... A cheap and above all practical extension of the "cookie jar" - But nothing for Grobmotoriker!

After a short research I was convinced of the usefulness of this extension option. The next step was to select a suitable kit. Because regardless of the sometimes significant price differentials were the reviews often more confusing than helpful. - In the end I decided for this kit, and am very satisfied. It contains almost everything you need for installation.

Previously, one should seek an appropriate installation guide for themselves, however. The imaged either via another computer cost or as a hard copy is available. The Internet holds this many instructions for each "learning style" ready. Tweezers, toothpick and the stem of a brush can usefully complement the tooling.

In my particular case, I first make a backup of the "old" data created. And since I also use Windows via Boot Camp, I was the same the next problem. The data of the MacOS (here Mavericks) can be personalized with standard tools on a ext. Hard drive backup. But what about Windows? After a long search I found the fee-based tool Winclone. This should be an easy and secure especially rewind allow the Windows system. DC First of all. That did not work with me.

So who does not completely "put" his system would have to re-create a backup before. Then it can already start with the installation. - In my case, I wanted (840 Samsung EVO 120 GB) using a SSD and a HDD (Samsung HN-M101MBB 1TB). The SSD I had left from a conversion, and buy the new HDD. - I have built to replace the "old" HDD, the SSD, and the "new" HDD by means of the kit including. - To my surprise, worked to break the Mac mini amazingly simple. With good lighting, a tidy uncluttered workplace and no distraction (... allow anyone to decide -;)) makes it even fun. The parts of the kit - also for the fixation of the 2nd hard drive - can attach easily. Ernst it is only in the assembly. Here the focus should be with calm and sensitivity with minimal or no effort on the tailor-insert the module. This is a little tricky, but quite beatable even for laymen. Only impatient Grobmotoriker learn here know their limits. My Waterloo I was afraid when affixing the wireless antenna. This type of connection I already knew from the first Intel equipped Mac Minis. But with tweezers (for better fixation of the cable) and a stem (... of a small brush) should succeed also. And after about an hour, everything was in place and the installation of the backup began.

Ultimately, I still have seen my Waterloo. After many unsuccessful attempts resistant to copy data on the HDD, this process stopped repeatedly. The hard disk has been recognized again after a restart. In short: To determine the cause of this "behavior", I replaced the "new" HDD through the "old" HDD was installed originally at the factory. The re-conversion or exchange now succeeded already in around 20 minutes. It later turned out that the "new" disk had a defect. So, all clear! - With the other HDD everything worked without problems to this day.

And since there was .... the return matches the backups. - That is now for the Apple world in general is not a problem First, the external hard drive is connected to the backup, then restart the system while holding down the Alt key and prepared with the hard disk tool, the SSD according to your needs (formatted).. Then simply upload the backup and the Apple world is - but noticeably faster - back in order. Who wants and the MacOS are preferred, also a fusion drive can set. Though this is done with a few simple steps (via the Terminal program), but for my purposes unsuitable. I use mainly Windows on Apple hardware. This is small, nice and especially almost silently. That's why I also reduced via Boot Camp partition for Mavericks up to the pain threshold and reserved the greater part of the SSD for Windows Ultimate 64bit. To make it short. Although I was able to reduce the BOOT CLONE program's image and "import" in the Boot Camp partition, but something I must have done wrong in the whole action. The boot process in Windows was made to the "login screen". But after entering the password I was told after a few minutes on a plain desktop in the taskbar, that I would use an invalid Windows version. It was not changed by an appropriate repair disc for 64bit systems. He pointed my Windows 7 Ultimate suddenly as Windows Vista Professional from. This "secret" I wanted to devote no more time. So I sat on new Windows. Since I had more backups of my personal data, which was not a problem. However, I have the HDD so partitioned that both operating systems can access the hard disk (exFAT). In a further step, I have moved the library to the HDD. Although this is a little complicated, but it keeps my Windows partition slim.

Conclusion: One should definitely consider in advance how you want to use his Mac, and then choose the appropriate hardware. In any case, you should make a current backup before any intervention. The expansion should be done with a lot of air (time) to the rear. And please be accurately informed about the conversion. - I can only recommend this kit. It has - almost - everything you need for successful reconstruction. - Cheer up!