you to format again. Then, when setting up, it will ask you if you want to use the migration assistant, select yes and it will copy the data from your old HDD ( it has to be plugged in ). Anything else, let me know.

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Once the SSD is connected via a USB lead, use Carbon Copy Cloner to create a bootable backup of your drive on the SSD. This way you can install the SSD and start using your mac again straight away.

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Gian will be eternally grateful.
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