Can i replace mac mini hard drive?

Mac Mini is running slow. Tried all I know what to do. Can I replace the hardrive for this unit that is an "09" I think? I am running 10.6.8.
Thanks

Yes:
See
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini
Find your Mini here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3476
I have the late 2009 and replace my HD earlier this year. Not that hard at ll.

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Replacing Mac Mini Hard Drive with SSD, and New ML Install

I have a mid-2011 Mac Mini, and it has been running very sluggish, even when there are multiple free GB of RAM and the processor is only at 10 to 20% of capacity. I ran TechTool Pro 6 to do a scan of the whole machine, and it didn't detect anything out of the ordinary.
At this point I am guessing that it's probably a software issue. I have tons of processes running in the background all the time, and have installed hundreds of programs over the last two years, so it could be anything number of things that are somehow messing up Mountain Lion.
So, I would like to replace the 500GB internal hard drive with a 120GB SSD Drive (Samsung 840 Series), and put a fresh install of Mountain Lion on the SSD, put the 500GB in an external enclosure, and see if that fixes the problem.
Can someone explain the best way for me to do this, in a step by step list?
I can figure out how to accomplish each step, I just need some overall guidance as to how I should approach the whole thing.
Thanks very much!
Some other notes:
I have a 3 TB hard drive that I can use to back up everything on the 500 GB hard drive, but I'm assuming that time machine isn't the best way to back everything up, since I won't be able to restore the machine on the 120GB drive that I want to boot from.
Normally, I would get the internal 500GB down to 100GB of data, and then clone it on the SSD, and make the swap, but I'm assuming that cloning the drive will potentially replicate the source of the slowness, so I'm assuming that isn't the best way to proceed.

Here is my opinion and steps I would perform.
Back up your system first.
Check the iFixit.com site for a guide of how to replace the drive. Review Steps 3 and 4 BEFORE you replace your drive.
If you have a USB thumb drive with the ML 10.8.3 installer, skip to step 6.
If you don't have a USB thumb drive with the ML 10.8.3 installer, download the OS X Recovery Disk Assistant and use a 1-4GB thumb drive to create a Recovery HD on the thumb drive you can boot from. Skip to step 6.
If you have neither of the above, after replacing the drive, restart into Internet Recovery by pressing/holding the Command+Option+R keys. Since you have a mid-2011, Internet Recovery will ONLY allow you to download and install Lion since that's what probably came preinstalled on your system.
After you replace your drive and you are booted into the OS X Utilities Menu from one of Steps 3-5, select Disk Utility and format your new drive as Mac OS Extended-Journaled with the GUID partition table.
Go back to the OS X Utilities Menu and select Reinstall Mac OS X.
After the download and install of OS X you can run through the setup creating your user account (same as you had on you old drive).
If you were able to install OS X ML, skip to step 11.
If you installed Lion, you will have to login to the App Store and download/install your purchase of ML.
Run Software Updates to bring your OS X up to date.
Now you can restore any data files and apps that will fit onto the new drive from Time Machine. Enter Time Machine and navigate to your last backup to view the /Applications folders and your user folders (e.g Documents, Downloads, Music, etc.).
For your email, you can open Finder then press the Option key to see your user Library folder in the list. Select it to open it then enter Time Machine again and navigate to your last backup so that your user Library folder is opened in Time Machine. Copy your Mail folder to your Desktop so you can copy it back to your current user Library.
I think that's it.

My mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

MY mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

You can do it yourself. I did on my 2009 Mini
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini
Also, this place sells HSDs and has install videos.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/

Creating Partition in Mac Mini Hard Drive

i Have buy a mac mini a week ago, but before three days ago, some file got corrupted, and it does not start, only the password screen appears, when i entered the password, the screen appears again. and it continues. Now i want to partition the mac mini hard drive. i have only one drive, and i want to create another partition in the hard drive. when i create another partition through the disk utility , i gives error, and cannot create the partition. i acutally want that first i make partition in the hard drive, and after using the "restore from time machine option" to install the mac osx lion in the system. Please help me in make the partition in the hard drive.

