Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd in All things Macintosh http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20443070 en Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:00:10 EDT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:00:10 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454689 Thinkdiff : Not a problem at all. Glad to help.

There should be a hardware test on the disc, but I don't think it make any difference to run it.

If you have any questions or issues, just post.

Good luck.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454689 Fri, 09 May 2008 00:03:17 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454654 sfogliatelle : Looks like this is gonna be the methodical Saturday project, pretty much to the letter of how you've described it.

Presumably there's an Apple Hardware test on the Leopard disc similar to the one on Tiger, and would you suggest running any and all drives in question through its' paces?

Thanks for your patience and assistance, Td. I really do appreciate it.

Will keep you posted.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454654 Thu, 08 May 2008 23:55:47 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454422 Thinkdiff : The method I outlined should work. It's worked every time I've done it.

Yes, you can partition the disk anyway you would like. You can also re-erase the 250GB disk after using Migration assistant to copy everything onto the 120GB HD.

Don't even think about Migration Assistant until you have the 60GB drive cloned onto the external drive and the 120GB drive back in the Macbook. That's the only time it comes into play.

CCC is a full-featured app. I believe it's only donation-ware. You'll want to select your internal disk as the source, then the external as the destination. It also gives you an option to "erase destination" so you don't necessarily have to use Disk Utility to do it (unless you plan on partitioning first).]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454422 Thu, 08 May 2008 22:53:33 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454396 sfogliatelle : I'll be honest---the 'keeping my fingers crossed' part doesn't sound all that reassuring, but I understand what it is you're suggesting, Td. 86 Data Backup3, hello CCC.

I don't have an enclosure for the original hard drive but had considered re-inserting it to try this again the way you mentioned.

Having checked, the external is visible in Disk Utility, as is the option to erase it. With that done, I could then partition that disc (the external), allowing for ample room to clone the 60G back on to, with space enough for future backups on an other partition, right?

One nagging question, though---actually, a few: how much (if any) a role will Migration Assistant play in any of this until it's needed to try and get the apps and folders from the erased but re-cloned external back onto the 120gig internal drive that for now will be the main HDD? Do I need CCC to be able to make a bootable copy, and does the free version have what it takes to do that?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20454396 Thu, 08 May 2008 22:47:21 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453692 Thinkdiff : Ah. Ok. Now it all makes sense. I didn't realize there was another 250GB drive in the mix. Here's what I'd do.. Your 60GB still has all your data intact, correct? I would put that back into the Macbook then completely erase the 250GB external (using disk utility to format it). Then download Carbon Copy Cloner. Use it to copy the Internal (now 60GB drive) onto the 250GB external drive. After it's done (should take 1-4 hours depending on how many files you have), remove the 60GB drive and slide the 120GB drive back in. Start up migration assistant and pray that it will now see your external.

I've never used (nor heard of) Data Backup 3, but I know Carbon Copy Cloner works.

You can also simplify this process a bit if you have an external case for that 60GB Drive.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453692 Thu, 08 May 2008 20:17:01 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453676 sfogliatelle :
said by Thinkdiff See Profile :

Ok... Now I'm confused.
You had a 60GB internal HD. You bought a larger internal HD. You removed the 60GB and put it into an external case. Then you put the new, larger internal HD into the MacBook and installed Leopard. Nothing else, correct?

Where did Data Backup 3 come into play? Did you copy the 60GB drive's contents onto the larger drive before putting it into the MacBook?
Sorry, Td. The last thing I wanna do is alienate someone who I think may have enough mac savvy to be of assistance to me. I guess I've been fortunate up to now, not having experienced any major issues with mac ownership or support. Until now, that is. I guess I let my frustration get the best of me.

Anyway, for the record, here's the sequence of events:

-a week ago, I had a 2Gig, core duo macbook with a 60G HDD, a factory installed copy of Tiger, tons of apps and 2 Gigs of RAM that I'd put in shortly after delivery of the laptop back in August of '06.

