Upgrading a Mac Hard Drive
Do you know of somewhere that I can have a bigger hard drive installed on my MacBook Pro? I called my local Apple Store and didn’t get a direct answer. Where can I go, or do I have to buy a new MacBook Pro?
You have two options. You can upgrade the hard drive yourself, if you feel comfortable taking apart a laptop and then putting it back together. iFixit.com provides step-by-step instructions for replacing hard drives (and other parts). If you choose to do it yourself, take a look at their guides to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Warning: Replacing parts can potentially void your warranty (including Apple Care), so double check with Apple before choosing the DIY option!
The other option is to find a local Apple Authorized Service Provider who will do the upgrade for you. This is the safest option if you have any doubts about opening up your computer. You can use this link to find a Service Provider near you.
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It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but using an external drive for your big files is always an option too. A lot safer and easier. Unless you NEED all of the big video files and whatnot with you everywhere you go, this can be a viable option.
I’ve replaced my drives a total of four times on a 1st-gen MacBook Pro Core Duo and a 2nd-gen Core2Duo.
If you’re even mildly technically inclined, the most difficult part is separating the bottom case. Your initial reaction will be to stop prying because it really does produce some uncomfortable noises.
One consideration is the speed of the drive you’re going to buy. I opted for a 7200rpm 160Gb drive as opposed to the bigger, slower 5400rpm 200Gb drive.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note on my site.
Here are a couple of tips:
1) Make sure you have a good set of micro-screwdrivers. You’ll need Torx to take off screws under the battery and Phillips for everything else.
2) Label or otherwise organize the screws you remove. There are at least three different lengths, so you need to be careful when reassembling.
3) When taking the top of the case and keyboard off, start from the back (near the LCD) and gently pull up. When you get to the front, the machine will start creaking, but don’t be scared — there are a few stubborn metal clips on either side of the power button.
4) The hard drive itself has a ribbon cable glued to the top of it. Be very careful when removing this. Gently bend (but don’t fold!) it toward the LCD while you’re removing/replacing the drive.
5) Make sure you transfer the screws, rubber pegs, and drive brace from the old drive to the new drive. If you don’t, the drive will float around freely and cause all sorts of problems.
6) When reassembling, don’t forget to reconnect the keyboard ribbon cable to the logic board.
7) Take your time, and remember to make a backup before you start with something like SuperDuper (http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html). :)
Hi I’m the original question asker. Thanks for the tips.
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