Can I swap a HDD from a MacBook to a MBPro?

I currently have a unibody MacBook that I am thinking about donating to a new college student and buying myself a new MacBook Pro. I just put a 1TB HDD in my MacBook and would like to know if I could expect to just pop that into a new MacBook Pro and expect it to work? Otherwise I would have to migrate all my applications and data files which I know works pretty good but if I could just swap the HDD into the new MBP, that would be simpler. I intend to replace the removed hard drive with the original 250gb drive that was in the computer from Apple. Thoughts?

I would expect that to work fine, I've done it in the past even going from a G3 to a G4 Mac. You may get advice that it is better to re-install in the new machine and I wouldn't say that is wrong. Look at it this way; if you try the swap and it doesn't work, then you know you have to start over with the current drive in the new machine. I would have to believe you can't hurt anything by trying, I would expect your worst case to be the new machine won't boot with that drive, or it boots and runs into other issues, but nothing that would actually harm anything.
I would bet that it will likely work just fine.

Similar Messages

Can I swap hard drive from my Macbook (10.5.8) into Macbook Pro (10.6)?

I have a white Macbook from 2007 (model A1181, 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, OSX 10.5.8 installed) which I upgraded with a 500GB hard drive. I now have Macbook Pro (model A1278, 2.53GHz, 10.6 fresh install from disc, 250GB hdd).
I would like to swap the 500GB drive from the Macbook into the MBP so I can transfer over all my settings and apps. Will that upgrade work? If not, what's the best method to perform this upgrade so I can restore my system on the MBP? I use TimeMachine and SuperDuper to backup my Macbook if that matters. Thank for any input!

No, once you put the older MacBook drive in, if it even fits, you can't transfer to the new one because it's not physically in the MacBookPro anymore.
And the MacBookPro may not be able to read a 10.5 boot disk if it shipped with 10.6.
They are not backwards compatible when trying to boot from an older machines drive that probably doesn't have the correct drivers to run on a MacPro.
First,
Try using Disk Utility to do a Disk Repair, as shown in this link, while booted up on your install disk in case you have some directory corruption.
Let us know what errors Disk Utility reports and if DU was able to repair them. Disk Utility's Disk Repair is not perfect and may not find or repair all directory issues. A stronger utility may be required to finish the job. Better, run DiskWarrior if you have it.
After that Repair Permissions.
No need to report Permissions errors....we all get them.
Then use Target Disk Mode and Migration Assistant to move settings and data.
Make sure all your apps. are 10.6 compatible. I would trash any plug ins also.
I followed this routine and had no troubles.
DALE

Can you swap an SSD from a MacBook pro C2Duo to an MacBook pro unibody

I have a very trusty 17" MacBook pro core 2 duo that's due for an upgrade. Is it possible to swap my current SSD from my MBP C2D to my new 17" MacBook pro unibody? Im thinking there might be a problem with drivers? It will save me a lot of hassle trying to reinstall all of my pro apps particularly FCP. If it comes to it I'll have to do a fresh install.
Thanks for any help

You have to install either the current OS that you were using on the new Mac or the version that Came on that new Mac when it was new. Not the OS that was on the drive when it was installed in the older Mac.
If Lion was the pre-installed OS on the new Mac that is what you have to install and there is only one way to do that. That is do use the Lion recovery system to Download Lion from the internet and then install it. Holding down the c key (or Command+c key) would do it.

Can I swap an HDD from A1226 into an A1150?

I have a friend with 2 older MBP with different parts either going or gone. The logic board on the A1226 is shot but the HDD and Optical drive are good(and just so happen to be bad on the other MBP A1150). I want to swap out the 2 drives into the A1150. I know I can swap them out easily,I've done it several times on my old MBP, but will the computer boot up as is ?

If the machine in which you are going to transplant this HDD requires Snow Leopard, then you cannot boot it with a Tiger system. However, the other way around will work fine.
Simply put you cannot use an OS X version earlier than the version of OS X that shipped with the computer when it was new.

Can I swap my HDD from compaq 621 to compaq C700 (FF411PA#ACJ)

I have a two laptops of same company compaq but different models both shows a problem. One problem is HDD and another problem is motherboard sothat I decided to that I changed the HDD. (1) Compaq 621 - Support for 9.5-mm, Serial ATA, 160-GB, 5400-rpm and (2) Comapq C700 (FF411PA#ACJ) - Support for 9.5-mm, Serial ATA, 320-GB, 7200-rpm. Am I changed or not because difference of 5400rpm and 7200 rpm ?

Maybe a tiny bit more heat but the laptop will have no problem handling it. If heat concerns you get a solid state drive. They have no moving parts so generate almost no extra heat. Seriously, today's 7200 rpm drives produce less heat than 5400s from a few years back. If you get one with a large cache of 32 megs it can actually produce less heat than a 5400 rpm with an 8 meg cache because the drive will be accessed a bit less.

I can't transfer downloaded content from my macbook air to my external hdd, when i try to drag it into the hrd drive it wont go in how do i fix this ?

i can't transfer downloaded content from my macbook air to my external hdd, when i try to drag it into the hrd drive it wont go in how do i fix this ?

