Great video--thanks!! One thing that works even better than doing the Recovery Mode, if you're wanting to clone (transfer identically) the contents of your old hard drive to the new one--which means you should be able to start up and the computer will act just like it did before (except for being a lot faster, because of the SSD), is to get an external USB enclosure (they're quite cheap) and a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner app. (There are others that will work, too, but I really like CCC--I am *not* in any way affiliated with the app or the company that makes it.) Before doing the surgery, put the new SSD into the external enclosure. Plug it into a USB port, and use Carbon Copy Cloner to copy your existing hard drive over to the new SSD. Now do the surgery as shown in the video. Afterwards, you should be able to boot up as normal but from the SSD, and when the computer starts up--again, much faster now due to the SSD--everything from your prior hard drive will be in the right place, and you can just get to work. And a bonus: now take your old hard drive, and put it into the external enclosure. Voilá, you now have a backup disk that's identical to your SSD. You can either keep it connected, or plug it in when you want, and just configure CCC to back up your data regularly to your old HDD. (You *are* backing up your data conscientiously, right, you naughty folks? Please don't let what happened to a musician friend of mine--when he lost about six months of work to a drive failure--because you didn't back up your sh-t.) Just a small extra expense, and it will be *well* worth it if your SSD ever has problems.
9:52 How to format the hard drive. I’ve got a Mac mini 2012 i5 4gb with 512gb HDD that’s been in cupboard for years. Started it up and slow as a slug (I’m talking 20+ seconds to open up an application slow). Watched this “How to” video and had confidence to try and upgrade myself. Purchase 2x 8gb ram and Samsung 1TB SDD. Formatting was biggest concern but Zach made all instructions (throughout) great. Does what I need it to do so thanks 👍
thank you i used this to replace a hdd with an ssd in a 2nd had mini mac 2012 i recently bought it was so slow and could only put it down to the hard drive...this guide really helped thanks
I‘ve got this late 2012 Mac mini and would like to upgrade exactly the way you showed in your video. Now, which SSD and RAM modules would I have to buy? Thanks for showing how to do it! 👍🏻👏🏻🙏🏻
Hi this was a great video....although I have a question before I decided to purchase everything to follow your video. I'm not sure if you can answer my question so here it goes lol I have a 2012 Mac mini and as of right now it is not getting past a flashing folder with the question mark.....should I just got ahead and purchase parts and upgrade this Mac mini?
Excellent video, I am using a wireless keyboard. When I press the suggested keys at startup, nothing comes on the screen for a moment then the file with the question mark begins flashing. Can you help me trouble shoot?
The best advice I could give would be to try and find a wired keyboard.. at least for just the setup process. I don’t know if you can pair a keyboard via Bluetooth before resetting the hard drive. If you get a wired PC keyboard it’s the same keys.. just replace the Command button with the Control button
Re drive formatting etc.... MUCH easier to use an external drive kit before taking the machine apart, and clone the hdd over to the ssd... then it's plug and play..
thanks for your detailed description!👍🏼Exactly changed the RAM and the same disk. is currently playing the backup from Time Machine. Greetings from Heidelberg Germany.🙋🏼♂️
It’s all linked in the first couple of lines in the description.. but here’s all the gear as well Mac Mini (can probably find this cheaper on ebay): amzn.to/3iTExWu SSD: amzn.to/34fBBPI RAM: amzn.to/328Udy6 Install Kit (Lower Drive Bay): amzn.to/2YfBHTD
I previously already updated my Mac Mini RAM from 4 to 8GB and now planning to switch from HDD to SSD. I just wonder if I can also update RAM up to 16GB, because I'm not sure if on the 2011 will be supported.
Спасибо thank u, you rly help me, I was see more information but only u video was useful! I think my new ssd was crashed) I have Bluetooth keyboard and hotkeys was works. im was shocked
I wanna do this with a brand new Mac mini i7 to avoid paying so much for extra HD from Apple. I won't have a time machine back up, will I be able to boot or reinstall the Big Sur this way?