-purchased a 120g internal drive, Leopard, and a 250G external drive which came with Data Backup3 for software.

-while still in the laptop, and before attempting anything else, I ran Apple Hardware test from the Tiger CD (twice), then backed up the original internal 60G HDD using only Data Backup3 (and not Migration Assistant) to the external 250G, which I successfully booted from, twice.

-removed the original 60G internal from the laptop and in it's place, slid in the new 120G internal. With all hardware removals the computer was powered off.

-inserted the Leopard disc, hit the power button, and nothing. It was later determined after taking the macbook to the genius bar that the black screen/no sound/nothing happening were the result of faulty RAM.

-back at home, I removed the 2G of RAM and put back in the original 512MB's the machine came with. At this point, the 120G internal with Leopard is still inside, but with no apps, files, folders or OS yet installed on it.

-with 512MB memory, an OS-less 120G internal HDD and the Leopard disc still inside, I press the power button and hear the familiar startup chime as Leopard begins it's install.

-I choose not to avail myself of Migration Assistant at this time as it was my understanding that this step could be done any time afterward (after all, I was able to boot off of Tiger from the backed-up external drive, so as far as I knew, everything was copacetic); my main concern was to install an OS on the vacant 120G HDD.

-once Leopard and all major updates were downloaded and installed, i turned off the power and hooked up the 250G external HDD via firewire (did I mention that with all of these steps, only firewire had been used as a connection between the two devices?). There was a visible icon for this external drive clearly visible on the desktop. I opened Migration Assistant but it was unable to find or visibly represent the external drive with all my stuff on it.

-despite having the call escalated three times, my call to Apple Support was fruitless, as I was informed that even though I followed the correct procedure for transferring files (actually, they told me that I could only transfer files from one mac computer to another mac computer), the fact that I used a third party app was the reason why Migration Assistant wasn't in a position to display the drive or the files/folders in it. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453676 Thu, 08 May 2008 20:12:03 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453440 Thinkdiff : Ok... Now I'm confused.

This is my understanding of the current situation:

You had a 60GB internal HD. You bought a larger internal HD. You removed the 60GB and put it into an external case. Then you put the new, larger internal HD into the MacBook and installed Leopard. Nothing else, correct?

Where did Data Backup 3 come into play? Did you copy the 60GB drive's contents onto the larger drive before putting it into the MacBook?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453440 Thu, 08 May 2008 19:05:38 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453205 sfogliatelle :
said by Thinkdiff See Profile :

Do not do what they told you to do. It might work, it might also cause tons of problems.

Did you do anything prior to removing the HD from the computer? It seems very odd to me that it's giving you so many problems. Try going into Disk Utility, selecting the External and hitting "Repair Disk" just to make sure everything is ok with it.
Lovely. I kinda thought they were stumped and giving me the bum's rush. I remember reading something somewhere about the potential for disaster if attempting what they suggested---dragging files and folders from an external disc into folders on a main machine's.

As far as what happened and when, while still trying to get the laptop to boot with the new drive and the Leo disc inserted (before the genius bar determined it was bad memory at fault), I recall going back and forth between the original 60 GB and the replacement internal, a couple of times. This was all after having backed up the 60 while it was still in the macbook. I made sure I was able to boot off it from that external drive. It (the external, bought from OWC) came with Data Backup3 for software, which I'd imagine is pretty good since the same version was on the shelf at the Apple store a couple of days ago.

The current replacement internal drive had not had any exposure at all, at any time, with Migration Assistant prior to having Leopard installed on it. From what Apple Support is telling me, my error of omission was to have used 3rd party software (Data Backup3) to dupe/clone to contents of the original internal onto the external as a backup, instead of Migration Assistant, or some other official Apple-sanctioned software. If you ask me, it's a cop out, in plain English.

