how secure is the hardware built into the mbp?

To protect the HDDs, Apple uses something called the Sudden Motion Sensor to prevent damage to the platters by the read/write head.

You can also cause damage by liquids or dirt or smoke in excess.

 

Unfortunately, your hard drive will fail whether you move your MacBook Pro frequently, or leave it on a desk 24/7. Hard drives are mechanical and they all wear out. Yours may last 15 years, or it may last another week.

That being said, the Apple Sudden Motion Sensor is fantastic in that it reduces motion-related hard drive failures.

It's normal to hear a nice firm clicking noise when the computer detects sudden motion. This is the sound of the read/write heads parking as quickly as they possibly can.

Please back up your computer! It's a whole lot nicer than paying $$$ for data recovery.

 

Yes. AppleCare will cover it.

Please, please back up. We do professional cleanroom data recovery at fantastic prices, but it's still cheaper to back up.

We've had a week of data recovery customers who had already been warned against the perils of hard drives. Don't be one of them!! There are also great online backup services if you don't get an external drive.

Best wishes.

 

SMS should do the work, if not it will be covered by applecare..