Best way to install a new hard drive into a laptop?

what's the proper way to install a new hard drive into a laptop? i've heard that cloning can result in very slow boot up and shut down times, and that the proper method is install the new hard drive, install OSX, and restore data from time machine. comments? thanks very much

Cloning doesn't cause the resulting system to slow down in and of itself, but it does retain any previous problems, which can build up over time and result in poor performance. (The same can be said of installing new system versions on top of old versions.)
A clean OS X installation will give you a clean base to start from. Mass-restoring data and applications will undo some of that benefit, but by no means all.

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I havev installed a new Hard Drive on my laptop but cannot find my Photoshop Elements product box with the serial number to install Elements 10 or Elememts Premier 10. How can I find out the serial / installation codes for these?

I havev installed a new Hard Drive on my laptop but cannot find my Photoshop Elements product box with the serial number to install Elements 10 or Elememts Premier 10. How can I find out the serial / installation codes for these? I saw a reply however, it was not my name and assumed it was for someone else. Now timed out. Can UI still have help on this matter please?

If you registered PSE before, go to the main page of adobe.com, sign in and go to your account and you should find the serial number there in your purchases.

Best way to install a new hard disk

Hi,
I need to change to a bigger hard disk in a Mac Pro G5.
First I used time machine and after the restore, Final Cut ask me to enter the serial number.
Is there a way to move to a new hard disk with out the need to re-install Final Cut and all other Pro Aplications? I heard about clonning a hard drive, but then how do I grow the partition in the new hard disk?
I plane later to format the old hard disk.
Many thanks
Oliver

Hi David,
thanks for your help, I ended up using Time Machine, installing Leopard on the new hard drive and restoring all applications using the wizzard during first boot of Leopard.
After launching Final Cut Pro 4.5, it asked for the serial, so I entered the serial from the about window that I get in the old hard disk.
HTH
Oliver

What is the best way to use 2 internal Hard Drives in a laptop.

Looking for info on the best way (ease of filing, speed and efficiency) to use 2 internal hard drives in my laptop (OS and apps on one and Data on the other?) while using an ext. drive for back up and such.
Thanks for any info.

thanks for your help, I want to do the right thing, and I have thought about moving the files back to the c drive by 'importing' and just start over. But is there an easier way. I was wondering about using the 'add folder to library' function. Since all the music is now on my ext. drive.
DAVE

I installed a new hard drive into my MacBook and now it grey screens, any ideas to fix it?

Hi Mac Community,
I have a late 2009 aluminum MacBook that was having some troubles recently with the hard drive where it would start to spin up and then click back. My computer slowed WAY down, and I was having boot problems, after doing some reading online I figured it was about to go. So I backed up everything and shortly thereafter the drive went and I couldn't boot in any mode and all the drivechecks using diskwarrior came back as corrupted: unrepairable.
So, no biggie. I upgraded the drive to a Seagate 750GB Momentus XT Hybrid Hard Drive. The install of that went fine and I installed OSX, reloaded everything from time machine, and had my computer back. Until, I performed an OSX software update.
Upon restart, nothing happened. And I mean nothing. With the old harddrive I'd get the apple and it would try and boot in recovery mode. With the new harddrive, I get the boot noise and then a grey screen, I am not able to boot into any mode, or do anything at all. Just a grey screen. So, my question for the apple community, would be, where should I go from here? I am pretty sure that the harddrive was compatible with my machine as I had seen it recommended on these forums. My only thought is to buy a usb to sata cable and remove the new drive and test in using another computer, just to see if the drive is functioning.
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in Advance. Oh, and in case your wondering why I just dont take in into a Mac store for a fix, I live in a small alaskan town and there is nothing like that around, so, I am the only repair man in town.

jrmetzger,
iOS runs on iPads and iPhones; OS X runs on Macs.
Given your situation, I’d highly recommended that you purchase a SATA-to-USB adapter, so that you can test both your old disk and your new disk externally, since it might be that the problem is due to a faulty internal SATA cable rather than due to faulty disks.

I am trying to install an new hard drive into my 15-inch, late 2008 MacBook Pro

I put a new 750Gb Seagate drive in and booted with the Snow Leopard install disk. I held the "C" key down and the disk began to load. An icon of a folder with a question mark flashed. The install process stalled there and I could do no more. I checked the install disk by booting when the original hard drive was in, and it loaded fine.