As per your suggestion, Td, I've run both 'Verify' and 'Repair disk', the results of which are that the OWC Mercury Elite drive in question appears to be OK.

I'd really like to call Support back and insist on going higher on up until I get something resembling a satisfactory answer (if at all possible).

As much as I cringe at the thought, do you think it'd work if I a) removed the new internal, b) put back in the old internal, c) transferred the contents to the external via Migration Assistant and d) put back in the new internal and tried Migration Assistant again to get back my apps and files?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20453205 Thu, 08 May 2008 18:16:56 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20447843 Thinkdiff : Do not do what they told you to do. It might work, it might also cause tons of problems.

Did you do anything prior to removing the HD from the computer? It seems very odd to me that it's giving you so many problems. Try going into Disk Utility, selecting the External and hitting "Repair Disk" just to make sure everything is ok with it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20447843 Wed, 07 May 2008 19:21:24 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20447764 sfogliatelle : There's a generic disc icon with a question mark on it as the Startup Disc in System Preferences.

According to Apple Tech Support, where I'd been on the phone with for 54 minutes (elevated/escalated three times), the reason Migration Assistant is unable to detect the external hard drive is because it (Migration Assistant) wasn't informed, clued in or used to move the files from the original internal hard drive to the backup external one.

What was suggested is that I drag and drop any and all files and folders into their respective homes on the new internal drive.

I might missed this wee bit of pertinent information previous to this, but if you ask me, it's nothing short of a royal pain!

I can't wait to see what a mess my settings are gonna turn out to be. Will I be able to just drag and drop the Library folder from My User into the User Library folder on the new drive?

Thanks for your help, Td.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20447764 Wed, 07 May 2008 19:04:21 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20446610 sfogliatelle :
said by Thinkdiff See Profile :

Leopard disc won't make a difference. Does the external HD show up in System Preferences > Startup Disk?
I'll have to check on that once I get back home, but will definitely check and let you know, Td.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20446610 Wed, 07 May 2008 15:36:50 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20445693 Thinkdiff : Leopard disc won't make a difference. Does the external HD show up in System Preferences > Startup Disk?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20445693 Wed, 07 May 2008 13:04:48 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20444158 sfogliatelle :
said by Thinkdiff See Profile :

Migration assistant works best when run from inside the Setup Assistant that runs as soon as you startup the computer for the first time after installing leopard (like I explained in the last thread).

I mounted a disk that had an old backup of my computer, opened the Migration assistant and it showed up immediately after pressing the "Continue" button. So your external must not be seen as a boot-able volume. Does it show up on the desktop? If you go into System Preferences > Startup Disk does it show up in there?
I'm with ya so far, Td, but for some reason, even though the external disc is visible on the desktop, it's not showing up after having checked the 'From another volume on this Mac' radio button and clicking 'Continue'.

Even though from what I've read that the transfer of files/folders could be done any time, and not just at the point of installation, maybe I need to re-insert the Leopard install disc for that to happen?. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20444158 Wed, 07 May 2008 07:16:11 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443295 Thinkdiff : Migration assistant works best when run from inside the Setup Assistant that runs as soon as you startup the computer for the first time after installing leopard (like I explained in the last thread).

I mounted a disk that had an old backup of my computer, opened the Migration assistant and it showed up immediately after pressing the "Continue" button. So your external must not be seen as a boot-able volume. Does it show up on the desktop? If you go into System Preferences > Startup Disk does it show up in there?
--
University of Southern California - Class of 2010. Fight On!
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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443295 Wed, 07 May 2008 00:04:13 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443256 sfogliatelle :
said by Thinkdiff See Profile :

Try the Migration assistant again from the Utilities folder. It might work.

The attempts with Migration Assistant so far have all began from the Utilities folder, Td. As mentioned, I wasn't able to view the external disc as an option to transfer from once the method (From a Time Machine backup or other disc). Then again, it may have been impatience on my part, as I didn't wait more than a minute or so---how long does an external take to be visible in that window?

