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17" HD question

idkew

idkew

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 26, 2001
2,111
1
where the concrete to dirt ratio is better
Ok, I am really tiring of my 4200rpm drive.

Problem is, it is not a user replaceable part. I have applecare, and I am not waiting three years to replace it.

can i take my book to an apple authorized reseller, and my new FAST hd and have them swap the two, and still be under warranty?

i might just do it myself, and if i have problems just put the old drive back in, if the tech wants to change me too much. 10 minutes of work is NOT worth $60.
 
Nope...

can't be done that way. And from what I have learned from talking to various reseller techs, a 7200 rpm hard drive is not going to make that big of a diff. You are still hampered by the 167mhz (or whatever it is) system bus.
 
Yup

A 7200RPM drive would make a noticeable increase in performance because the bottle neck in any computer. As far as a 10minute job speaking from experience it would take more like half an hour.
 
i understand the limitations of my laptop. i know what a faster drive will do for me.

my questions is: will apple or another authorized service provider swap drive that i supply them with, and still keep my applecare intact?
 
Applecare

idkew said:
i understand the limitations of my laptop. i know what a faster drive will do for me.

my questions is: will apple or another authorized service provider swap drive that i supply them with, and still keep my applecare intact?
Click to expand...

Apple's warranty states:

"This warranty does not apply...if the product has been modified without the written permission of Apple..."

Adding memory (DRAM, VRAM) or other user-installable upgrade or expansion products to an Apple computer is not considered a modification to that Apple product. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain Apple's written permission to upgrade or expand an Apple computer. While Apple strongly recommends that you retain the services of an Apple Authorized Service Provider to perform any product upgrades or expansions, you will not void your Apple warranty if you choose to upgrade or expand your computer yourself. However, if in the course of adding an upgrade or expansion product to your computer, you damage your Apple computer (either through the installation of, or incompatibility of the upgrade or expansion product), Apple's warranty will not cover the cost of repair, or future related repairs.
 
At any rate, the hard drive is not considered a user-replaceable part on the PB 17". You have to dismantle the entire top half of the system to get access. I think tearing open the case would be considered modifying the system, so I'd take it to Apple.

Better yet, why not call an Apple Store to see what they'll do for you. They'd give you more of a positive answer than we could.
 
tomf87 said:
At any rate, the hard drive is not considered a user-replaceable part on the PB 17". You have to dismantle the entire top half of the system to get access. I think tearing open the case would be considered modifying the system, so I'd take it to Apple.

Better yet, why not call an Apple Store to see what they'll do for you. They'd give you more of a positive answer than we could.
Click to expand...

I am a Apple certified technician and you will get conflicting answers depending who you talk to. If Apple suspects that the installation of, or incompatibility of the upgrade or expansion product damages the computer. Apple will refuse to repair it or not reimburse the Apple Authorized Service Provider for the cost of parts and repairs.

Putting in a faster HD may seem harmless but you have to consider the heat issues. If Apple did not include a 7200RPM drive as a CTO option chances are the Powerbook was never designed to use it.
 
Apple Resellers, Apple Authorized Repair Centers, and Apple Stores will NOT do a hard drive upgrade to a 7200rpm drive. Apple does not authorize anyone to perform that upgrade. I had heard at one time (after they became optional on PBs) that Apple would allow Repair Centers to do upgrades to 5400rpm drives, but no Repair Center has ever confirmed that.

That's the answer to your question. If you do it yourself, you void the warranty and no one else will do it for you while keeping your warranty intact.

You're stuck with what you've got.
 
idkew said:
Ok, I am really tiring of my 4200rpm drive.

Problem is, it is not a user replaceable part. I have applecare, and I am not waiting three years to replace it.

can i take my book to an apple authorized reseller, and my new FAST hd and have them swap the two, and still be under warranty?

i might just do it myself, and if i have problems just put the old drive back in, if the tech wants to change me too much. 10 minutes of work is NOT worth $60.
Click to expand...
Get a Lacie FW800 as a boot drive. I know of people who do this. Hook up a second one for files. This is common for audio/video editing.
 
Bhennies said:
Get a Lacie FW800 as a boot drive. I know of people who do this. Hook up a second one for files. This is common for audio/video editing.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that kinda defeat the whole portability thing?
 
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