iMac Late 2012 External SSD Upgrade

[Ninco!]

I own a late 2012 iMac and recently upgraded to Mojave which with the original internal (7,200 HD) which works fine.

I recently purchased an SSD and external USB3 enclosure, only with my limited knowledge of OS X, I remain nervous - I have always upgraded the OS X via the App store, so the original HD was never formatted.

I would like a clean install of Mojave on the SSD and use the original mechanical drive as extra storage. The long term aim is to use the iMac as a media device.

I would be most grateful for advice for undertaking a clean install; using the SSD as the operating system and the mechanical drive as secondary storage - media etc.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Feek]

Is there any reason you specifically want to go with a clean install? You could just plug the SSD in, run SuperDuper! or CarbonCopyCloner and clone the internal drive to the SSD. Once it's completed, you go into System Preferences/Startup Disk, select the SSD and reboot. It's as simple as that.

If not, then you can download the Mojave installer from the App Store and either use DiskMakerX or createinstallmedia to create a bootable installer. Boot from that, install a fresh copy of macOS to the SSD and you're good to go.

 

[Ninco!]

Cheers Feek & for explaining in clear terms.

I am so used to Windows, I have it in my head that clean installations are best. Not so much 10, but the likes of 98/XP when you routinely formatted - it has stuck!

Got to give it to Apple, since 2012, all OS X upgrades have gone smoothly. I never realised it was so - dare I say, simple.

I have upgraded all old PC kit with an SSD, only was hesitant with this Mac - Will give it a go. Thanks again.