Can I transfer the hard drive from my Macbook into a new Macbook Pro?

I have been planning on purchasing a Macbook Pro for quite sometime now, however I find that the storage space on the base models is quite small. I currently have a 500gb hard drive on my Macbook, and I was wondering if there's any way I could transfer this hard drive into a new Macbook Pro.

If you are considering to purchase Mac Book Pro is not Retina, you can get 1TB HDD as option with +$50.

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Can I transfer a hard drive from one macbook pro laptop to another?

I have a 2009 Macbook pro with a cracked screen and a messed up track pad (laptop A), but a fully functional hard drive. I have another 2009 Macbook pro (laptop B) with a blown hard drive, but everything else seems to be fine.
I removed the blown hitachi 320 hard drive from laptop B and set it aside. Then I removed the seemingly good Seagate 500 hard drive from laptop A and put it into laptop B. When I turn on Laptop B with the hard drive in it I get the folder with the question mark screen.
HELP. I am not tech savvy at all. But I can follow directions. Thanks.
Monica
*Please let me know if you need additional information from me.

Restart the computer with the Option key held down.
If you see the drive, click on it and then select it in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
If you don’t, insert a Mac OS X install DVD, press C if needed, and either repair the drive or install an OS onto it.
(110094)

Can I put the Hard Drive from old iBook into new iBook?

I need a new motherboard for my old iBook which has no other damage. New motherboard costs about the same as a new iBook;
so can I have the drive from the old iBook put into a new iBook? Old iBook is about 2 years old.
Thanks!
Gareth
< Edited by Host >

Gareth; there are no iBooks with Intel processors. These are MacBooks.
As for your question, it's unlikely that you could, as the new Macs appear to have different firmware on the drives. It would also invalidate the warranty on a new computer.
Far easier to put the old drive into an external FW or USB enclosure and use it to transfer your files, applications and settings during first boot of the new Mac using the Setup Assistant.

What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro (it has been taken out of the computer) to my new macbook pro? I need to transfer files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro, which has been removed from the computer, to my new macbook pro? I need to transfere files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

No eSATA to USB. Just a SATA/IDE to USB adapter. Google SATA/IDE to USB adapter and you will get tons of links to buy them. Most likely your local computer electronics store has them, although they might be more expensive buying locally than online.
I have several. You can get either USB 2, which what I recommend, or USB 3. USB is backward compatible so a USB 3 adapter will work on a USB 2 port and a USB 2 adapter will work on a USB 3 port. Backward compatible in both directions.
I suggest a USB 2 type because there have been some problems with certain USB 3 devices, the USB 3 interface used isn't all that good in those certain devices. USB 3 is still fairly new where as USB 2 has been around for over 10 years.
synghem wrote:
Thank you LowLuster,
At the apple store they said I needed an esata to usb wire. But looking at wires on line has been confusing. Is sata the same as esata? How do I know if I need a usb 3 or usb 2?

Can I swap the hard drive from MacBook Pro 17 (2009) to MacBook Pro 15 (2006)?

