My two year old MBP just gave me the universal do not enter sign at startup. I booted up with a disk, but couldn't repair the HD via disk utility. I am guessing I'll be replacing my HD. Any suggestions on how to go about doing this? I am not much of a hw replacing kind of guy, so I am guessing I'll just take it to the Apple store and see what they can do. Any ideas on cost? I could also use the local Mac Store, as it is more convenient. Anyone else gone down this road.
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HD replacement?
- Thread starter Jefferyd32
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You can easily do it yourself by removing the bottom plate and then just swapping the old hard drive for a new one. It'll be WAY cheaper than Apple (unless you have Applecare).
Any drive on this page should work - just get something with decent reviews and enough space for your needs. For reference, a 250GB HDD is only $35.
Any drive on this page should work - just get something with decent reviews and enough space for your needs. For reference, a 250GB HDD is only $35.
Replacing the drive yourself (does not invalidate the warrenty) will save you a lot of money, and it is fairly easy. Proper care when removing the fragile SATA drive cable is a must, but easy. And you need the proper tools, a #00 philips head screwdriver for the tiny screws on the back (put each back in the original place) and the bracket holding the HD in place, and a Torx #6 for removing the lugs on the side of the HD and putting them on the new HD. Shop for a 2.5" SATA drive at OWC (international shipping available) or newegg if you're in the States. OWC also has videos for removing the HD as does iFixit.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
http://www.ifixit.com/Browse/Mac
The iFixit page for the MBP has a Replacing the HD item, but they suggest removing the battery, which I do not think is necessary (Do not try replacing the HD while the computer is asleep! Turn it off first.)
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Thanks,
When I go to purchase a HD (I'll probably just hit up Best Buy) Is there anything I need to worry about? Size, etc. . . can I just buy a laptop HD and assume it will fit? Seems like a dumb question, but since I am doing this myself for the first time, just want to make sure I cover all my bases.
When I go to purchase a HD (I'll probably just hit up Best Buy) Is there anything I need to worry about? Size, etc. . . can I just buy a laptop HD and assume it will fit? Seems like a dumb question, but since I am doing this myself for the first time, just want to make sure I cover all my bases.