Buying a new MBP - hard drive repacement questions...

Does replacing the HD in a new MBP void the warranty? I've searched the forums but it seems there's no firm answer. Basically if I buy a new 13" I want to upgrade the HD (I Think) to the 500GB 7200 Drive (probably Seagate momentus), but I'm concerned about heat and noise issues. is there a huge performance boost between the offered 500 GB 5400 Drive? I am planing on buying the $1400 version so I get the 4GB RAM and the faster processor to start with. Is that worth the price? What about battery life - I'm concerned now that it's not replaceable that a 7200 drive would waste that battery too quickly.

Go with 500 GB, the Seagate is fine. The 7200 rpm vs. 5400 rpm will give a modest performance boost, and there is really minimal additional heat, noise and power consumption with a faster spinning drive (it might mean 10 minutes shorter run time of the 5-7 hours from a full battery charge).
Be sure to order the drive without the G-force protection. The MBP has it's own internal accelerometer, and the two may conflict, so get the drive that lacks that feature.
Instructions for DIY HDD swap are on p. 37 of the manual:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/MacBook_Pro_13inchMid2009.pdf

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I want to buy a new external hard drive.

I want to buy a new external hard drive, I have an iMac now, I most likely will buy a mac pro this winter. I want to buy a hard drive that will be able to handle the highest quality video, AND work with my iMac now. Thanks
Andrew

And finally:
Make SURE you format the drive as Mac OS Extended, journalling optional but recommended.
Disk Utility Help: Erasing a disk or volume
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=DiskUtility/10.5/en/duh1009.html
In step 4, DO choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
WARNING: All your currect files will be erased.

I am going to buy a new external hard drive and have some questions first

Although I asked this question several years ago, I would like to ask it again, just if in case technology in general or external hard drives in particular have changed in any significant ways.
I need to replace a 1 terabyte LaCie external hard drive that died on me after a few years.
1. I am afraid of buying another LaCie. What other brands are reliable? I heard that Western Digital is. Also another brand beginnibg with S (so helpful, I know).
2. Do I have to look for a drive that is MAC FORMATTED? I vaguely recall this term from years ago. I also remember another term that I was to look out for, but I don't remember what it was. Something like ”chronicled“ but obviously not that.
3. Should I get more than 1 terabyte? Right now I have an old, old 125 gigabyte LaCie that still lives, but it is so small that it is almost nothing
4. What do you think about buying external hard drives fron Costco as opposed to from the Apple Store?
~L

Ziatron, you wrote ”All you do is open the enclosure and the hard drive plugs in. (done.)“ What enclosure?
This is the enclosure I like, it needs a hard drive to work : http://www.cooldrives.com/ox93saiihadr.html
But there are many others.
looking at my two dead laCie ext. hard drives and they don't have ”enclosures.“ Just holes in the back to receive the cables.
A hard drive enclosure is a box or case the actual hard drive goes into. Look at the images in the link above. You can see what is inside.
This hard drive goes inside the above cool drive enclosure: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Intellipower-Desktop-WD20EADS/dp/B001RB1TI S/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258862242&sr=8-1
You recommended getting a hard drive with a Firewire connection, but most of the hard drives have USB.
Well maybe, the better drives are Firewire.
Should that matter to me?
Yes, Firewire is "isochronous", basically meaning that you can pump "clocked" data though it in real time. USB works more like TCPIP, with the data chopped up into packets and later reassembled. (Thus, at a minimum, you have latency, that is, the wait for the data to be "put back together".) Second, the Firewire protocol allows more direct address to memory (including mass storage) with minimal intervention of the CPU.
Is USB a whole lot slower than Firewire if I am transferring materials?
Firewire is faster and _more reliable._
Take a look at the link below, "Build Your Own External Hard Drive". The enclosure I like is easier to use.
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/tips/hard_drive/
http://macs.about.com/od/diyguidesprojects/ss/externalhdcase.htm
Also you need a Mac Pro to use eSATA, with a iMac use the Firewire port.

