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Model A1225 / Early 2009 / 2.66, 2.93, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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How to access info on old HD when operating on new SSD

Having successfully installed 250 Gb SSD in optical drive slot on my 2009 24" iMac and installed El Capitan onto SSD, my computer is now working well and fast. Only problem is that I don't know how to access info still on old HD, e.g. photos, and download them onto the app in the news SSD. I hadn't reckoned on this problem, naively thinking that the two memory devices would function in tandem

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@peterbull - Peter, I'm confused ??

You swapped out the optical drive for your SSD so you shouldn't have any problems access your old HD unless you disconnected its cables from the logic board by mistake.

I would double check the connections.

You may want to run Disk Utility to see if it shows the HD if it does then your issue is just a matter of making the drive visible on the desktop. Go to the Finder's preferences and check Hard Disks.

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Sounds like you got it!

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The easiest way if you can, see if your computer has an extra slot and change the pin on the drive, if there is any, to make it a slave.

You might have to add an external hard drive case and run it through the usb port on the computer. This would make it as comparable as an extra large usb.

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Sata drives don't have master/slave settings, only old IDE drives.

That said, your suggestion about pulling the drive and connecting it with a USB caddy is good.

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That is the only was that I managed to find a way to get my files off the old HDD, and depending on the model, you can also attach it to the network and make it a network drive. I did this and I have 6 of them on one network.

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Sorry you've got a real thicko here; I've no idea what you are talking about; what is a slot, what is a pin on the drive, what is an extra large USB, and, for that matter, what is a USB caddy?

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Sgt moose has the right idea. As for the specs. Some drives have small wires with a clip that attaches to two wire together. This allows the drive to be determined as a primary or a secondary. The slot is what the HDD came from. Some HDD has two slots some have more. This is where certain cables go in to make the hardware preform. Usb caddy....not sure unless it is referred to as a hub or a multi port usb. That is where you can attach more than one usb device.

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buy a hd adaptor with its own power supply at the other end is a usb plug so you can plug a in to the usb port

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It's okay, you're a Mac User. ;-p

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

Okay with that silliness out of the way, you will want to get one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-5-25-INCH...

This way you can remove, or have someone help you remove the old hard drive and connect it to the computer via USB.

If you have any nerdy friends they probably have one already.

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I was advised, on the answers forum, that the old HD would function in tandem with the new SSD. I don't want to remove the old HD. See: Installing iMac Intel 24" EMC 2267 dual drive kit

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Yes but you want your data. I would pull the HDD get the data you want off and then try and setup dual drives. The number 1 rule of data is... "If data exists in one place it does not exist."

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Peter Bull will be eternally grateful.
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