@@ZachBrownMedia just specifically wondering abt the latest release of the Microsoft Flight Simulator game on a mini pc. I prefer to go the Mac Mini route and expect the need for more RAM. Just curious if its all possible using the same setup you did in this vid
Hello Zach I bought ssd on the the link you recommended on this you tube after i put in everything done and on screen now it’s a question mark pop up ,i did. Press down a keys CMD +OPT+SHIFT +R but its still the same ,im using a wireless keyboard ,do you think do i have to change a wire keyboard,can you help me out please.
After some advice ...will this memory work? SNPN2M64C/8G - Dell 1x 8GB DDR3-1600 SODIMM PC3L-12800S It has the same spec as the mac mini ram but not sure....
Wouldn't be able to say for sure.. from looking at it I would say yes. It's basically the same stick, just from Dell, not OWC. But I wouldn't know for sure until it's been tried! If you have it, then no harm in trying it! If it doesn't work then you can pick up the one I have linked
The M1 definitely outperforms this guy. So if you have the extra cash it would be worth it to get the M1.. no question. This route does still save you about $400 though
@@ZachBrownMedia Finally had some time to put it together. Found a used mac mini for sale locally and just finished swapping in 16GB ram and 1TB SSD. Thanks for the help! Downloading OS X Mountain lion right now.
Idk why you don’t have more subs the quality of yr vids are amazing
Haha appreciate it!
Because he talks to much at the beginning of the video
@Jimmy Wan Well thanks for the feedback 😅
Great video--thanks!! One thing that works even better than doing the Recovery Mode, if you're wanting to clone (transfer identically) the contents of your old hard drive to the new one--which means you should be able to start up and the computer will act just like it did before (except for being a lot faster, because of the SSD), is to get an external USB enclosure (they're quite cheap) and a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner app. (There are others that will work, too, but I really like CCC--I am *not* in any way affiliated with the app or the company that makes it.)
Before doing the surgery, put the new SSD into the external enclosure. Plug it into a USB port, and use Carbon Copy Cloner to copy your existing hard drive over to the new SSD. Now do the surgery as shown in the video. Afterwards, you should be able to boot up as normal but from the SSD, and when the computer starts up--again, much faster now due to the SSD--everything from your prior hard drive will be in the right place, and you can just get to work.
And a bonus: now take your old hard drive, and put it into the external enclosure. Voilá, you now have a backup disk that's identical to your SSD. You can either keep it connected, or plug it in when you want, and just configure CCC to back up your data regularly to your old HDD. (You *are* backing up your data conscientiously, right, you naughty folks? Please don't let what happened to a musician friend of mine--when he lost about six months of work to a drive failure--because you didn't back up your sh-t.) Just a small extra expense, and it will be *well* worth it if your SSD ever has problems.
Very good suggestion. I always clone with CCC before replacing the drive. So much easier.
9:52 How to format the hard drive.
I’ve got a Mac mini 2012 i5 4gb with 512gb HDD that’s been in cupboard for years. Started it up and slow as a slug (I’m talking 20+ seconds to open up an application slow).
Watched this “How to” video and had confidence to try and upgrade myself.
Purchase 2x 8gb ram and Samsung 1TB SDD.
Formatting was biggest concern but Zach made all instructions (throughout) great.
Does what I need it to do so thanks 👍
Thanks! Glad it was helpful
thank you i used this to replace a hdd with an ssd in a 2nd had mini mac 2012 i recently bought it was so slow and could only put it down to the hard drive...this guide really helped thanks
🙌🏼👋🏼🙌🏼
I‘ve got this late 2012 Mac mini and would like to upgrade exactly the way you showed in your video. Now, which SSD and RAM modules would I have to buy? Thanks for showing how to do it! 👍🏻👏🏻🙏🏻
Links are in the description
Hi this was a great video....although I have a question before I decided to purchase everything to follow your video. I'm not sure if you can answer my question so here it goes lol I have a 2012 Mac mini and as of right now it is not getting past a flashing folder with the question mark.....should I just got ahead and purchase parts and upgrade this Mac mini?
The question mark means it doesn’t see a hard drive. So the drive is either not connected or needs to be formatted
Thanks Zach! Your video really helped me. The formatting of the SSD at the end saved me a bunch of frustration.
Great to hear! 🤙🏼
The extra bit at the end gave me life, I thought I was done for
Haha awesome! Glad it helped!
this is fantastic man, loving your production quality and content
Appreciate it brother! Looking forward to making more 💪🏼
Thanks man! Great video! Just upgraded our Mac Mini for our little studio at our church. Can’t wait to see what else you put out!
