Greetings, I’m installing a new SSD into my MacBook Pro (late 2008) and need some info and refreshers on proper ways to get a new and good backup on Time Machine, then how to get that backup on the new drive after it is installed. Should I reinstall the OS first and then the applications, or just take it all from the time machine backup.
Thanks for the help and info, Gary.
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George Kahler
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How To Install New SSD and Restore From Time Machine?
Comments: 3 Responses to “How To Install New SSD and Restore From Time Machine?”
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If it were me, I would just make sure my current Time Machine backup is up-to-date as it should be. I wouldn't start a new one as why get rid of all of that historical data in the backup? I'd also take comfort in knowing that the old hard drive has all of this data as a second backup of sorts.
I'd get the latest OS on the machine that it can take from Recovery Mode and then continue with the steps to restore everything else from Time Machine. But if you like you can always restore everything from Time Machine.
Apple has great step-by-steps for this:
How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac
About macOS Recovery
Gary, installed the new SSD in the MacBook Pro, and I get nothing at boot except the Apple logo and a circle with a line drawn thru it. Occassionaly I see a file folder with a question mark inside. I've tried the Command R and the Option, Command R at boot, but still get nothing. Not sure what the next step is, I know I need to get MacOS installed on it somehow. Any suggestions?
George: How old is the MacBook? Perhaps it is from before Internet Recovery was available? But the folder with the question mark makes me think that the drive isn't working or isn't connected properly. You can see that when no drive is found. Once you have that sorted out, you may need to get a USB drive with a system installer if your Mac is too old for Internet Recovery. There are a lot of variables here and it is hard to advise. You may just have to take it to a shop to complete the SSD install and check on everything.