Safe to Upgrade hard drive?

warstomp · Oct 30, 2009, 11:17 AM

i was wondering if it was safe to upgrade my mbp's hard drive, ive been searching around but i havent really seen a definitive answer on the matter. I know some people have the EFI problem and some don't. I know my mac has the update and stuff. I guess its a gamble?

Badger^2 · Oct 30, 2009, 01:52 PM

Its safe to do any of them, but some are far, far more difficult than others...

iToaster · Oct 30, 2009, 02:32 PM

It would help to know the specs of the machine, but in reality there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Forum-User · Oct 30, 2009, 03:10 PM

I recently upgraded the hard drives on both an older and newer MacBook with no issues. The Apple support web site has DIY pages to walk you through the process of removing and installing the hard drive for your specific model. I used Carbon Copy Cloner to duplicate the existing drive to the new drive using a cheap USB to SATA adapter, then swapped the drives. Choose a hard drive with similar power requirements of your existing drive, so you don't adversely affect your battery life. I used the Fujitsu 500 GB (5400 RPM), which uses less power than their 320 GB drive.

warstomp · Oct 30, 2009, 03:40 PM

well what i mean isnt really the actualy phyiscal part of doing it because its a new mbp so it is really easy, moreover i was talking about the whole issue that with EFI 1.7 aftermarket hard drives are really slow and stuff

bigdaddyp · Oct 30, 2009, 03:59 PM

I believe that there was a recent firmware update to address that. If I am wrong then I am sure I will be corrected. If you are worried then avoid disks with built in sudden stop sensors as that was causing a conflict with the sudden stop system built into the laptop. I believe that is what was causing slow performance. I know of no other current issue, but again if I am wrong I will be corrected in a matter of moments.

bigdaddyp · Oct 30, 2009, 04:05 PM

I forgot to mention to buy a retail package not an oem (bare) drive. Most but not all drives sold on newegg and owc are bare drives that have no retail packaging, instructions or cables and are usually 10-20 % cheaper. The problem is that ups must play hockey or something with them because I have had a a fair amount of DOA when ordering the Oem style. Just thought I would mention my experience, but to clarify I still love newegg and owc.

Darth.Titan · Oct 30, 2009, 04:38 PM

Newegg wraps their OEM drives better than the retail drives are packaged. The courier literally could play hockey with them with no ill effects as far as I'm concerned.

I've never bought anything but an OEM drive and have never had to return one.

YMMV

bigdaddyp · Oct 30, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth.Titan

Newegg wraps their OEM drives better than the retail drives are packaged. The courier literally could play hockey with them with no ill effects as far as I'm concerned.

I've never bought anything but an OEM drive and have never had to return one.

YMMV

I realise that every ones experience will vary, but the ones that I received were in a box with one layer of bubble wrap wrapped around the drive. The retail ones I have received were in a retail box, suspended in the middle by about an inch of airspace and the box was wrapped with bubble wrap and then placed in a generic box.

I have had 3 out of 7 that I ordered oem arive DOA or were working but dyeing right out of the bubble wrap. Again I understand that everyone will have a different experience but with a a little searching I can usually find a retail drive for the same price as a oem. To me its not worth the risk becasue if I am ordering a new drive its because I usually need it now.

Badger^2 · Oct 30, 2009, 05:58 PM

What drive were you looking at getting? How big?

WD Black drives are my choice...

Oct 30, 2009, 11:17 AM	#1
warstomp macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2009	Safe to Upgrade hard drive? i was wondering if it was safe to upgrade my mbp's hard drive, ive been searching around but i havent really seen a definitive answer on the matter. I know some people have the EFI problem and some don't. I know my mac has the update and stuff. I guess its a gamble?

Oct 30, 2009, 01:52 PM	#2
Badger^2 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento	which MBP? Its safe to do any of them, but some are far, far more difficult than others... __________________ 24" 2.4 iMac/4 gigs/640 gig+20" Dell 2001 20" 2.4 iMac/4 gigs/640 gig+24" Dell 2405 20" 2.0 iMac/4 gigs/320 gig+20" Dell 2001 20" 2.13 iMac/3 gigs/320 gig+20" Dell 2007

Oct 30, 2009, 02:32 PM	#3
iToaster macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2007 Location: In front of my MacBook	It would help to know the specs of the machine, but in reality there shouldn't be anything to worry about. __________________ Unibody MacBook \| 2.4 \| 2GB \| 500GB \| white iPhone 3G S⃣ \| 32 GB MRoogle

Oct 30, 2009, 03:10 PM	#4
Forum-User macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2009	Be aware of power usage on new drive I recently upgraded the hard drives on both an older and newer MacBook with no issues. The Apple support web site has DIY pages to walk you through the process of removing and installing the hard drive for your specific model. I used Carbon Copy Cloner to duplicate the existing drive to the new drive using a cheap USB to SATA adapter, then swapped the drives. Choose a hard drive with similar power requirements of your existing drive, so you don't adversely affect your battery life. I used the Fujitsu 500 GB (5400 RPM), which uses less power than their 320 GB drive.

Oct 30, 2009, 03:59 PM	#6
bigdaddyp macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2008	Firmware update I believe that there was a recent firmware update to address that. If I am wrong then I am sure I will be corrected. If you are worried then avoid disks with built in sudden stop sensors as that was causing a conflict with the sudden stop system built into the laptop. I believe that is what was causing slow performance. I know of no other current issue, but again if I am wrong I will be corrected in a matter of moments. __________________ Fat drunk and stupid may not be the best way to go through life but it is my preferred modus operendi.

Oct 30, 2009, 03:40 PM	#5
warstomp Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2009	well what i mean isnt really the actualy phyiscal part of doing it because its a new mbp so it is really easy, moreover i was talking about the whole issue that with EFI 1.7 aftermarket hard drives are really slow and stuff

Oct 30, 2009, 04:05 PM	#7
bigdaddyp macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2008	I forgot to mention... I forgot to mention to buy a retail package not an oem (bare) drive. Most but not all drives sold on newegg and owc are bare drives that have no retail packaging, instructions or cables and are usually 10-20 % cheaper. The problem is that ups must play hockey or something with them because I have had a a fair amount of DOA when ordering the Oem style. Just thought I would mention my experience, but to clarify I still love newegg and owc. __________________ Fat drunk and stupid may not be the best way to go through life but it is my preferred modus operendi.

Oct 30, 2009, 04:38 PM	#8
Darth.Titan macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2007	Newegg wraps their OEM drives better than the retail drives are packaged. The courier literally could play hockey with them with no ill effects as far as I'm concerned. I've never bought anything but an OEM drive and have never had to return one. YMMV

Oct 30, 2009, 05:58 PM	#10
Badger^2 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento	its totally a non-issue, nothing to worry about What drive were you looking at getting? How big? WD Black drives are my choice... __________________ 24" 2.4 iMac/4 gigs/640 gig+20" Dell 2001 20" 2.4 iMac/4 gigs/640 gig+24" Dell 2405 20" 2.0 iMac/4 gigs/320 gig+20" Dell 2001 20" 2.13 iMac/3 gigs/320 gig+20" Dell 2007

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