On Mar 4, 2014, at 4:29 PM, John Robinson <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have a MacMini that must have a hard drive going bad.  I looked on line for 
> instructions how to install, then I watched a video on putting in an SSD 
> drive.
> 
> Any suggestions?  Is it hard to replace?  Anybody have a good place to 
> purchase that has reliable quality?
> 
> I called MacAuthority and all they have is 128 gb so I'll need to purchase 
> elsewhere.  

I have put SSDs in several Minis. I actually don't use ANY computer anymore 
that doesn't have an SSD in it. Beware: you will become spoiled and will never 
be able to go back to an HDD as your boot drive again.

I like to put them in along with the original drive (I would recommend 
replacing your old one with another one--you get a lot of space for your buck). 
That way you can make a smaller and cheaper SDD the start-up and use an HDD for 
your more capacious storage needs. 

[If you install both drives and then attempt to format it with Mountain Lion or 
Mavericks, it will create a "Fusion Drive" of them both. It will look like one 
bigger drive, but the OS puts the stuff you use more on the SSD and the rest on 
the HDD and you don't even have to think about it.]

I like to think about it and so I install the OS on the SSD by itself first and 
add the HDD back in afterwards. You can move the iPhoto and iTunes libraries 
and anything else that requires more space off onto the HDD and then use 
aliases so that the system thinks they're where they're supposed to be.

After doing it several times I can put a drive in a Mini in about 5 minutes 
with my eyes closed. 

Buy your stuff from OWC (macsales.com) and get a package with one of their 
awesome SSDs and what they call their "Data Doubler." It comes with all the 
tools you'll need. You have to start by figuring which kit you will need:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/drive_bracket/datadoubler/

It comes with pretty clear instructions, but nothing beats the ones on iFixit 
for their trademark clarity and anyone-can-do-it simplicity:

http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini

Enjoy!

j.






--
Jonathan Fletcher
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