Moving Macbook while turned on? Ok or bad?

FriedPotatoes · Jan 19, 2009, 07:49 PM

A curious question:

Is it ok to move the macbook while it is turned on? I know about the spinning HDD, but if you were to move it carefully without banging into anything ok?

The old notebooks HDDs weren't designed as good...not sure if new HDDs have some sort of shock mechanism to protect it from contact between disk platter and read head.

Cheers.

jonbravo77 · Jan 19, 2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FriedPotatoes

A curious question:

Is it ok to move the macbook while it is turned on? I know about the spinning HDD, but if you were to move it carefully without banging into anything ok?

The old notebooks HDDs weren't designed as good...not sure if new HDDs have some sort of shock mechanism to protect it from contact between disk platter and read head.

Cheers.

It's fine to move you MB while it's on. I move my MBP all over the place while it is on. As long as you don't drop it or do anything rough to it everything is good to go...

iTzChasE · Jan 19, 2009, 07:52 PM

Its ok, just don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby.

No upside down, spin fast, Jerk back and forth and Yell. Nothing along those lines and you will be find.

Walking around, it should be fine. Just don't drop it (another thing you shouldn't do to a baby).

WPB2 · Jan 19, 2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbravo77

It's fine to move you MB while it's on. I move my MBP all over the place while it is on. As long as you don't drop it or do anything rough to it everything is good to go...

Even then its got a sudden drop sensor, so if anything happens the hard disc freezes in place. So you should be good even if you drop it.

Andrew K. · Jan 19, 2009, 07:53 PM

I move mine all the time while it's on my bed

I'm sure you'll be fine

shawnpringle · Jan 19, 2009, 08:32 PM

NO DON'T MOVE IT!
Before you move it, make sure to save and shut down your entire macbook. Now remove the battery and charger, move to destination, insert battery, and re-boot.

Honestly, your fine.

applgeek · Jan 19, 2009, 08:36 PM

I throw my dell in the air while its on, and it seems fine.

Andrew K. · Jan 19, 2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applgeek

I throw my dell in the air while its on, and it seems fine.

Yeah I just got back from playing frisbee with my new Alu Macbook and I'm typing on it right now

drichards · Jan 19, 2009, 09:18 PM

I try not to move mine too much when there is a DVD in it, otherwise I don't worry.

likemyorbs · Jan 19, 2009, 09:20 PM

fine go ahead and move you mac while its on, but dont come crying to us or applecare when it blows up

skye12 · Jan 19, 2009, 09:26 PM

Yes you can move. But only 50 feet at a time, wait one minute and then
50 more feet very slowwwwlllyyy.

Seriously, you can move it all you want. Just avoid dropping on concrete.

VSMacOne · Jan 19, 2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skye12

Yes you can move. But only 50 feet at a time, wait one minute and then
50 more feet very slowwwwlllyyy.

Seriously, you can move it all you want. Just avoid dropping on concrete.

or any other hard surface for that matter...

tubbymac · Jan 20, 2009, 07:40 AM

I move mine all the time when it's on and haven't noticed any problems.

kastenbrust · Jan 20, 2009, 07:47 AM

If you have a SSD then your extra good to go.

Prekesh · Jan 20, 2009, 03:26 PM

i move mine all the time, and have MacSaber fights with my friends (how sad).

WinkWink726 · Jan 20, 2009, 04:07 PM

hang on now...

I move mine all the time, but i have read that you should avoid moving it when you just start it up or when you're just shutting it down.

it said you should listen to it and try not to move it until the guts stop spinning

FriedPotatoes · Jan 20, 2009, 06:54 PM

Hahaha...just checking that's all.

Cheers everyone

shady825 · Jan 20, 2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinkWink726

it said you should listen to it and try not to move it until the guts stop spinning

It actually says you should wait for the sleep light to start flashing before you move it.

99MustangGTman · Jan 20, 2009, 06:59 PM

I do it all the time...

YetioDoom · Jan 21, 2009, 08:48 AM

Don't squeeze it too much, especially if there's a CD in the drive. I did this and it made a terrible scratching noise

gnasher729 · Jan 21, 2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YetioDoom

Don't squeeze it too much, especially if there's a CD in the drive. I did this and it made a terrible scratching noise

Good advice. Don't grab it at one corner and hold it on that corner alone, especially on the side with the CD drive. Better to hold it on both sides, or from below.

"Don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby" seems a good idea.

cellocello · Jan 21, 2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iTzChasE

Its ok, just don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby.

No upside down, spin fast, Jerk back and forth and Yell. Nothing along those lines and you will be find.

Walking around, it should be fine. Just don't drop it (another thing you shouldn't do to a baby).

This seems like the simplest, best way of going about it.

I'd just add that if you hear noise (DVD, HDD, etc.) I'd be even extra gentle with it when moving.

OzH1 · Feb 23, 2010, 02:15 PM

Hi - I found this forum because I was reading in my macbook pro manual that the machine shouldn't be moved while the hard drive is spinning because it could damage it. It said you should close the lid and wait til the light starts flashing before moving it. This bugged me since I've been moving it while it's on constantly - as if it were a baby of course. I googled and found this forum as a result - I'm glad no one has had a problem and I can't see myself closing the lid everytime I want to move it (I'm constantly moving it in bed and will likely continue) but wanted to let you know my late 2009 macbook pro manual clearly states this.

applgeek · Feb 27, 2010, 11:35 PM

I move my dell around all the time while its running and its fine. Due to apple's track record, you are more likely to have your hard drive destroy itself than it somehow getting messed up by moving it.

smithmax13 · Feb 28, 2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzH1

...but wanted to let you know my late 2009 macbook pro manual clearly states this.