I saw it as an option while the Leopard disc was still in the slot, but I figured that the main concern at that point was to make sure the RAM and install worked right. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443256 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:58:13 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443160 Thinkdiff : Try the Migration assistant again from the Utilities folder. It might work.

As for the RAM, the max for a single stick is 2GB, however the Max altogether is only 3.27GB or something around there. So it doesn't make sense to do a 2x2GB configuration. To maximize RAM, do 1x2GB and 1x1GB. To maximize graphic performance, do 2x1GB.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443160 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:32:57 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443125 sfogliatelle : The external is an OWC that's hooked up via fire wire, Td.

Once I got the laptop back home I was foaming at the mouth to try as many different combinations of the two 1Gig sticks. I was certain that 512 just wasn't gonna cut it. For now, it seems to be responding rather nimbly, but that may be the result of no other apps loaded too. i didn't even stick in Ilife '08.

Your memory is correct about it being a Core Duo. Mine however could use a refresher---I know that 2 gigs is the max this thing'll take, and just like the previous buy, this one's gonna be a matched, siamese twin pair of sticks.

As far as the Migration Assistant snafu, I'm at a loss as to why; I've read a bit on it so was prepared for which window prompts would show up, and when. For some reason I just saw an unrefreshed white box after clicking on the "Time Machine or another disk" option...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443125 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:24:40 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443084 sfogliatelle : You may be right about the memory, HiVolt See Profile. All's I've gotta do now is luck out when I search for the invoice/packing slip or receipt.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443084 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:15:42 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443070 Thinkdiff : How is your external drive hooked up? Was it plugged in when you started up the computer? You can re-run Migration assistant by going into /Applications/Utilities and opening Migration Assistant. Make sure you select "Another volume on this Mac" as the option.

As for the RAM, I think you had a Core Duo MacBook, correct? 2x2GB is not gonna do anything for that machine. It will only see ~3GB. Get a 2GB stick and a 1GB stick, or just 2x1GB. The video card apparently runs faster when the RAM is in matched pairs if you're concerned about that.

I just put this 2GB stick in my MacBook Pro and it's working great:
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20141297

Before that I had a G.Skill 1GB Stick also from Newegg.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443070 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:12:21 EDT Re: [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (upd http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443060 HiVolt : BTW, isn't most memory lifetime guaranteed?
--
GOLF LEAFS GOLF!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443060 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:10:29 EDT [Leo] new HDD in Macbook, insert Leo disc-black screen (update) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443020 sfogliatelle : When we last left our intrepid bungler, he was headed to the Genius Bar as per the suggestion of from a phone call to Apple Tech Support, who couldn't really do anything over the phone about his dilemma.

Well, it turns out that the two 1GB sticks of ram that had been in residence in his Macbook since August of '06 were the culprits. The guy at the genius bar took the laptop into the back of the store where he tried some different RAM which apparently seemed to work fine. After thanking him for his tenacity I went home to try various combinations of the two sticks. None of 'em worked. Drat! Good thing I still had the original 512MB's in twins.

I'm finding Safari to be quite nimble, which may just be a Leopard thing or the fact that the hard drive is spacier and faster. For sure I'm gonna be looking into another 2X2GB sticks of RAM.

Funny thing....when purchasing the memory back then I steered clear of the cheap stuff. If the label is any clue, it was bought from DMS. The geniuses suggested Samsung when I asked what they thought about Crucial. If there's a silver lining to this RAM thing it's that memory is about 40% less now than it was when I got it from DMS.

Oh yeah....about the Leopard install. It seemed to go OK. The updates went fast, which surprised me, what with the 300+MB 10.5.2

About the only thing I'm puzzled or unhappy about is that the Migration Assistant couldn't seem to find my external drive to get to the apps and settings from. Guess that'll have to be another call to Tech Support.

thanks, guys. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20443020 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:02:23 EDT