My MacBook Pro 17 (2009) died. Pushing the power button gets no response. I had had problems with it for some time turning it on, it usually taking many many tries. Plus when I'd try to do a restart after updating software, instead of doing so it'd shut off super quick with a *pop* sound. There was never any of the typical hard drive going bad sounds I've read about and seen in videos. Since it has refused to turn on I've gone through every suggestion I can find to get it to turn back on. Unhook the battery and try starting from just the power cord; the shorting the power pads move; some thing undoing the battery, counting to 10, and then the next steps now escape my memory, but doing more counting to 10 inbetween; unplugging the battery and leaving it sit for 2 days with no power cord plugged in either, then hook it to a power cord and turn it back on; and so many more.
Also the symptoms just before this fiasco were as follows: I had a CD in the internal drive and was browsing through the images on it via the handy previewer using the space bar. Then I decided to quite, tried ejecting the CD by dragging the icon to the trash, and nothing. I tried again. The same. Then I pushed on the eject key, with the ejct icon popping up on the screen momentarily, but still nothing. Then it appreared as though some things worked and other things were not working. In my frustration I went to the Apple menu and clicked restart with a wince knowing it was going to take forever to turn back on. It did the usual quickly off with a *pop* and made super short lame attempts to turn back on when using the power button. Of course the CD kept trying to spin for a split second and then the little indicator light on the front would go out, then no noise at all.
Since I do not believe it is the hard drive (of course I could be wrong not being a Mac nerd at all), I was wondering if I can switch the hard drive to my Macbook Pro 15 (2006)?
I tried this, but it would not read the hard drive. Just a blank grey screen. If it is possible to do this swap, what are the exact steps to do? Please answer like I'm completely illiterate on this, because I really am. I'm super scared of losing everything on the dead MacBook's hard drive. Yeah yeah, I know: then why have I not been backing things up? I had the week prior. Believe me I WILL be doing it daily from now on if I get this mess straightened out!
Here are the specs for each MacBook Pro:
Name: MacBook Pro 17 (info gained from the serial on the bottom and then looked up online)
Model: A1297
Model Code: mbp_17_early_09
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed: 2.8GHz
RAM Type: DDR3 PC8500 SODIMM 1066MHz
RAM Slots: 2
Max RAM by Slot: 2 x 4GB
Maximum RAM: 8GB
RAM Pairing: Modules may be installed individually
Hard Drive Connection: SATA 300
Hard Drive Platter Size: 2.5"
Device Connectivity: USB 2.0, FireWire 800
Video Output (base graphics option): Mini DisplayPort
Expansion Slots: ExpressCard/34
Max Operating System Version: 10.6.8 (I believe that is what was last on the computer)
Name:    MacBook Pro 15" (retrieved from the System Profiler on this Mac)
Model Identifier:    MacBookPro2,2
Processor Name:    Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:    2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors:    1
Total Number Of Cores:    2
L2 Cache:    4 MB
Memory:    3 GB
Bus Speed:    667 MHz
Boot ROM Version:    MBP22.00A5.B07
SMC Version (system):    1.12f5

OGELTHORPE really sorry to keep bugging you, but it's obvious you know what you are talking about and I'm stuck on thin ice here getting this fixed, because there are no authorized Apple reps here. I would rather shoot myself for messing up, then to trust someone who "says" they can fix my Mac down here.
I checked out a company owned by ebay that is the same down here, called MercadoLibre. There are quite a few adapters listed there. I'd like to give you links for some and was wondering if you minded taking a look to tell me if any seem to fit the bill. Some have specs in English, others don't. (Google translater is my friend!)
#1. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-415826915-adaptador-usb-a-ide-y-sata-con -cables-y-fuente-envio-gratis-_JM
#2. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-416270876-usb-20-to-ide-sata-25-35-hard- drive-_JM#D[S:HOME,L:HISTORY,V:1]
#3. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-416384859-adaptador-usb-20-a-sataide-_JM
#4. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-415596152-adaptador-usb-20-para-sata-e-i de-manhattan-_JM
#5. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-416061182-adaptador-de-usb-a-sata-o-ide- 3525-con-fuente-externa-_JM
#6. http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.uy/MLU-416061069-convertidor-usb-20-a-sata-hdd- 25-soporta-hasta-1tb-_JM
These are all cost effective enough that I don't care the price - cheap, expensive - whichever will work the BEST!
I've also looked for the 7200 rpm HDD, and although I found some, I'll be danged if they are not 3.0, instead of the 2.5 that I have. Grrrr! I was willing to spend the $90 for 1tb... or being the non-techie that I am, can this 3.0 go into my 2006 MBP??
Just so you can see what all is listed right now:
http://listado.mercadolibre.com.uy/7200-rpm-hdd-2.5-macbook-pro
Another newbie question: How do I check what the amount if RAM is presently installed in it? (I might be a greenhorn, but I take pride in not being a dumbie and I learn when taught)
Right now, I'm willing to spend almost anything. I want a few files that are on the HDD at the moment that I was stupid and did not backup on my external. One file I worked on all day due to the dimensions I had to design it at and each effect took a long time to render. I really don't want to do that one again!.. I'm also willing to spend anything that won't cost me the price of a new iMac. Figure that should be the next one I buy that is affordable, but won't be overworked like the MBP was.
Once again, thanks much for all of your help!