Apple themselves don't specify hard drive RPM because they buy a number of different drives, some apparently 4200 some apparently 5400.
It's no surprise that your retailer wants you to buy a G5 though, and is trying to upsell one based on the minis weaknesses - after all, they get more money from a G5 sale than from a mini. They may also be considering your planned use of Photoshop as a stumbling block to effective use of a mini, but the question really is what you intend to use Photoshop to do. If you're a hobbyist, the system is fine and will work more than adequately - particularly if you max out the RAM. If you're a professional user with pro-level expectations, then a mini likely wouldn't be sufficient, not so much due to the drive speed (powerbook users have run Photoshop verisons for years quite happily on what are predominently 4200rpm drives) but because for pro work, Photoshop needs a lot of hard drive space and a great deal of RAM.
On the basis of what you've posted, I'd say your retailer is more interested in their profit than your need. Chances are, if you run PS on the G4 listed in your profile, you're already running on a drive of similar general performance.

Where can I find Mac Pro Hard Drive Holder?

Where can I find Mac Pro Hard Drive Holder? Only 4 came withe the computer and I need some more.
Anybody knows where I could buy some?
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http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=2705

Upgrade G4 Mac mini hard drive

Hi I have inherited a G4 Mac mini with 40gb hard drive which I want to upgrade to 160gb. I do not have the original Tiger install DVDs and I am using it with a windows keyboard and mouse for the moment. I have created a bootable backup of the current hard drive using Super Duper and have saved it on an external USB drive, I have installed the new 160gb hard drive and would like to boot from the external drive and reinstall what was on the old drive onto the new drive. Is this possible? If not how can I install the new hard drive without the original DVDs or a firewire external drive? Thanks, Richard

Unfortunately, G4 Minis cannot boot from a usb external drive.
Your best bet would be to find another Mac and connect your Mini to it via Firewire Target Disk Mode. This would make the internal drive of the Mini available as a drive on the other Mac. Then you could use DiskUtility and SuperDuper! from the other mac to format the Mini's drive and copy the clone to the Mini.
The only thing I'm not sure of, is whether Firewire Target Disk Mode will work with an unformatted drive.

How can I replace my internal hard drive on my Macbook?

I have a 13 inch aluminum late 2008 MacBook. The processor is 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Memory 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 running OS X Lion 10.7.4. The hard drive is currently set up as follows:
Macintosh HD 132.5 GB (with only 1.32 GB free)
BOOTCAMP 26.69 GB (with 6.15 GB free)
I am unsure if this matters but here is the info just in case:
On my Macintosh HD I have:
Audio 3.04 GB
Movies 33.11 GB
Photos 36.98 GB
Apps 15.27 GB
Backups Zero GB
Other 42.78 GB
I only use 1 software program on my Bootcamp (which I hardly use but must keep to run an electric vinyl cutting machine). I have thought of re-partitioning the drive. But then I got thinking that maybe the drive is just too small and it's no use.
I also have an older Lacie 300 GB external hard drive that I use to keep all of my iTunes Library, most of my iPhoto library and most of my data. I have another older Lacie 300 GB external hard drive that I use exclusively for my Time Machine back ups.
I also have a Western Digital 2 TB external hard drive that I use to put all of my movies on so that I can play them on any of my computers or plug into my Play Station 3 and play them on any of my TV's.
I have considered just getting another Western Digital 2 TB external hard drive to use for virtually all of the files/pictures/movies/music etc. on this internal hard drive.
Right now I am unsure what the best move is to make. I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Apple Tech Support today trying to buy an internal hard drive to install myself. They were not very helpful (in fact he told me I would have to ship in my machine just to replace the battery which is NOT true). Is there anyone out there who can give me some advice on this situation? Any help or suggestion would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

For a new hard drive try Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=380&name=Laptop-Hard-Dr ives&Order=PRICE
Or OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
Here are video instructions on replacing the hard drive on the Aluminum Unibody http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbook_13_unibody/
To transfer your current hard drive I like the free application Carbon Copy Cloner. It makes a bootable copy of everything on your hard drive http://www.bombich.com/index.html You'll need a cheap SATA external hard drive case. Put the new drive in the case then format and partition the new drive and clone your old drive to the new one. Check that it's set up right by booting up from the external drive. Then replace your old hard drive with the new one and put your old one in the external case.
Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Aluminum-External-Enclosure-Capacity/dp/B000XPS3U6/r ef=pd_cp_pc_3
If you don’t have the tools to open up the MacBook OWC has a set for $5
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TOOLKITMHD/

Can I Replace my Early 2009 Mac Mini Hard Drive with my Early 2011 Macbook Pro Hard Drive?