SPECS FOR NEW MBP HARD DRIVE AND HOW TO INSTALL NEW OS AND USE TIME MACHINE

I need to replace the hard drive in my early-2006 1.83 MacBook Pro (15-inch), because the Genius at the Apple Store told me that I'm getting weird behavior on it due to the drive slowing down and that it won't last much longer.
I have 2 questions:
First, I want to order the drive online and have it installed locally. I will probably get a 320 to 500GB drive. What are the exact other specs I will need to find the right one?
Second, I am currently running 10.5.8 and backing up with Time Machine. I would like to install 10. 6 on the new drive, but don't know how to go about using the Time Machine backup to get all my apps and files running. Can someone describe this procedure for me?
Many thanks!

Hi Annie,
You need a 2.5" 9.5mm high SATA HD, either 5400 or 7200RPM. Check out macsales, newegg, amazon to name a few places.
How to restore from a TM backup: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Prepare your HD by formatting and partitioning it:
1. Boot from install disc (press power button, immediately insert install disc and hold down c key).
2. Select your language.
3. Open Disk Utility from Utilities menu.
4. Select the HD in the left pane (the manufacturer’s name and the HD model number).
5. Click on the Erase tab.
6. Choose the Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
NOTE: if you want to zero the HD (which I always think is a good idea, but does take time), click on Security Options, click the button for Zero Out Data, click OK. The larger the HD, the longer this will take, in some cases several hours.
7. Click on Erase and wait for the entire process to finish.
8. Click the Partition tab.
9. Click on Volume Scheme: and choose the number of partitions (normally just one unless you have other plans).
10. Click on the Options button (located underneath the Volume Scheme pane) and select GUID.
11. Click Apply.
12. Quit Disk Utility and continue with the installation process to install OSX or run Restore from a TM backup; when finished, repair permissions, run updates, repair permissions.
Message was edited by: tjk

How do I import my library from an external disk to my new MBP hard drive?

My old MBP was running out of space so I exported my Aperture library (250GB) to an external drive. I just replaced my old computer with a new MBP with a 1TB flash drive. Now that I have the space, I want to put my library back on my computer but I can't figure out how bring it in from my external hard drive. Any ideas? Many thanks.

Why do you say " I exported my Aperture library"? Did you actually use "File > Export > Items as new Library" in Aperture to create a new library on your external drive? A simple drag and drop of the library should have sufficed. What is your Aperture version?
My old MBP was running out of space so I exported my Aperture library (250GB) to an external drive. I just replaced my old computer with a new MBP with a 1TB flash drive. Now that I have the space, I want to put my library back on my computer but I can't figure out how bring it in from my external hard drive. Any ideas? Many thanks.
Connect your external drive and use the Finder to drag the Aperture library from the external drive back to the Pictures folder.
Then double-click the library to point Aperture to the new location and open the copied library in Aperture.
If your Aperture library uses referenced originals, select the referenced images and use the command File > Consolidate originals" to move the originals back to your internal disk.
If you should encounter any error messages (like error -36) while moving the library to the internal drive, post back.

Advice on buying a new internal hard drive

Could anyone advise me on internal hard drives? My present one is dead and i am looking at buying a new one. I really havnt got a clue as to if im looking at pc only drives or they are all mac compatable. (The links i am using will service me in Ireland) I have a few good sites but i want to make sure that I have the right drive for my mac. I have the 13" Macbook 1st generation. Im looking at a few drives from these sites, with these particular drives:
http://www.jigsaw24.com/default.aspx?ITEM=JIGSX632ANA&AD=Y
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343402
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=341973
http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/719219/art/samsung/hm16hji-hybrid-hard-drive.html.
I am hoping that someone could look these over and advise me if any, or all would work on my macbook. If so, i will buy one asap.
ALSO I was thinking of getting an optical drive. My now broken one, was a standard cd-rom drive which played dvds(Combo Drive). I want to now buy an optical drive that can burn dvds(As advertised on apple.com: "Superdrive"). Is there technical limitations by fitting one of these into my macbook?