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words!
Excellent video, I am using a wireless keyboard. When I press the suggested keys at startup, nothing comes on the screen for a moment then the file with the question mark begins flashing. Can you help me trouble shoot?
The best advice I could give would be to try and find a wired keyboard.. at least for just the setup process. I don’t know if you can pair a keyboard via Bluetooth before resetting the hard drive. If you get a wired PC keyboard it’s the same keys.. just replace the Command button with the Control button
@@ZachBrownMedia Thank you!
Re drive formatting etc.... MUCH easier to use an external drive kit before taking the machine apart, and clone the hdd over to the ssd... then it's plug and play..
Good idea 💡 hadn’t thought of that route
@@ZachBrownMedia not my first rodeo... lol
Install kit link item. How do you do that?
What?
thanks for your detailed description!👍🏼Exactly changed the RAM and the same disk. is currently playing the backup from Time Machine. Greetings from Heidelberg Germany.🙋🏼♂️
Sweet! Hope you dig it 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Just got my mac mini 2012 in great value, tomorrow I'm going to upgrade to SSD. I hope that will work exactly as your video. Cheer...
Awesome! 🤙🏼
@@ZachBrownMedia is working. Thank you very much. Just waiting the RAM and let my Mac Mini flying speed. Lol
@@wpm4647 Glad to hear it!
I don't see the description for parts numbers?
It’s all linked in the first couple of lines in the description.. but here’s all the gear as well
Mac Mini (can probably find this cheaper on ebay): amzn.to/3iTExWu
SSD: amzn.to/34fBBPI
RAM: amzn.to/328Udy6
Install Kit (Lower Drive Bay): amzn.to/2YfBHTD
@@ZachBrownMedia thank you for the quick reply
@@jayescreations489 sure thing 🤙🏼
Micron M600 M.2 SATA SSD (256GB)
What would I need.
Not sure.. For optimal results I would pick up the exact pieces I linked in the description 🤙🏼
I previously already updated my Mac Mini RAM from 4 to 8GB and now planning to switch from HDD to SSD. I just wonder if I can also update RAM up to 16GB, because I'm not sure if on the 2011 will be supported.
Not sure, bu there’s a good chance you’d be able to with a 2011 one
Спасибо
thank u, you rly help me, I was see more information but only u video was useful! I think my new ssd was crashed)
I have Bluetooth keyboard and hotkeys was works. im was shocked
I wanna do this with a brand new Mac mini i7 to avoid paying so much for extra HD from Apple. I won't have a time machine back up, will I be able to boot or reinstall the Big Sur this way?
I don’t know if it’s even possible to switch those out on the newer Macs. I’d look into that before you buy.
I have two 4gb ram can I change one two 8 by then I would have 12gb ram?
I suppose you could. But you might as well pick up another one and go all the way to 16GB
I got it up and running but when I try to update it it gives me the error code 102
I’d do a google search to see if you can find what error code 102 means.. the SSD or RAM might not be connected properly
It know hard drive is there but because no os in the new storage. You have to install Mac os Catalina in it.
Yeah I show you how to install MacOS at 9:35 🤙🏼
How do you not have more subs. great vid!
Appciate it!! 🤙🏼
If I go this route, (mini pc setup due to space limits) would I be able to download/ play MSFS 2020??
Not quite sure what you mean.. Are you trying to put Windows OS on a Mac Mini?
@@ZachBrownMedia just specifically wondering abt the latest release of the Microsoft Flight Simulator game on a mini pc. I prefer to go the Mac Mini route and expect the need for more RAM. Just curious if its all possible using the same setup you did in this vid
Not sure! I haven’t used that game before lol
so how much ram can you put in this mac? and how much ssd hd? i would like 32g ram and 2tb storage..is this possible?
Not sure but I think I maxed it out on RAM. Probably could add more SSD though
@@ZachBrownMedia thanks
Pleas answer. Can i upgrade my mac mini lite core i5 to core i7?
No, as far as I’m aware, you can’t upgrade the processor on any Mac
good effort, thanks !
Appreciate it 👊🏼
Do I lose everything?
