Should I Format SSD before putting it in an iMac?

I have ann Early 2008 iMac that I'm putting an SSD in.
2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 5 GB Ram

I got this upgrade kit. 250GB

I have this HDD Dock Station. So think I should be able to mount and format using my Mac Mini and then put an OS on it. Probably El Capitan?

What does the Forum think?

Thanks,

Steve

Yes.

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Staunton, Virginia

Doesnt matter. Might take all of 10 seconds to format the drive.

20" or 24"? Your link didnt specify... Only tools really necessary for installation are a T8 and a pair of tweezers.

Inside you just need a power and SATA splitter.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
Doesnt matter. Might take all of 10 seconds to format the drive.

20" or 24"? Your link didnt specify... Only tools really necessary for installation are a T8 and a pair of tweezers.

Inside you just need a power and SATA splitter.

20"

Replacing the dead original HDD.
I thought it would be easier to format the drive and put the OS on it before installing it, instead of using a Mac OS install CD and then upgrading…

Quote
kurtzie

Quote
jdc
Doesnt matter. Might take all of 10 seconds to format the drive.

20" or 24"? Your link didnt specify... Only tools really necessary for installation are a T8 and a pair of tweezers.

Inside you just need a power and SATA splitter.

20"

Replacing the dead original HDD.
I thought it would be easier to format the drive and put the OS on it before installing it, instead of using a Mac OS install CD and then upgrading…

I would agree, test out the new drive before opening up the iMac. Just in case the new drive is DOA. Also good to install the OS and setup the new drive in advance and then just boot into it once it's been installed.

Sorry you just said "format". Which regardless, still only takes a few seconds.

OS install might take longer via CD to USB 2, rather than CD to internal, althought maybe not by much.

Do you have El Cap as a DMG? that would install faster...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
kurtzie

I have this HDD Dock Station. So think I should be able to mount and format using my Mac Mini and then put an OS on it. Probably El Capitan?...

I thought it would be easier to format the drive and put the OS on it before installing it, instead of using a Mac OS install CD and then upgrading…

You should get the El Cap installer on a USB stick or 2.5-inch USB hard drive.

Don't bother installing the original OS and then upgrading.

...Only thing is that you either need to have "purchased" El Cap from the App Store already or you need a friend who can get it and you need a Mac from which to make the installer.
[arstechnica.com]

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Quote
Onamuji
...Only thing is that you either need to have "purchased" El Cap from the App Store already or you need a friend who can get it and you need a Mac from which to make the installer.
[arstechnica.com]

There are still ways to download El Capitan (and Sierra) from Apple if you hadn't purchased it in the past.

[forums.macresource.com]

Format it and install the OS before you put it in the iMac.

I'd format the drive outside the Mac.

I can recall at least one incident where, for whatever reason, I COULD NOT format the drive in the Mac but had no problems in an external enclosure. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Still, PITA if you put it in and THEN find out it doesn't work!
g=

Just adding that I put an SSD in my '09 MBP and it's a new machine. You'll appreciate it!

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My name is DP, and I approve this message.

kurtzie,

As others have said above, Yes.

Format it before you install it. I would also suggest you install/clone your Boot drive OS on it and prove that it boots and runs before installing it inside. I have done it both ways, and installing a working drive has always worked out better. All of the kinks are worked out and you only have to install it once.

Quote
kurtzie
Should I Format SSD before putting it in an iMac?

I have ann Early 2008 iMac that I'm putting an SSD in.
2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 5 GB Ram

I got this upgrade kit. 250GB

I have this HDD Dock Station. So think I should be able to mount and format using my Mac Mini and then put an OS on it. Probably El Capitan?

What does the Forum think?

Thanks,

Steve

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Ed (modelamac)

I think I will just put an OUT OF ORDER
sticker on my head and call it a day.

Quote
modelamac
Format it before you install it. I would also suggest you install/clone your Boot drive OS on it and prove that it boots and runs before installing it inside. I have done it both ways, and installing a working drive has always worked out better. All of the kinks are worked out and you only have to install it once.

This. I've read a number reports of problems from folks who tried installing a SSD with no OS installed on it.

I formatted the drive and installed El Capitan on it before installing into the iMac.

Everything is working fine so far. I am posting from the "new" machine.

Now all I have to do is decide what to use this extra mac for.
I think it will be a photo display machine for now.

Thanks for all the advice.

Steve

I just put the same drive in my 2010 iMac. I already had El Cap and Sierra on a bootable flashdrive I had
made some time ago. Started up off the flashdrive. Went to Disk Utility and formatted the new SSD and
installed Sierra. The SSD made an amazing difference in speed but my old drive was failing.

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Grateful11