How can I remove the hard drive from an iMac g4 before recycling it?

How can I remove the hard drive from an iMac g4 before recycling it?

There are take-apart guides online. For example
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html
However, you can also consider securely erasing the hard drive instead. You can do this using a Mac OS X installation disc with a version that your iMac G4 can boot from the optical drive. If this is a viable option, please post back (include Mac OS X version on installation disc).

I have a macbook pro, and i want to transfer my hard drive from my macbook, but the display drivers and such are different. How do i do this?

I have a macbook pro, and i want to transfer my hard drive from my macbook (500g), but the display drivers and such are different. How do i do this and is it possible?
The Macbook Pro has Mac OS X 10.4.11 (70g hard drive)
The Macbook has Mac OS X 10.6.8 (500g hard drive)

The MacBook's hard drive lacks the necessary hardware drivers to boot the MacBook Pro even though it has a much newer OS on it; that's why simply moving it into the Pro doesn't work. Presumably you have a very old MB Pro, because only the very first MB Pro model (produced January to May 2006) was ever offered with an 80GB hard drive. Are you sure you want to move your big drive into such an old machine? The MacBook must be newer, because the first MacBook was introduced just as the first Pro model was discontinued.

Do I need startup discs to upgrade hardware on MacBook Pro or can I restore the hard drive from from a Time Machine backup?

do I need startup discs to upgrade hardware on MacBook Pro or can I restore the hard drive from from a Time Machine backup?

Ok, well go and grab a small 2.5" hard drive enclosure so you can put the new drive in & temporarily use it like an external hard drive.
Download Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper and make a bootable clone of your current HDD on the new HDD.
Once that's done you can test the clone by booting from it. To do this hold Optioni while booting to select the external (new) drive. If everything looks ok, you can go ahead and swap over the HDD's.
So much easier.

Is it possible to change the hard drive in a macbook pro, if so where from? and how?

is it possible to change the hard drive in a macbook pro, if so where from? and how?

secondrow wrote:
whats a green drive? thnks
Green is a marketing term for a drive designed for lower power use, lower noise, and lower heat. The side effect is that it's not as fast. Black drives are designed for highest performance, so they might use more power and run hotter and noisier. I upgraded my Apple Time Capsule with a green drive, but I put a black drive in my Mac Pro.
Kappy wrote:
7200 RPM drives are faster than 5400 RPM drives.
As in cars, RPM is not the sole determinant of performance. In some cases, a newer drive at a lower RPM is faster than an older drive at a higher RPM, when the newer drive uses better technology. I have heard that some of today's high-capacity 5400RPM drives are faster than 7200RPM drives of lower capacity simply because the very high density of a 1TB drive means more data passes under the head even at a lower RPM. Certainly there have been times in Apple's past when new lower RPM drives were faster than higher RPM drives of the previous generation, a notable example being when 4200RPM perpendicular recording drives were introduced and beat 5400RPM drives.
Yes, generally RPM can be used to compare, but it is important to realize it isn't always true.

I just replaced the hard drive on my macbook pro, reformatted new hard drive and copied over a backup from time machine now I have a kernel panic message (you must restart) - what do I do now?

i just replaced the hard drive on my macbook pro, reformatted new hard drive, installed a back up from time machine and now have kernel panic ( you must restart your computer) what do I need to do?