Any of those hard drives will work just fine. Just pick the capacity & speed you want. And Seagate makes good drives, as does Samsung. Make sure they are 9.5mm height. (almost 99.9% of current laptop drives are.)
Replacing the optical drive requires you to open your laptop, which might be difficult depending on your comfort level. If you can open your Macbook with its millions of screws, you'll be fine. Instructions are here: http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-8x-SuperDrive-New/IF185-040
The optical drive must be slot loading, and must be the ultra slim type (Height must be 9.5mm.) Most optical drives are slightly thicker (12.7mm), and they won't fit.

How do I format a new external Hard drive for Mac?

Simple question I know for many of you out there but I could do with some advice as I have never done this before. I would like to buy a new external hard drive to store my music and photos on. I will get one with firewire and usb2 connectivity.Could someone walk me through the steps needed to format and prepare a hard drive for use with my Macbook (if it is not already Mac formatted). Will any brand of hard drive work with Mac or are some better than others?

In addition to what Templeto Peck said, make sure that you select the formating to be OSX Extended.
As far as the best esternal drive, type into the "Search Discussion" box: Best external hard drive. This will bring you to several previouslly posted threads that discuss quite thoroughly your question. The following is extracted from one thread:
The best drives are those that use the Oxford 911 chipset. I like the Mercury Elite Pro drives from OWC, but there are plenty of others that use the same chipset.

HT201250 new external hard drive for Time Machine backup suggestions?

Ok, I have 3 external hard drives; unfortunately I've used them on my PC and they are read only on my iMac. So, I need to buy a new external hard drive for Time Machine backup. I'm a little confused; can I buy any EHD and them format it so Mac can use it or are there special EHD's I need to purchase?
Anyone have a particular EHD that is working well for you? Thanks, Blue

Bluehowler wrote:
Ok, I have 3 external hard drives; unfortunately I've used them on my PC and they are read only on my iMac. So, I need to buy a new external hard drive for Time Machine backup. I'm a little confused; can I buy any EHD and them format it so Mac can use it or are there special EHD's I need to purchase?
Anyone have a particular EHD that is working well for you? Thanks, Blue
Unless you need all three external drives for your PC, you can reformat in one of them in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for use with Time Machine. However, since Time Machine backs up hourly, you'd need the external drive to be running constantly. That means ventilation of the drive becomes an issue since some, such as Seagate, can get very hot in their sealed enclosures. Some drive manufacturers try to get around this by spinning down the drive when not in use, but I've read complaints that that doesn't play well with a Mac. So whether you reuse one of your current externals or get a new one, it's a good idea to keep the drive's ventilation in mind.

Need to buy new internal hard drive ~ suggestions of where to buy online?

My 3 year old Mac Mini needs a new internal hard drive. I'm trying to find one online, but when I go to macsales.com for instance, I can't figure out the item I should be buying that will work. I'm clueless.
Is there any online place anyone would suggest in particular?
And what do I look for? Will it say 'mac mini internal hard drive' and will I know it will work in my old mini? (not intel).
Does anyone know of a good place to take to have it installed in the Seattle area?
Help! Thanks!

With a little experience, replacing the drive on a Mac mini would take a little less than an hour, so I suspect you're being quoted the standard minimum for the job by those two sources. Whether you take that up or do it yourself really depends on your level of confidence. Opening the mini is a daunting proposition since there's no clear way to do it, and the plastic creaks and clicks as it's being levered apart with the putty knives, but it's actually very simple to do. Once the top is off, it is a fairly simply process to get to the drive, remove it, fit a new one and then reassemble. The only common issue from doing this work is failing to reconnect the fan control cable (symptom of having forgotten it is that the fan runs continuously on start up).
I would suggest that if you have a flat, clear table, an hour to spare, two putty knives and a suitable screwdriver, you would likely find it a fairly easy job once you get started. Indeed, you might even think about increasing the system memory at the same time!
One thing I would suggest is that if you have a digital camera, once you have the top open, start taking pictures as you progress through the job. That will help overcome the 'where does this go?' syndrome, should it strike!
In terms of sources of drive, the reason Boece suggested OWC in the first reply is that they have already done the work of figuring out which drives are compatible and which are not. If you are in any doubt about which drive will work and which won't, it would make sense to source the drive from them, knowing it is suitable, than through another vendor where you may be less sure!