I am replacing my 2011 Macbook Pro Hard Drive with a Solid State Drive. Instead of keeping the hard drive on an external enclosure I was wondering if I can use it to upgrade my Mac Mini's 160GB hard Drive with the one Im taking out of the MBP. And if so, is there any special formatting I would need to do?

It should work fine. No special formatting required. It actuality, I suspect that if you connect the HD, the Mini will boot into the OSX that was on the MacBook.
When you replace the HD in the Mini just be careful with the antennas and their wires and connections I accidentally disconnected the wifi antenna on mine when I replaced the HD.

Mac mini hard drive crashed. The ecovery drive only offers to reinstall mavericks on the recovery drive. Doesn't see the hard drive. What can I do?

Hi, I have a mid-2011 with Mavericks installed. It crashed. I can boot into recovery mode. And it shows me the name of the hard drive and the recovery partition. When I boot back to the hard drive, it gives the grey screen and a long progress bar. WHen the progress bar eventually fills up, the computer just shuts down. In recovery mode, Disk Utility says the hard disk cannot be repaired.
But when I try to re-install Mavericks from the Recovery Partition, it only shows the recovery partition as the destination, not the rest of the computer.
Not sure what to do.
Thanks if anyone has any advice.
J

Thank you very much for the reply.
Indeed, Disk Utility can't even erase and reformat the drive. It's toast.
This is very disappointing. Second Mac Mini I've had go out this year. First seems to be a logic board issue. Now the hard drive on the newer machine.
At least I was able to use Disk Drill to get photos and other important files off the Mini. I had a Time Capsule, but last year, it too died (just a few months out of warranty).
One further question, if you don't mind. If I'm just going to replace the HD on the mini, I'm not sure why one would do this step that you suggested: "get a new HD, put it in an enclosure or use another method that allows the HD to be connect to the Min. Then boot to the recovery partition and install Mavericks on the new HD."
Also, maybe I can replace the drive on the mini myself. Maybe get an SSD for it? They seem more reliable.
Thanks again for taking the time to answer me.

I want to create for the first time ever an iPhoto library on my Mac Mini from all of my seperate external hard drives over the years. Instead of filling my Mac Mini hard drive space with all of the pics can I import it to a seperate Apple hard drive.

I want to creat for the first time on my Mac Mini an iPhoto library. I have many seperate hard drives with pics I want to import but are concerned I will fill the hard drive with pics alone. Can I install the pics on one larg (1TB) external apple hard drive and use iPhoto functions still with the pics being installed on a seperate drive from the iPhoto OS?

This is our resident iPhoto guru, Terence Devlin's, advice:
You can move your iPhoto Library to an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library Folder as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
Once that is done you can import directly into the iPhoto library on the external HD.

My mac mini hard drive crashed. I replaced it but now not all applications work. How do I fix this?

When my mac mini (late 2009) hard drive crashed I installed a new one. During the process I used migration assistant to bring in my time machine backup. When finished I did not have all applications...iPhoto, CC Cleaner, Chrome, and most importantly Reunion all failed to load. I have since manuay fixed Chrome and CC Cleaner but still do not have Renion or the OSX iPhoto and other apple OSX applications working. Can someone help or driect me to the right forum?

Restore failed to provide all the applications and data. Took the mini to Apple genius today. They reinstalled OSX (same as I had done) then confirmed that the applications were not backed up to time machine...they will be in the future. After reloading each individual application they now work as expected and all the data seems to have been restored. Except the Reunion files which were near and dear. These are gone forever. Somehow, perhaps through my negligence, the 'GED' files were not stored in a "Reunion" folder and were not backed up...much like the apps. Now I'm trying to recover the files from the crashed drive.