If you're able to boot, launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
Select the most recent panic log under System Diagnostic Reports. Post the contents – the text, please, not a screenshot. For privacy’s sake, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header and body of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.) Please don't post "shutdownStall" or "hang" reports.
If you can't boot in the usual way, try a safe boot. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
During startup, you’ll see a progress bar, and then the login screen, which appears even if you normally log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Safe mode is slower than normal, and some things won’t work at all.

The hard drive on my Macbook Pro is getting full (mainly due to the size of my iTunes library). Can I store it on my time capsule and if so, how is it done ?

The hard drive on my Macbook Pro is getting full (mainly due to the size of my iTunes library). Can I store it on my time capsule and if so, how is it done ?

You can store your iTunes library on a Time Capsule. So that you can access on your local (home) network (I wouldn't recommend access via the internat), (off site.....to slow).
If you do decide to put your libray on Time Capsule I'd recommend doing this.
Option 1:
1. Don't use TC as a Backup (Time Machine).
2. Connect a USB drive to your TC or Computer and backup to the drive. Backup when a change is made to the library (adding Apps, Songs you get the idea).
Option 2: (What Im doing)
1.   Two Time Capsule's connected via ethernet cable (roaming mode, bridge).
2.   Use TC1 as a Time Machine backup
3.   Use TC2 as network drive. (The information on TC2 does NOT get backed up to TC1).
3a. Connect a USB, FW, drive to your desktop computer (if you have one) use SilverKeeper to schedule backups.       Silverkeeper will look at TC2 and back it up to a external or internal HD. I've been doing the or some time now. Or connect to your TC and do an archive.
I have this setup because I don't trust Cloud base services and I want access to my files (in Sync) on TC where ever I am, as long as there's a internet connection. It's expensive, but does exactly what I expect.
The most important thing is to safe guard your data in case of a failure.
In your situation it would probably be better to get a high speed SD or thumb drive, however I've never been successful in backing up those type of drives with TM. What ever you decide to do make sure you have a GOOD duplicate (backup).

Can the hard drive in my macbook pro with retina be upgraded?

Can the hard drive in my macbook pro with retina display be upgraded to a larger hard drive? I have a 2.6 Ghz processor, 8 GB of Memory. I have a 250 GB drive and would like a larger drive. Thx.

There are two answers to this:
No, if you want to keep your warranty on your product by doing it yourself.
Yes, if you consider using a IT pro (not Apple) which can give you an warranty on the work done.
Official bottom line: Apple does not support this.

The hard drive for my MacBook Pro recently crashed. I purchased and installed a new hard drive (i.e. Samsung SSD). However, when I try to re-install the Mac's operating system, I come to the part of the installation instructions where you asked to selec

The hard drive for my MacBook Pro recently crashed. I purchased and installed a new hard drive (i.e. a Samsung SSD). When I try to re-install the Mac operating system, I come to the part of the installation instructions where you are asked to choose a disk to install the software. However, there is no disk listed in the selection screen. Why is there no disk in the selection screen?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You haven't formatted the SSD, so you can't install Mac OS X.
First, close the OS X installer and open Disk Utility. Then, choose the SSD at the top of the sidebar, go to Erase tab, choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as "Format", and press Erase. Finally, close Disk Utility and reinstall OS X. See > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU1.html

How can I remove the mywwwcop scam from my macbook pro?

How can I remove the mywwwcop scam from my MacBook Pro laptop?

Safari?
Press command + option + esc keys together.
When Force Quit window opens up, click Force Quit.
Hold the shift key down and launch Safari.
Best.

I just changed the hard drive on my macbook pro 13" and it won't turn on. I need to put the latest operating system on it.

i just changed the hard drive on my macbook pro 13" and it won't turn on. I need to put the latest operating system on it. It had OS8 on it

dtrewitt wrote:
It had OS8 on it
Ummmm no it didn't. iOS only runs on iPhones, iPads and iPods.

Can I transfer the hard drive from my Macbook into a new Macbook Pro?

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