Probably just for liability. I never worry about moving mine while it's on, but a few times I have heard the hdd suddenly stop because the motion sensors activated.

Jan 19, 2009, 07:49 PM	#1
FriedPotatoes macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008	Moving Macbook while turned on? Ok or bad? A curious question: Is it ok to move the macbook while it is turned on? I know about the spinning HDD, but if you were to move it carefully without banging into anything ok? The old notebooks HDDs weren't designed as good...not sure if new HDDs have some sort of shock mechanism to protect it from contact between disk platter and read head. Cheers.
	0

Jan 19, 2009, 07:52 PM	#3
iTzChasE macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2008	Its ok, just don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby. No upside down, spin fast, Jerk back and forth and Yell. Nothing along those lines and you will be find. Walking around, it should be fine. Just don't drop it (another thing you shouldn't do to a baby). __________________ post best ever? Amacfa: hey detected no going and apple tell me do thing I done, running.
	0

Jan 19, 2009, 07:53 PM	#5
Andrew K. macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008	I move mine all the time while it's on my bed I'm sure you'll be fine __________________ iPhone 5 Black 32GB l iPad 3 Black 32GB l MacBook Pro 15.4" Late 2008 l Apple TV 3
	0

Jan 19, 2009, 08:36 PM	#7
applgeek macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bakersfield, CA	I throw my dell in the air while its on, and it seems fine. __________________ Feel free to email me at appledude05@gmail.com
	1

Jan 19, 2009, 09:18 PM	#9
drichards macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008	I try not to move mine too much when there is a DVD in it, otherwise I don't worry. __________________ New MBP 2.53 ● Apple TV ● iPod Touch ● BlackBerry Pearl ● XM Radio Be Green ♺
	0

Jan 19, 2009, 08:32 PM	#6
shawnpringle macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008	NO DON'T MOVE IT! Before you move it, make sure to save and shut down your entire macbook. Now remove the battery and charger, move to destination, insert battery, and re-boot. Honestly, your fine.
	1

Jan 19, 2009, 09:20 PM	#10
likemyorbs macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ	fine go ahead and move you mac while its on, but dont come crying to us or applecare when it blows up __________________ "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." ~Steve Jobs
	0

Jan 19, 2009, 09:26 PM	#11
skye12 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx	Yes you can move. But only 50 feet at a time, wait one minute and then 50 more feet very slowwwwlllyyy. Seriously, you can move it all you want. Just avoid dropping on concrete. __________________ MB 2.4 C2D, 250GB 7200 HD, 4GB ram
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 07:40 AM	#13
tubbymac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008	I move mine all the time when it's on and haven't noticed any problems. __________________ rMBP 15 / 21.5 iMac 2011 / iPad Mini / ATV2 / TimeCap / Nexus 4 / PS3
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 07:47 AM	#14
kastenbrust Banned Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Korea	If you have a SSD then your extra good to go.
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 03:26 PM	#15
Prekesh macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009	i move mine all the time, and have MacSaber fights with my friends (how sad). __________________ Mid 2011 27" iMac 3,1Ghz i5 4GB RAM
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 04:07 PM	#16
WinkWink726 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pittsburgh Area, PA	hang on now... I move mine all the time, but i have read that you should avoid moving it when you just start it up or when you're just shutting it down. it said you should listen to it and try not to move it until the guts stop spinning __________________ iPhone 3Gs 32gig 2nd Gen MacBook Unibody 2.4Ghz/2x1GB/250GB/SD Powerbook G4 12" (2005 and still kickin'--I <3 that thing!)
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 06:54 PM	#17
FriedPotatoes Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008	Thanks Hahaha...just checking that's all. Cheers everyone
	0

Jan 20, 2009, 06:59 PM	#19
99MustangGTman macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germantown MD/ Columbus OH	I do it all the time... __________________ Macbook Aluminum 2.4 GHz 4GB ram iPhone 4 Black 16GB Go Bucks!
	0

Jan 21, 2009, 08:48 AM	#20
YetioDoom macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Madison, WI	Don't squeeze it too much, especially if there's a CD in the drive. I did this and it made a terrible scratching noise __________________ Go Cubbies!
	0

Feb 23, 2010, 02:15 PM	#23
OzH1 macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2010	A year later but maybe someone's still reading... Hi - I found this forum because I was reading in my macbook pro manual that the machine shouldn't be moved while the hard drive is spinning because it could damage it. It said you should close the lid and wait til the light starts flashing before moving it. This bugged me since I've been moving it while it's on constantly - as if it were a baby of course. I googled and found this forum as a result - I'm glad no one has had a problem and I can't see myself closing the lid everytime I want to move it (I'm constantly moving it in bed and will likely continue) but wanted to let you know my late 2009 macbook pro manual clearly states this.
	0

Feb 27, 2010, 11:35 PM	#24
applgeek macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bakersfield, CA	I move my dell around all the time while its running and its fine. Due to apple's track record, you are more likely to have your hard drive destroy itself than it somehow getting messed up by moving it. __________________ Feel free to email me at appledude05@gmail.com
	0

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