Hard Drive Connection Issue on MacBook Pro

Hi,
A couple weeks ago my MacBook Pro was running and suddenly went into a non-stop pinwheel freeze. After waiting a few minutes I decided to do a manual shut down and when I attempted to reboot it, I just got a blank white screen that wouldn't go away and then a blinking question mark folder when I tried it again. Luckily I already had an external HardDrive Dock so I removed my Hard Drive, used the system startup Disc that came with the computer to redirect the start up disc, and I've been able to boot my MacBook from the Dock since then through a USB cable. So I have a temporary fix, but of course it requires a lot of set up, it's a slower connection, and is less convenient when I take my laptop from place to place.
What I want to do is replace the connection between the Hard Drive and I my MacBook but I want to make sure that I purchase the right part. My MacBook is two or three years old now but it runs fine (besides these issues) and is fast enough for all of my needs. My Macbook is a MacBookPro5,5 with an Intel Core 2. I believe it is a 15 inch model. I'd like to avoid taking this to the Apple Store if possible because I have a limited budget and this should be a pretty simple repair as long as I'm replacing the right part. Can anyone tell me what the probable part is that I need to replace?
Thanks,
Todd

SuperDuper is not compatible with Leopard, but CCC 3.0.x is.
Put the new drive in an enclosure and connect it to the computer. Prep the drive by partitioning and formatting with Disk Utility. Clone your existing system using either the Restore option of Disk Utility or CCC (CCC is a bit faster.) Test the clone to be sure it boots the computer. If all is well then replace the old drive with the new one and put the old drive in the enclosure.
Bear in mind that doing this yourself is not approved by Apple.

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{quote}
My desktop has two FireWire ports. In the first one I had my webcam plugged in. In the second one, the External Hard Drive. I unplugged the camera and used the first port for my External HDrive and now it works! So it seems the problem is a hardware problem with the port.
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Message was edited by: dechamp

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Check to see if you've any panic logs -> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2546.
If so, post the text of the latest.
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You can use a blank CD or DVD instead of your friend's hard drive.
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Hello,
Apple have arranged to give me a replacement Macbook Pro due to faults with hardware on the one I am currently using. I will be going to pick up the replacement Macbook Pro tomorrow morning.
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I did a back up using time machine earlier today which took quite a long time and seemed to go successfully. Is this the right thing to have done to save all data from my current laptop onto the external hard drive?
Will transferring data from the external hard drive onto my new Macbook Pro be a simple task?
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Well it's like this.
If your problem on the Mac didn't affect the software or the TimeMachine backup, then restoring from that using SetupAssistant (when you first set up a new Mac it will ask you to restore) should go fine.
HOWEVER, if there are software issues on the Mac that also transferred to the TimeMachine drive, that will only transfer them back onto your new computer.
You can't very easily just pick out the things you want to restore from TimeMachine with, it doesn't give that fine detail of control, and if it's really messed up, it might not restore anything at all.
The golden rule of backups is to maintain two separate and easily accessible hardware copies of your data off the machine at all times.
Since you don't know for sure if the TimeMachine restore is going to work as intended, and your only other source is going to disappear, I'd advise a additional backup of your Music, Documents, Pictures and Movie folders etc., to another regular external drive via regular drag and drop copy methods.
The operating system and programs can all be reinstalled from fresh sources on the new machine, provided you have the AppleID and password, license codes for your programs, email passwords and any other necessary information to re-establish the license on the new machine.
(In some cases licensed software HAS NOT transferred to a new machine with a TimeMachine restore and had to be reinstalled)
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If your new machine gets all crapped up, then restoring Lion is going to going to be a tough challenge, as you need a strong reliable Internet connection to download a fresh copy of Lion from Apple servers (no more disks). Once you do that, then somehow you have to use third party software ($$) to cherry pick your files out of TimeMachines trap. More headaches than you anticpated, and likely a charge by a specialist.
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TM restores have not been all that reliable or dependable, the more messed up your machine is, the worst the restore seems to be.
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The genius bar technicians can check your MBP for possible hardware problems and specific software issues that you may have. The diagnosis will be free. Any extensive repairs will not be free.
If you have minor software problems, you essentially will have to deal with them yourself. Examine these two comprehensive documents for possible problem definition and solutions. If you encounter problems that you are unable to cope with, start a new discussion and there will be persons willing to assist you in solving them.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3521
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3353
Ciao.

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I think how you understand the value of having backups. All you can do is:
General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as MAC Data Recovery, Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads. Recovery software usually provide trial versions that enable you to determine if the software would help before actually paying for it. Beyond this or if the drive has completely failed, then you would need to send the drive to a recovery service which is very expensive.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.
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Toshiba is nearly neck and neck in 2.5" USB external HD to Hitachi.
Here are "best for the money"....at bottom is BEST external USB HD
best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
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http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
2 Terabytes, 2.5" and only $129
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Basics-Portable-HDTB120XK3CA/dp/B00ARJD56K
updated "design" casing cousin $119
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
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HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Touro-Mobile-External-HTOLMX3NA10001ABB/dp/B0062FZ2WS /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379185002&sr=1-1&keywords=hitachi+extern a l+hard+drive
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"

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