getting an internal...
 

Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop

[Closed] getting an internal hard drive installed on a macbook pro

11 Posts
8 Users
0 Reactions
54 Views
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

called a couple of resellers locally (derby and nottingham) and there was a big price difference one place wanted £170 for a 320gb and the other £105 for a 500gb. However neither could do it instore the 1st place reckoned a few days to do it and the second one said a week or 2. So does anyone know somewhere I can send it to get installed? thought if i cut out the middle man might save me some time


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:19 pm
 aP
Posts: 681
Free Member
 

If you look an line its relatively easy to change the hard drive. Took me about 45 minutes being super careful etc etc.


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:26 pm
Posts: 28
Free Member
 

A new 500Gb drive will cost you £50 ish. Do the job yourself, it is remarkably easy.

1. Buy new 500 Gb disk and a 2.5" caddy, fit one into the other.

2. Boot up machine with hard drive cloning software, clone current drive to new drive.

3. Swap the drives over ( generally requires undoing one, perhaps 2 screws ).

4. Save money, feel clever.


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:27 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

i think the unibody version is meant to be easy but ive got the model previous to that, is that as easy?


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:33 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Do it yourself, use time machine to make sure you have a backup and then your install disks to boot up and install the OS.

Look on youtube for vids of how to do it.


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:34 pm
 mrmo
Posts: 10708
Free Member
 

look on line and find a guide it isn't hard, just be methodical and note where each screw goes. I found a guide and taped each screw to the relevant photo, Any Pro mac isn't too hard certainly nothing like changing the hard-drive in a Clamshell iBook. and even that wasn't too bad.


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:36 pm
Posts: 30656
Free Member
 

http://www.ifixit.com/Browse/MacBook_Pro


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:40 pm
 mrmo
Posts: 10708
Free Member
 

[url= http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2119528,00.asp ]this may help, but have a look for other guides. [/url]


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:47 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

I've done mine (Core2).

It's not hard, just put soft towel down, tape/magnet for the screws (around 20 odd on the Pro , it's only 2 on the normal) and follow Jamie's link. Make sure you have the correct Torx driver BEFORE you begin 🙂

Time Machine backup/restore to a clean install is another option - I had some hassle with cloners but got it to work eventually


 
Posted : 06/01/2011 3:48 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

ok got the bits, wish me luck...


 
Posted : 07/01/2011 6:39 pm
Posts: 28
Free Member
 

be lucky.


 
Posted : 07/01/2011 6:58 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

you'll be fine! did the ram on my unibody. A bit twitchy but fine!


 
Posted : 07/01/2011 7:29 pm