Can I replace the hard drive on a mid 2012 MacBook Pro?

I just bought a new MacBook Pro. I had a 2010 MBP and kept the hard drive (Hitachi 500gb 7200 rpm) from that computer. It ws running 10.7 and worked fine. It still boots up perfectly on my MacPro so I know it works.
I tried to boot the new MacBook Pro using the old drive but I get a circle with a line through it. I have tried to boot using Firewire and even installed it into the new MacBook Pro. I then tried to re-install OS 10.7. I just downloaded it from the App Store for my MacPro so I tried to use it to re-install. It will not work on this new Macbook Pro. I had to download a version specific to this computer (using the "recover" disk). I takes 1.5 hours to download and then it still didn't work. When the computer reboots after the download and restarts I get the same **** circle with a line through it. The new "manual" is a joke. There is no reference to upgrading drives or memory. Did Apple decide to make their new laptops inaccessible to the owner? I can't find any info online and at the Apple store today they told me they knew of no reason that the drive wouldn't work.
Anyone else have any thoughts?

Have you considered Migration Assistant?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889
From Mac HELP:
Transferring information using Migration Assistant
You can use Migration Assistant to transfer important information, such as user accounts, applications, network and computer settings, and files, from one Mac computer to another. You can also transfer information to a Mac from an external disk. Your information can be transferred using a FireWire cable or over a wired or wireless network.
NOTE:If you’re transferring information over a wired or wireless network, make sure your computers are connected to the same network.
To transfer information from a Mac:
Open Migration Assistant (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder), and then follow the onscreen instructions.
When you’re asked how you want to transfer your information, select the “From another Mac” button, and then select the method by which you want to transfer.
To transfer files using a FireWire cable connected to your computers, click Use FireWire. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to restart your other Mac while holding down the T key.
To transfer files using a network, click Use Network. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to open Migration Assistant on your other computer. When you’re asked how you want to transfer your information, select the “To another Mac” button.
To transfer information to a Mac:
Open Migration Assistant (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder), and then follow the onscreen instructions.
When you’re asked how you want to transfer your information, select the “To another Mac” button.
On the other computer, open Migration Assistant, and then follow the onscreen instructions. When you’re asked how you want to transfer your information, select the “From another Mac” button.
Ciao.

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But it's worth a try...
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//A

I'm coming around to the idea that this might be a problem with the SATA cable rather than the drive.
I currently have the stock drive (Hitachi) back in the macbook. It mounted for a while and was then ejected when I tried writing data to it. System profiler reports that "There was an error while scanning for Serial-ATA devices."
I was able to mount the same drive in a USB enclosure this afternoon without any problems. Right now, I seem to be having issues with both the Samsung drive and the Hitachi drive - I wasn't suspicious of thr latter because I thought it was failing.
I found one or two accounts of other people having similar problems that were resolved with a new sata cable.
How does a cable fail? Could this be my problem?
Cheers
//A

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Yup, gotta love OWC!
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MSES

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Vespita wrote:
Okay, wise guy. I don't use Google, but my Startpage seach yielded this.
Now wasn't that easier than asking us to look for the item for you?
Let me fix your link for you.
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This question was solved.
View Solution.

Alright, here's what I've decided to do. I'll buy the Western Digital Scorpio Black but get the 500 GB version. Then, I'll buy an external hard drive because I know that the HDX16 in general can support two drives but I don't think my particular model has the second drive bay. Also, I think it would be cheaper too and that way I don't have to buy another drive that is the same size as my primary drive. How does that sound?

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Is there a hard drive limit to mid-2009 MacBook Pro?

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Can I replace the hard drive on a mid 2012 MacBook Pro?

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