There's another way you could do this, but it requires an external enclosure or dock to plug the new drive into.
You can get USB enclosures for not much money, maybe 15USD.
You connect the new drive via to the MacBook Pro using the enclosure/dock, and then use Disk Utility's restore function to clone your existing drive to the new drive.
Typically, I also repartition the new drive (rather than just format it), and make sure that it is GUID partition map (using the Options.. button), and Mac OS Extendend (Journaled), BEFORE I restore.
This has two advantages: you end up with a perfect clone of your original system, and you can test the drive before you install it.
You can boot from the drive while it is still in the external enclosure (USB or firewire, and on newer Macs ThunderBolt) and check it works.
It is also possible that your MacBook does not like the drive. This is a fairly rare occurance, but has happened to me on a few occasions. It can be things like power draw and SATA compatibility. You can see symptoms where the computer locks up. I have not seen this happen specifically on a MacBook Pro 2008 or with a 750GB Seagate drive.
If you don't want to go down the external enclosure route, I'd suggest holding down the option key to get to the early boot menu, and selecting the DVD from there. And wait. Booting from DVD can take a little while longer.

How do I retrieve the music off my iPod after installing a new hard drive on my laptop

My laptop harddrive was just replaced, and I didn't have my iTunes backed up. When I went to sync my iPod with my new iTunes, it says that my iPod is already synced to another iTunes library, so I can't sync it to mine. But that old one was on my dead hard drive. How can I retrieve my music off my iPod?

Copy the entire iTunes folder from the old computer to the new computer.

I installed a new hard drive into my macbook pro and when i transferred over iPhoto, now my iPhoto won't open

i keep getting this error:
Dyld Error Message:
Library not loaded: /Library/Frameworks/iLifeFaceRecognition.framework/Versions/A/iLifeFaceRecognit ion
Referenced from: /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/MacOS/iPhoto
Reason: image not found

To re-install iPhoto
1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
2a: On 10.5: Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows: In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
/var/db/receipts/
2c: on 10.7 they're at
/private/var/db/receipts
A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
3. Re-install.
If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
If you purchased it on the App Store or have a Recent Mac you can find it in your Purchases List.

I see that i have a problem after installing my new hard drive on my macbook pro mid 2009 version. I put a new hard drive, with all of my information from my old drive installed on it, into the computer. but now have the blinking question mark folder

i see that i have a problem after installing my new hard drive on my macbook pro mid 2009 version. I put a new hard drive, with all of my information from my old drive installed on it, into the computer. but now have the blinking question mark folder. I see that it means that it isn't reading the new hard drive.
did i miss a step between transferring all of my information from my old hard drive to the new hard drive and installing the new hard drive into the computer. I believe that i installed properly. it was quite easy.
thanks for your help

It means there is no bootable system on the drive. If you still have access to the old drive, then I suggest you boot from it then clone it to the new internal drive. Use OPTION boot to boot from the Recovery HD on the old drive:
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Source means the external old drive. Destination means the new internal drive.

I installed a new hard drive in my MacBook. Is there a way to download os 10.6 from internet to DVD for install?

I installed a new hard drive in my MacBook. Is there a way to download os 10.6 from internet to DVD for install?

Hi C.Mathew Mulligan,
If you would like you can your boot your computer into recovery mode using Command+R There you can select re-download it from the internet. You will not have any of your old data on your new computer, but that is because you replaced your hard drive. So if you would like your old data to be there on your new computer I would recommend to back up your old hard drive to Time machine then Boot it into recovery using Command+R and click on restore with Time machine. Once that has completed successfully you not only should have 10.6 But you will also have all of your data from your old computer.

The best way to replace the internal hard drive

Hi,
I have a MacBook with a 160gb hard drive which has been partitioned into two partitions one for OSX (130gb) and the other for Windows 7(30gb) and as you can imagine 30gigs for windows is almost nothing, the OS itself is taking a big percentage of its capacity, so I would like to expand both partitions by having a bigger hard drive installed but I was wondering what would bethe best way to do this so I don’t have to reinstall OSX and Windows 7, I have heard about Super Duper for OSX I don’t know if a similar software exists for Windows, well I don't even know if this is the way to go. So my question would is...
What would be the best way to replace an internal hard drive and have everything moved including the Operating Systems (OSX Lion and Windows7)?
Can someone be so kind and tell me the procedure I should follow to accomplish this task? I’m not expecting a step by step tutorial but if you could list the tools needed and a brief procedure it would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, I’m using Boot Camp for the Windows 7 installation.
Thanks a lot.