What format is the external HDD in? If it's NTFS (= proprietary Windows), then OS X can read it but not write.
Eventually copy all content from the drive to a safe place, the re-format. FAT32 is the format which both Windows and OS X can read and write.

HT1651 Can I change the HDD in my MacBook White aesily or I have to do open the macbook exactly to the mainboard...?

Can I change the HDD in my MacBook White aesily or I have to do open the macbook exactly to the mainboard...?

Check out these instructions from iFixit. This is for the Core 2 Duo version;
Or for the earlier Core Duo try here.

How can i share some apps from my macbook pro to iMac on different IP?

how can i share some apps from my macbook pro to iMac on different IP?

sign into same id on both computers in the app store
see this
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
Peace, Clyde

How can i print double sided from my macbook? The option is not highlighted., how can i print double sided from my macbook? The option is not highlighted.

How can I print double sided from my MacBook? The option is not highlighted,
shazmina2

This function is related to the printer driver and the printer you use. If you do not give details, nobody can suggest a solution. Usually, the correct driver solves the issue.

How can I transmit an iDVD from my macbook to the apple tv?

How can I transmit an iDVD from my MacBook to the Apple TV?

iDVD is software for DVD authoring. What are you trying to view? Find the movie file, make sure it's in the correct format and import into iTunes. Then you can stream to ATV

Auto sync is not working. How can I manually transfer music from my macbook pro iTunes to iphone 5?

Auto sync is not working. How can I manually transfer music from my macbook pro iTunes to iphone 5? My iMatch is turned on and I can direct downlad my music to the iPhone from the Cloud; however, I want to direct import All of my music from iTunes to my iPhone 5 via the connecting USB cable and it is not working. Yes, I have tried restarting both devices, and no autosync is not working nor is is it providing the avaialbile option to select music in iTunes on my Mac to then sync. Please help. Thanks

Please disregard. I figured it out. Answer for anyone else running into this problem: You have to turn off iTunes Match on both devices. Apparently, if you activate iTunes Match it deactivates your abiltiy to direct sync.

How can I make a backup from my Macbook Pro?

How can I make a backup from my Macbook Pro?

Basic Backup
For some people Time Machine will be more than adequate. Time Machine is part of OS X. There are two components:
1. A Time Machine preferences panel as part of System Preferences;
2. A Time Machine application located in the Applications folder. It is
     used to manage backups and to restore backups. Time Machine
     requires a backup drive that is at least twice the capacity of the
     drive being backed up.
See Mac Basics- Time Machine. Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.
Alternatively, get an external drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
1. Carbon Copy Cloner
2. Get Backup
3. Deja Vu
4. SuperDuper!
5. Synk Pro
6. Tri-Backup
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files. For help with using Time Machine visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.
Although you can buy a complete external drive system, you can also put one together if you are so inclined. It's relatively easy and only requires a Phillips head screwdriver (typically.) You can purchase hard drives separately. This gives you an opportunity to shop for the best prices on a hard drive of your choice. Reliable brands include Seagate, Hitachi, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Fujitsu. You can find reviews and benchmarks on many drives at Storage Review.
Enclosures for FireWire and USB are readily available. You can find only FireWire enclosures, only USB enclosures, and enclosures that feature multiple ports. I would stress getting enclosures that use the Oxford chipsets especially for Firewire drives (911, 921, 922, for example.) You can find enclosures at places such as;
1. Cool Drives
2. OWC
3. WiebeTech
4. Firewire Direct
5. California Drives
6. NewEgg
All you need do is remove a case cover, mount the hard drive in the enclosure and connect the cables, then re-attach the case cover. Usually the only tool required is a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.

How can I remove unwanted downloads from my macbook pro?

How can I remove unwanted downloads from my macbook pro?

Go to the Download folders as specified in the browser's or mail app's preferences and delete what you don't want to keep.

How can I operate my iMac from my Macbook Pro?

how can I operate my IMAc from my Macbook Pro?

Explore Target Display Mode:
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19038?locale=en_US
Ciao.

I can't hear any sound from my macbook. It's not on mute and the volume is turned all the way up, I can't hear any sound from my macbook. It's not on mute and the volume is turned all the way up

I can't hear any sound from my macbook. It's not on mute and the volume is turned all the way up, I can't hear any sound from my macbook. It's not on mute and the volume is turned all the way up. Any ideas?

Go step by step and test.
1. System Preference > Sound > Output > Internal Speakers
    Highlight Internal Speakers.
    Make sure that Mute is not enabled.
2.Plug in and remove the headphone.
    If you see red light in the headphone port, plug the headphone
    in and out of the port 5 or 6 times to flip the microswitch inside.
    Sound output may be stuck in the digital mode.
3. Reset PRAM. http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405
4. Reset SMC.     http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    Choose the method for:
    "Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".
5. Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup
    Audio Devices window
    Side Bar
    Click the Built-in Output.
    Under Mute any of the boxes checked? If so, uncheck it.

Can I swap a HDD from a MacBook to a MBPro?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for