The old drive? Back it up beforehand, so you can move everything to the new one!
Gracias, tienes el proceso para el segundo disco duro?
Sorry no hablo espenol 😔
I finally upgrade whith two SSD drives. Thanks.
@ Cool 🤙🏼
Is 16 GB Ram the maximum that can be installed?
Yes
Thank you for the quick response unfortunately it didn’t work and I still show the mystery folder 🤬
Oh snap alt multiple times got me in internet recovery mode any tips from here
Is internet recovery mode different from normal recovery mode?
It should be the same process I outlined in the video
Hello Zach I bought ssd on the the link you recommended on this you tube after i put in everything done and on screen now it’s a question mark pop up ,i did. Press down a keys CMD +OPT+SHIFT +R but its still the same ,im using a wireless keyboard ,do you think do i have to change a wire keyboard,can you help me out please.
Yeah the first thing I would do is try a wired keyboard.. that Mac mini might not see your keyboard when booting up
If I’m using a windows keyboard what’s should I hold down to go to recovery mode? Please help…
It's the same command, Just press the Control Button instead of the Command Button
So: Control + OPT + Shift + R
Great vid. Worked perfectly!
Sick 🤘🏼🤘🏼
After some advice ...will this memory work? SNPN2M64C/8G - Dell 1x 8GB DDR3-1600 SODIMM PC3L-12800S It has the same spec as the mac mini ram but not sure....
Wouldn't be able to say for sure.. from looking at it I would say yes. It's basically the same stick, just from Dell, not OWC. But I wouldn't know for sure until it's been tried! If you have it, then no harm in trying it! If it doesn't work then you can pick up the one I have linked
How well does it perform compare to the M1 Mac mini
The M1 definitely outperforms this guy. So if you have the extra cash it would be worth it to get the M1.. no question. This route does still save you about $400 though
can i know the ram voltage??
All the info is on the product page that’s linked in the description. But I looked and it’s 1.35V
amzn.to/328Udy6
How much faster did it get?
I talk more about how the performance was in this video
th-cam.com/video/xrwC-_o-LUM/w-d-xo.html
Can the Mac mini late 2012 use NVMe SSDs?
Not sure, but my guess is probably not!
@@ZachBrownMedia It didn't hurt to ask. Thanks anyway.
Does M2 SSD work? with a M2-sata adaptor.
You know, I’m not sure. I’ve haven’t seen anyone use that with this upgrade
Great video! Question - can I do this on a Late 2012 Mac Mini or does it have to be the early/Mid?
Thanks! Should work great with any 2012 model!
@@ZachBrownMedia Excellent. Think I might go pick one up today
Jeff Swartzentruber 🤙🏼🤙🏼
@@ZachBrownMedia Finally had some time to put it together. Found a used mac mini for sale locally and just finished swapping in 16GB ram and 1TB SSD. Thanks for the help! Downloading OS X Mountain lion right now.
BOOM 👊🏼 great to hear!
Awesome man. Keep the good work. Bless
Appreciate it! 🙌🏼
You don't need to unplug the fan or the wifi wire just move it out of the way.
Right. Works either way. Just personal preference!
I'm tempted to get one and upgrade it. Great video!
Sweet 💪🏼💪🏼
Zack, Thanks! Well done!!!
Sure thing!
Can you do this same process with a 2014 Mac Mini? Or does it require different sticks of RAM, screwdrivers, etc. ?
Looks like you can upgrade the Hard Drive to SSD, but the RAM is soldered down and can't be removed
How about 2014 Mac Mini?
Looks like you can upgrade the Hard Drive to SSD, but the RAM is soldered down and can't be removed.
Great video! Thanks a lot!
Thanks man 😎
great vid
Thanks!
tHERMAL paste is very important to change
👍🏼
Is it worth the upgrade?
I talk about that in detail in this video!
th-cam.com/video/xrwC-_o-LUM/w-d-xo.html
Hey! Sorry for the basic question but what specific tools do I need to buy to do this? Thanks in advance
It’s all linked in the description 👍🏼
901th like on 02//11/24🤓
Lol
bell end.. lol
What?
This is when Apple made good computer s. Now they removed everything good about the mini Mac. So I will not buy their new version s.
The new M1s are pretty nice! But this is still a more budget friendly option