- #Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk install
- #Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk pro
- #Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk software
#Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk install
I need space for 2 hard disks as I will install a SSD drive for speed, and a regular hard disk for all the music and film files. The answer boils down to how you balance cost, speed and upgradeability. Small, low power, and some even were labelled Server. But Apple doesn’t build servers! I hear you say. The nature of the requirements above means this has to be an Apple server. Lastly the server will be used for Time Machine Backups of my partner’s MacBook Air, if we can get that to work.
Last but not least the occasional websites I still build could do with a staging server, and the home server might be able to act as that. Beyond that I am looking to replace my ownCloud-based file sync system (that runs on server space I rent in the UK still) with an equivalent on the local server – and that is going to need some way to access the home server remotely. Music and films are going to need to be streamed to each of the MacBooks, and photo libraries loaded on each of the MacBooks. The server will first and foremost be a repository for four sorts of files: all our music, films and photos (the quantity of which is too large to store on either of our MacBooks), and common files for an art project we run together. We each have iPhones as well, but that’s not important for this story. Our WiFi Router is a tp-link Archer AC1750 that is connected by ethernet cable to the modem-router provided by our ISP. We play music wirelessly to an old 1st Generation Airport Express that is connected to the HiFi. All her other files and Time Machine Backups are on two 2Tb external HDDs connected as and when they are needed. My partner has a work computer that doesn’t come into any of this, and for personal use has a MacBook Air with a 256Gb SSD that she uses around the house – never at a fixed desk. All of this is backed up a second time to a Hitachi 3Tb external HDD that is connected once a month or so.
#Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk pro
My main work and personal computer is a 2017 MacBook Pro with a 512Gb SSD, and I usually use that at my desk where it connects to a 2Tb WD USB 3 external HDD that contains old files, and a 1Tb USB 2 external HDD for Time Machine Backups.
#Late 2012 mac mini replace hard disk software
Part 3 is dedicated to the software installations. Part 2 explains the hardware repairs and network setup. This blog post (part 1 of the series) explains the requirements and the purchase of the hardware. With time on my hands due to the Coronavirus lockdown it was time to finally get around to doing it. Then you remove the cable from the drive, which also requires removing an unnecessary piece of tape.For some years I’ve been wondering whether to run a server at home. In any case - you first unscrew the drive from the tray. Why oh why would Apple do such a thing as this abomination of a design? Upgrading memory, M.2 SSD, or HDD units does not require this kind of extreme surgery. Apple, I now order you to study the Intel NUC design. It is utterly ridiculous what this video shows is required.Īfter removing the logic board - and then after removing the power brick - only then can one remove the hard drive tray.Īgain, this is utterly bonkers. Apple needs to study the Intel NUC machines, study the ease of dissassembly, ease of upgrade, and so on. Since the motherboard is held tightly in place, removal requires a lot of force. Rather than buying a special tool, this video shows making one from a metal coat hanger. Sliding out the Mac Mini motherboard requires a special tool that's simply a U-shaped metal rod. However, getting to the hard drive requires an abomination in my opinion. At this point of the video the WiFi antenna was already removed.įollowing that is the cover over the hard drive. There are several pieces to remove in order to get access to the hard drive. This is more tightly packed than I remember from the 2012 Mac Mini I owned once. When removing the metal plate be careful because of the WiFi antenna wire. The black round part is the WiFi antenna. Pay attention to which comes from what hole, since you have to put them back in the correct holes. While these are special screws, the corresponding tool is readily available and looks like a simple allen wrench. This is held down by "tamper-resistant" TR-6 screws. On the other hand this step is fairly straight-forward to perform. And of course the Intel NUC is a better Mac Mini than the Mac Mini. With 2012 and earlier Mac Mini's you had fairly easy access to the innards. The bottom kind of simply snaps off as shown in the video.Īpple should be embarrassed over degrading the upgradability. With this model you use a simple pry tool or some kind of stiff card. In 2010 and before you were required to use a putty knife to open the machine. In 2012 and before this round bottom easily twisted off and you had fairly easy access to the innards. The Mac Mini 2014/2014 was a departure from previous models.
Start by removing the bottom of the machine.