I currently have a 40gb HD on my iBook G4 and was wondering if there is a way to install a new harddrive without voiding my warranty (I have over 1.5 years left on it). Also, where is the best place to buy new HDs? Thanks in advance.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iBook G4 HD replacement
- Thread starter weeman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Reflow
macrumors 68000
Sorry but it will void the warranty if you open it up. Have AC upgrade you to a bigger drive
Oh nice sig 😱
WHOOAAAAA hahaha. Right back atcha buddy.
Is there anyway to get the apple store to install a HD without voiding my warranty? Its gonna be quite costly, I know. How would I get AC to upgrade my HD?
Thanks.
Reflow
macrumors 68000
The way it works is if apple or apple certified repair stores does the work. If you get someone else it voids it. I know that suck 😡
I would give AC a call and ask them
Thanks for all your help Reflow, I will call them first thing in the morning.
Do you have any recommendations on a good brand of replacement iBook harddrives?
Do you have any recommendations on a good brand of replacement iBook harddrives?
There is a thread on this at the moment.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/300766/
Apple will not upgrade for you will need an Apple service centre to do it.
Apple state that only approved service centres can carry out upgrades but if you are extremely careful it probably will not void your warranty if you upgrade yourself. If you cause any damage to your laptop due to your upgrade then that will most probably be the thing that will void your warranty. My opinion on this has changed a bit after reading posts by people who upgraded themselves who did not void their warranty. All the service centre will give you is an invoice for your work and it it goes no further than that. If somebody claims that they got an upgrade done somewhere i doubt that it could be disputed.
What it does give you though by getting your job carried out an Apple approved centre is peace of mind that you are definetly still covered under Applecare.
If you do have experience and you are going to do this upgrade yourself make sure that you buy all the correct tools for the job. Print of the instructions from iFixit and place the screws that you take of on each picture.
I don't know where you live but a good place to buy HD's in the UK is Ebuyer and a lot of US people seem to use NewEgg on this board.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/300766/
Apple will not upgrade for you will need an Apple service centre to do it.
Apple state that only approved service centres can carry out upgrades but if you are extremely careful it probably will not void your warranty if you upgrade yourself. If you cause any damage to your laptop due to your upgrade then that will most probably be the thing that will void your warranty. My opinion on this has changed a bit after reading posts by people who upgraded themselves who did not void their warranty. All the service centre will give you is an invoice for your work and it it goes no further than that. If somebody claims that they got an upgrade done somewhere i doubt that it could be disputed.
What it does give you though by getting your job carried out an Apple approved centre is peace of mind that you are definetly still covered under Applecare.
If you do have experience and you are going to do this upgrade yourself make sure that you buy all the correct tools for the job. Print of the instructions from iFixit and place the screws that you take of on each picture.
I don't know where you live but a good place to buy HD's in the UK is Ebuyer and a lot of US people seem to use NewEgg on this board.
I recently put a new HD into my 14" iBook G4 (it had a 60GB 4,200rpm drive in it). It was probably the most scary time of my life! I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you have a spare afternoon, a lot of patience and very nimble fingers.
If you are going to do it, use a Seagate or Hitachi 2.5" PATA/IDE drive. after checking out alot of forums and HD testing sites, i chose the Seagate ST910021A, which is a 7,200rpm 100GB drive, you might want to use a 5,400rpm drive though as they are quieter and can have larger capacity.
Definitely use the ifixit guide and screw guide printout, there are a lot of screws to come out of there! i found it impossible to find a spudger in any stores in the UK, but used a plastic tie hook, which did the trick and left no marks on the case.
The worst part is trying to prise the trackpad and speaker power connectors from the logic board through little openings in the heatshield, without tearing the connectors of the board.
Having said all this, i'm glad that i did it and if you're careful it's definitely do-able. But then i don't have applecare!! Good luck if you decide to do it. 🙂
If you are going to do it, use a Seagate or Hitachi 2.5" PATA/IDE drive. after checking out alot of forums and HD testing sites, i chose the Seagate ST910021A, which is a 7,200rpm 100GB drive, you might want to use a 5,400rpm drive though as they are quieter and can have larger capacity.
Definitely use the ifixit guide and screw guide printout, there are a lot of screws to come out of there! i found it impossible to find a spudger in any stores in the UK, but used a plastic tie hook, which did the trick and left no marks on the case.
The worst part is trying to prise the trackpad and speaker power connectors from the logic board through little openings in the heatshield, without tearing the connectors of the board.
Having said all this, i'm glad that i did it and if you're careful it's definitely do-able. But then i don't have applecare!! Good luck if you decide to do it. 🙂
If you're in the States, I recommend a company called Tech Restore. They did mine reasonably cheap, and I had the computer back within 48 hrs. And for an additional $19, they'll put our old hd in an external usb case, so you'd have a nice, portable 40 gb hard drive. Also, I do believe hey are ceertified Apple specialists, so you won't void the warranty (check local listings, though...) Good luck!