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Macbook pro 2012 non retina

I have a Macbook pro 2012 non retina, running latest version of catalina. When I use disk utility to clone my hdd before upgrading to an ssd, will it also clone the recovery partition? Sorry if this had been asked before, I've searched these forums and online but cannot find a definitive answer anywhere.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 6, 2021 10:08 AM

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Posted on Feb 6, 2021 10:25 AM

B10h4z4rd wrote:

I have a Macbook pro 2012 non retina, running latest version of catalina. When I use disk utility to clone my hdd before upgrading to an ssd, will it also clone the recovery partition? Sorry if this had been asked before, I've searched these forums and online but cannot find a definitive answer anywhere.


Depending on the Software.


The Carbon Copy Cloner.app does, It may well be a choice as you proceed. [see: *Catalina]


Today it is not essential since you have on-line access to the Internet Recovery.


Making a Bootable installer of the macOS is another alternative— for Recovery/DiskUtility/a limited Terminal as well

as the macOS itself.



*https://bombich.com/kb/ccc5/frequently-asked-questions-about-cloning-apples-recovery-hd-partition


https://bombich.com/kb/ccc5/cloning-apples-recovery-hd-partition



How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


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6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 6, 2021 10:25 AM in response to B10h4z4rd

B10h4z4rd wrote:

I have a Macbook pro 2012 non retina, running latest version of catalina. When I use disk utility to clone my hdd before upgrading to an ssd, will it also clone the recovery partition? Sorry if this had been asked before, I've searched these forums and online but cannot find a definitive answer anywhere.


Depending on the Software.


The Carbon Copy Cloner.app does, It may well be a choice as you proceed. [see: *Catalina]


Today it is not essential since you have on-line access to the Internet Recovery.


Making a Bootable installer of the macOS is another alternative— for Recovery/DiskUtility/a limited Terminal as well

as the macOS itself.



*https://bombich.com/kb/ccc5/frequently-asked-questions-about-cloning-apples-recovery-hd-partition


https://bombich.com/kb/ccc5/cloning-apples-recovery-hd-partition



How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


Feb 6, 2021 6:04 PM in response to B10h4z4rd

B10h4z4rd wrote:

I have a Macbook pro 2012 non retina, running latest version of catalina. When I use disk utility to clone my hdd before upgrading to an ssd, will it also clone the recovery partition? Sorry if this had been asked before, I've searched these forums and online but cannot find a definitive answer anywhere.


re: HWTech wrote:

FYI, the hidden recovery partition is necessary if Filevault is to be enabled.




This feature < DiskUtility Restore> is known to not always go so well.


Hard to go wrong with CCC.

If the recovery Partition does not make it—



You can re-install the macOS on top of your existing macOS after you are up and running to restore all hidden volumes, including the Recovery. This will leave all user files/data untouched.


How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904




ref: Use DiskUtility Restore feature  https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/restore-a-disk-dskutl14062/mac

                   note: >System Preferences>Security & Privacy >Privacy>Full Disk Access

                  unlock the  padlock,  press the + button and add Disk Utility 


Catalina


MacBook-Pro ~ % diskutil list internal

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk0

1: EFI EFI 314.6 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 1.0 TB disk0s2


/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +1.0 TB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Macintosh HD 11.2 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Macintosh HD - Data 273.7 GB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Preboot 80.8 MB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume Recovery 529.0 MB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume VM 3.2 GB disk1s5


Feb 6, 2021 7:00 PM in response to B10h4z4rd

+1 for Carbon Copy Cloner. I've never had any issues using CCC to clone bootable macOS drives. I always have issues using Disk Utility (it may be better now, but I don't trust Disk Utility and I don't think Disk Utility restores any other partitions/volumes -- Disk Utility is a very basic app with lots of limitations).

Feb 7, 2021 12:47 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for your reply, I have read about using CCC on a few sites I'll give that a shot. My go to is always disk utility simply for convenience but I also see your point re Internet recovery, its always a failsafe regardless I guess. Luckily I don't intend on enabling Filevault so that's not an issue. One follow up question though, without the recovery partition is find my mac still available, I've read some people cannot use that feature without the recovery partition present. Thanks again for your input.

Macbook pro 2012 non retina

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