Replace mid 2010 mac mini hard drive(s) and thermal sensor(s)

TL;DR: How do I swap SSd for HDD in Mid 2010 Mac Mini without Fan problems.
I'd like to replace both my Mac Mini HDD's with SSD's, but removing/repositioning* the factory thermal sensors will default the fan to full throttle! (I've had this happen on my other mid 2010 test machine). Has anyone successfully swapped out their drives and not had to deal with a system fan on Afterburner mode?
Note: on my test mac mini, I tried SMC fan control as well as SSD Fan Control apps and neither is able to change the fan RPM.
SMC Fan control (this is what I use on my macbook)
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol
SSD Fan Control: (suggested by others with similar thermal sensor/fan problems)
http://exirion.net/ssdfanctrl
* the position of the thermal sensors on the factory hitachi's is apparently important. In a test, I moved one a few millimeters and the fans defaulted to full speed.
Cheers!
Ken

I replace the HD on my 2009 Mini with no fan problems.
From your description I think yo have either a sensor or logic board problem. If the sensor was not attached to the HD and was "cold" then the fan speed would not increase if the HD got hot.
When you played around with sensor position what what the temperature of the sensor when you go the "right" fan speed and the runaway speed.

Can I replace the internal hard drive if my old one died?

I guess the questions should be should I replace it? My iMac's (early 2006 model) internal hard drive is totally dead, but I think if I install a new internal hard drive it will work again. If I get it up and running, I will use it in my classroom. Would this work? Can I put Tiger on an external hard drive and run the machine from there? (I am thinking the answer is no to the last question but thought I would ask. LOL!) I have already upgraded the RAM to 1 gigabyte (easy to do).

jolly....
I had mine open last week and removed the faulty hd (160GB) and put it in a USB drive adapter. I was able to see it on a linux machine so I put it back in my iMac and it worked just fine for about a week. I was able to make a bootable copy on a 160GB usb drive and save all my data. Good thing too since it just died again (clicking a whirring sounds).
Any way... to answer your question. I recall that once you get to see the drive there is a clip and catch type connection where the drive and a metal plate come out as a single unit. It has 2 pins that fit into holes toward the bottom of the case and the catch is on the top. Once you pop the catch you can take the drive out with the plate. The pins screw out of the mounting holes on the drive and so does the metal plate.
Hope this helps. I'll take some pictures of mine when I take it apart again since I have to get a new drive soon myself.

Is it possible to upgrade the mac mini hard drive?

I have a 2009 mac mini (so before the most recent redesign). Would Apple be able to upgrade my hard drive to a 500gb or 1TB drive? Is it feasible to do it myself?

Michael, you did ask "is it feasible to do it myself?" so Jolly Giant reasonably showed you some legitimate online guides which confirmed it is.
You need to decide if money is no object (in which case ask Apple, and they'll charge you a lot) or consider DIY if you're handy with tools.
Sure, there's a risk, but it's small and that comes back to balancing the risk against the costs. Many, many people have upgraded the HD in their mini, just as you asked, for just the cost of the new disc: c.$50??
"dubious and invasive" is a bit extreme. How else do you think you might swap out the HD?

Can I replace my 60GB hard drive with this 250GB hard drive?

Hi all,
I've searched the forums and I do not see any mention of the suitability of a 250GB hard drive as a replacement for a 60GB hard drive in a Titanium Powerbook DVI 1GHz. Here is a link:
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/250-GB-5400-RPM-Western-Digital-ATA-Hard-Drive -New/IF107-052
I love this machine, but I am out of room and have only 1.5 GB to spare. The data on this machine I need access to and do not want to archive. My iMac G5 PPC at home has a 250GB, and I would like to sync the data on both.
I guess my real question is, what is the maximum size (storage) that I can place in my Tibook and it function WELL and DEPENDABLY.
Thanks in advance for your input,
Dani

Hi, Dani. Yes, that drive is compatible with your 1GHz Tibook. Most slower Tibooks and all G3 models would be unable to use more than 128GB of it; the 867MHz model released at the same time as yours is a possible exception. iFixit should not advertise the drive as compatible with all G3 and G4 Powerbooks; that's misleading because of the 128GB limitation noted above.
If you ever have any reason to start your Tibook up in OS 9, bear in mind that OS 9 can't start up from any volume larger than about 190GB. It can read and write data from/to larger volumes, but they can't be made bootable in OS 9. Therefore, if you intend sometimes to start the PB up in OS 9, you'll need to create a smaller partition on the 250GB drive on which to install OS 9. It will also be important to install OS 9 drivers on both partitions if you want OS 9 to "see" them both. These issues are only important if you plan to start up in OS 9 — if you always start up in OS X and use OS 9 only in Classic mode (or not at all), you can disregard this paragraph.
Message was edited by: eww

Can i replace mac mini hard drive?

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