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Model A1311 / Mid 2011 / 2.5 & 2.7 GHz Core i5 or 2.8 GHz Core i7 Processor

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How to set up SSD on iMac 21.5 mid 2011

Hello,

I am about to open up this puppy and attempt to install this SSD. However, after installing it and formatting it, how do I make the SSD the boot drive and the standard hdd my data drive. I currently have Lion installed on the stock hdd. I don't want to lose all my data or updates, is there a way to copy just the bootable portion of the hdd to the ssd?

BTW, I'm thinking about buying the Crucial M4 ssd. Is this a good ssd? Also, 64gb or 128gb? SSD will be used for OS and some apps.

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I'd recommend a 128GB SSD, it just gives you more freedom to install what you need.

I did it the following way:

I created a time machine backup of my HDD, but deselected all files that shouldn't go to the ssd. I then built in the ssd, started my mac from the Install DVD, installed OS X from the DVD on the SSD, and restored the small Time Machine backup.

Then, I just symlinked (ln -s in Terminal, check "man ln") the folders on the hdd to the ssd, and deleted all the rest.

Done!

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Thank you! I will try this as TUAW also mentioned this symlinked stuff. What happens to the OS on the hdd? Is it just chilling there in case the OS on the ssd gets corrupted?

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I actually moved the files I needed from the HDD to an external drive, formatted the HDD and moved the files back. Gives me more free space.

You might as well delete all files you don't need or just let the OS X on the drive. Your choice, everything works.

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