wanting to install a 1tb usb 3.0 external hard drive into my mac book pro possibly?

[Maschil]

Just bought a 2008 15 inch macbook pro 2.4Ghz one.. I want to install a 1tb hard drive in it. Basically i am taking a 1tb wd elements usb 3.0 external drive drive and trying to put it into my macbook pro? is this possible???
Thanks

 

[AFPoster]

Not possible to get the 3.0 speeds since these are 2.0 motherboards.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Why buy an HDD in an enclosure?
Anyway, if it is a Unibody MBP, then any 2.5" S-ATA HDD with a maximum height of 12.5mm will work. Either measure the height or look up the model once you extracted the HDD from the enclosure.

MacBook, MacBook Pro: Replacing the Hard Disk Drive, transferring data to the new HDD​

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X or make a bootable copy onto​

Btw, the USB 3.0 enclosure will only work at USB 2.0 speeds, due to non existent USB 3.0 drivers for Mac OS X.

 

[DWBurke811]

if the WD element uses a HDD that's 2.5" and less than 12.5mm it'll work

 

[Maschil]

THANKS so much guys, that the confirmation i needed, and yes its the personal ones so its 12.5 mm I'm installing the usb 3.0 hard drive from the original enclosure because I managed to get a 1tb one for 50 bucks from staples.... so I'm paying 50 for a 1tb hard drive... thats the reason why..... my big question now is that the 3.0 hard drive has that usb prong on it.... will i have to break that off to install it in my macbook????

 

[simsaladimbamba]

THANKS so much guys, that the confirmation i needed, and yes its the personal ones so its 12.5 mm I'm installing the usb 3.0 hard drive from the original enclosure because I managed to get a 1tb one for 50 bucks from staples.... so I'm paying 50 for a 1tb hard drive... thats the reason why..... my big question now is that the 3.0 hard drive has that usb prong on it.... will i have to break that off to install it in my macbook????

If it only has a USB 3.0 connector directly attached to the HDD, then no.
If the connectors look like this, then no. (Btw, that is a photo of a WD Elements 500GB 2.5" HDD.)

If the connectors look like this, then yes.

 

[Maschil]

If it only has a USB 3.0 connector directly attached to the HDD, then no.
If the connectors look like this, then no. (Btw, that is a photo of a WD Elements 500GB 2.5" HDD.)

Image​

If the connectors look like this, then yes.

Image​

IM CONfused.... the hard hard drive has a USb 3.0 port..... I'm trying to attach it to the macbook pro so should i break it off?

 

[ZZ Bottom]

It sounds like you're a bit confused. First you need to remove the bare hard drive from the enclosure. Can't provide instructions since every enclosure is different.

When you get the HD down to its bare self, it should look like this:

Then you're ready to install it in the Macbook Pro.

 

[Maschil]

mine doesn't look like that... it has a usb 3 prong for plugging it up to a computer.... do i break this off or not?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

IM CONfused.... the hard hard drive has a USb 3.0 port..... I'm trying to attach it to the macbook pro so should i break it off?

If the HDD only has a USB 3.0 connector, then it has NO (ZERO) S-ATA connector, which is needed to connect a 2.5" S-ATA HDD to the S-ATA interface of the MBP.
Breaking it off will not reveal a hidden S-ATA connector, as WD makes its own HDD, thus it can provide it with its own interfaces.

Look here for some more information: http://www.devincollier.com/2010/01...-elements-500gb-2-0-portable-hard-drive-case/

NOTE FOR 1TB: The latest 1TB SE Elements drive no longer has a standard SATA interface. I took apart a drive today (date on drive is 06 APR 2010) and found that the USB port is now integrated to the drive itself and instead of a SATA interface there are 12 ATA-style pins that are covered by the LED. So if you want 1TB internally in your laptop, look elsewhere.

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mine doesn't look like that... It has a usb 3 prong for plugging it up to a computer.... Do i break this off or not?

NO. It is not the right connector. You just have bought the wrong HDD without researching it first.

 

[Maschil]

If the HDD only has a USB 3.0 connector, then it has NO (ZERO) S-ATA connector, which is needed to connect a 2.5" S-ATA HDD to the S-ATA interface of the MBP.
Breaking it off will not reveal a hidden S-ATA connector, as WD makes its own HDD, thus it can provide it with its own interfaces.

Look here for some more information: http://www.devincollier.com/2010/01...-elements-500gb-2-0-portable-hard-drive-case/


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NO. It is not the right connector. You just have bought the wrong HDD without researching it first.

in other words... crap

 

[ZZ Bottom]

in other words... crap

If you want us to give you a solid answer, perhaps you should take a picture or two of the HDD; at the point you have disassembled it so far.

 

[Maschil]

If you want us to give you a solid answer, perhaps you should take a picture or two of the HDD; at the point you have disassembled it so far.

lol.... i was already given a solid answer... thank you....

 

[illidan155]

Just bought a 2008 15 inch macbook pro 2.4Ghz one.. I want to install a 1tb hard drive in it. Basically i am taking a 1tb wd elements usb 3.0 external drive drive and trying to put it into my macbook pro? is this possible???
Thanks

you can 1 upgrade the internal hard drive of your computer or 2 buy an external firewire 800 drive