Copy MBP Hard Drive to new Hard Drive while FileVault enabled?

Is it possible to copy MBP Hard Drive to new Hard Drive while FileVault is enabled? Also, what's the best way to image from a 700GB drive to a 300GB SSD? I'm currently using 250GB.

Hi, have you tried the Boot Camp forum ?
personally I think it should work...L

Question: Installing a new extrenal hard drive and files for FCE

My Lacie 40GB drive is to small, and it contains my FCE files and that is where FCE is set to store & work off those file.
I wish to buy a much larger external hard drive, but what do I do?
Drag the files into the new external hard drive from the old external hard drive?
And then do I set FCE preferences or settings to choose the new ext hard drive as the place for storage,and it will recognize it without a glitch in the process or will it say files can't be loacted?
Thank you!

If you move the files to the new drive, you'll have to reassign the scratch disk. Unless you name the new drive the same as the old then no, FCE won't be able to find the files and you'll have to do through the reconnect process.

I have a macbook 2006 its hard drive was not working anymore so i install a new 500GB hard drive but now i just need the software. Which one should i buy?

I have a macbook 2006 its hard drive was not working anymore so i install a new 500GB hard drive but now i just need the software. Which one should i buy?

Snow Leopard 10.6 Technical Requirements - http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
You can buy Snow Leopard at:
Snow Leopard disc source - http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
You could contact Apple Support and see if they have the original discs for that machine but it would be 10.4.11 and there's no reason not to go to at least Snow Leopard, especially since the 10.6 discs would probably cost the same as a replacement set of 10.4.11

I move all photos to a new external hard drive. Now all folders have a question mark in them. How do I find ALL PHOTOS at one time instead of having to find each picture. I have about 30,000 photos. Using Mac. LR5

I have set up a new external hard drive and Im trying redirect LR to the new hard drive. I have over 30,000 photos and Im trying to see to see if there is a way to all photos located without having to go thru each folder at a time

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm
See Figure 4

Questioning about Partitioning a new Internal Hard Drive

I just bought a new Internal Hard Drive, Western Digital Caviar, 500 GB. I am trying to Partition the Drive but, there is a pull down menu which I am not sure what to select.
On "Volume Scheme, I selected 1 Partition from the menu, BUT, what do I select on "Format"?
It gives me these options:
1. Mac OS Extended (journaled)
2. Mac OS Extended
3. Mac OS Extended (case sensitive, Journaled)
4. Mac OS Extended (case sensitive)
5. Mac OS Extended
Free-Space
I am not sure what to choose here, IF I have to chose anything. All I need is another HD where I will have music samples on it.
Any help would be appreciate it.

For normal purposes, use Mac OS Extended (journaled)

I'm looking to buy a new Macbook Pro, and have questions about the Applecare extended warranty?

I'm looking to buy a new Macbook Pro, and have questions about the Applecare extended warranty? I want to know if the 3 year extended warranty covers what damage. Like water damage, accidental damage, lost or stolen macbook, manufactory defects, or any other kind of damage, maybe be even cosmetic damage. Can anyone help me?

If you are talking about features of the MBP itself, as long as you are not looking at the Retina models, then the memory you can upgrade yourself for a lot less than Apple charges, and that does not affect the warranty as Apple considers memory a user permitted upgrade. Great sources are Crucial and OWC, both are Mac specialists and have on-line videos on how to do the install.
If the 15" is what you are looking at, a good upgrade is the 7200 rpm hard drive, gives a little better performance over the standard 5400 rpm drive.
The Hi Res screen is good if you do a lot of graphics work.
Comparing the 13" amd 15" you will notice the 15" has a second, discrete graphic processor...helps when you get into heavy duty videos, games, graphics...but keep in mind that kicking in the second processor uses a lot of power and will run the battery down faster.
If you are looking at the Retina models, then keep in mind there are no post-purchase upgrade options...you have to buy with everything you want at the start.
Just some thoughts.

Buying a new MBP - hard drive repacement questions...

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