For a 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's instructions on replacingthe hard drive http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45088
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 partition and format 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.
Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-5-SATA-HDD-HARD-DRIVE-EXTERNAL-ENCLOSURE-CASE-BOX-/120 636286623?pt=PCC_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c167ba69f
For copying the Windows partition I like WinClone http://download.cnet.com/Winclone/3000-2242_4-172338.html
After you've installed your Mac OS with Carbon Copy Cloner (or SuperDuper) on the new drive create a new Windows partition with Boot Camp and copy your WinClone copy to it with Winclone.

Best way to erase a portable hard drive?

Hi, I just got done installing a new hard drive in to an iMac and used a portable hard drive when I use SuperDuper. Everything transfered without any problems. But now I want to erase the portable hard drive that contained all of the transfered data. What is the best way to erase that data so I can use the portable hard drive so I have a clean drive and can use it to back up with Time Machine?

If it was set up for SuperDuper, it should be Apple-format.
Go into DiskUtility, select the partition of the external in the left column, and you should have an "Erase" option at the top of the main-activity window. You can decide if you need more than simple "Erase" (you can do a 7-pass erase, but nromally that is used when transferring a disk to a new user/buyer).

How do i install a new hard drive using time machine

Hi there
I have purchased a new 1TB hard drive for my Mac book pro (late 2008) model. I have time machine installaed on a seperate hard drive connected with an airport base station. I do not have the orginal snow leapoard/mountain lion OS CD or DVD. Can someone please tell me the exact steps to install the new hard drive .
Thanks

You haven't inserted your new hard drive yet?.
There's two ways
1. install yourself
2. or pay someone to install it for you.
If you want to do it yourself go to google and type in "install new hard drive for macbook pro". sometimes it makes a difference what model your macbook which is why i won't provide you a link just in case its the wrong one.
Its very easy.
1. remove all screws and the lid.
2. remove screws from the black bracket which is holding your hard drive in place.
3. unplug your hard drive.
4. VERY IMPORTANT (A MISTAKE I MADE). make sure that you remove the external screws from your original hard drive as these screws are the one thing that hold and stabilise your hard drive and stop movement from happening.
5. insert these external screws to your new hard drive (there are four screws)
6. insert and plug your new hard drive.
7. screw the black bracket in firmly
8. attach lid and insert all screws firmly.

I tried to install a new hard drive using Snow Leopard to back up with Time Machine. When I installed the new HD I installed Leopard (10.5) on it and tried to use time machine to restore the backup I had made using 10.6. Kernel panic screen occurred.

I backed up my system using 10.6 Snow Leopard's Time Machine to an external hard drive. I did this because I purchased a new internal hard drive to upgrade my 2007 White Macbook from 80GB to 320GB. When I installed the new hard drive, I installed 10.4 (Tiger) and then 10.5 (Leopard) and once Leopard was in I tried to use Time Machine to restore my backup from 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and received a kernal panic screen directly after the bootup.
The screen had code asking for 10.6, so does this mean that the computer is searching for Snow Leopard? If so, how can I do this? Will a bootable drive with Snow Leopard on it be able to solve the issue or will I somehow need to find a way to wipe out this new hard drive?
-Steve

Booting From Snow Leopard Installer Disc
1. Insert Snow Leopard Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.
Drive Preparation and Installation
1. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
7. After formatting is complete quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard.

I recently had to install a new hard drive in my computer. This caused me to have to reload all content back to my iTunes and iPod. I have many apps on my iPod and i don't know how to transfer those back to my iTunes. Can anyone help?

I recently had to install a new hard drive in my computer. This caused me to have to reload all content back to my iTunes and iPod. I have many apps on my iPod and i don't know how to transfer those back to my iTunes. Can anyone help?

Right clicking on your ipod in the device list an d choosing "transfer purchases" will copy apps and bought media from iTunes to your computer. Due to the new iTunes library on your new HD, iTunes will erase your ipod during the first sync. To save your data to the computer take a look at this article about saving data from your device to a computer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137
Basically it's backing up manually, transferring her purchases (apps and bought music), letting iTunes erase the ipod due to the new iTunes library, and restoring from the manual backup again, to get all the data and settings back.
Make sure your new computer account is authorized in iTunes. Disable autosync in itunes, connect your ipod, right click on it in the device list and choose backup.
This will save data, pictures and settings to itunes. See what's included in this backup here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
Transfer your purchases the same way to copy all apps and bought media from the Store to your computer.
Set up at least one contact and event on your computer to be able the merge your calendars and contacts after your ipod got wiped during the first sync.
The rest of the data can be restored from the backup you made.
Restoring: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
Music is one way only, from the computer to your device, unless you bought the songs in itunes and transferred your purchases.
There is 3rd party software out there, but not supported by Apple, see this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2013615&tstart=0

Best way to install a new hard drive into a laptop?

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