I want to upgrade the hard drive in my MacBook Pro

I bought one of the first MacBook Pros that only came with a 100gb drive. I want to buy at least a 250gb drive for it. The problem is that I would like to maintain what I already have on the existing drive. I am getting Leopard on Monday so I'm not sure if using Time Machine will help. I guess what I am trying to say is that I like my computer just like it is as far as what I have installed and configured on it. Can anyone offer suggestions to how I can upgrade the drive and maintain all of my stuff. I have an externl drive much larger than 100gb to use should I need to back some stuff up. Any hel would be greatly appreciated.

The hard drive is not a user upgradeable part. This means that technically speaking if something goes wrong with your installation, you may void your warranty/AppleCare. Some authorized service centers may be able to maintain your warranty while doing such an installation, but that really varies by service center. I know when I install a new hard drive in my iMac, I had to put back in the original hard drive before before Apple would be willing to diagnose the logicboard of my iMac. So consider that before installing a new hard drive. You can put the SATA 2.5" drive inside a Firewire enclosure which supports it to maintain your hard drive contents while you put in the new drive. http://www.ifixit.com/ and http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ are the most common places to find instructions to do such installations yourself. Mind you, because as an external drive, it is more liable to fall, and break, backing it up before you take it out is highly recommended as my FAQ* explains:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
And that's highly recommended before you install Leopard in anycase. So do that first, and worry about whether Time Machine will give you the abilities you need later. There is a new Leopard forum on the board where you can see what people have found out about Time Machine.
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=235
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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What do I need to do after I upgrade the hard drive on my macbook pro?

I just bought a new 13" Macbook pro i5 on May/03/13 but I need more space and I want to upgrade my Hard Drive from the 500GB it come's with to a 750GB. So I just want to know the steps I need to take after I do the upgrade and start up my Macbook, Someone told me that the Macbook won't work right away because I have to do something to it, I just dont know what. Can anybody plz tell me what I have to do after I do the upgrade step by stpe? Thank You!
Oh and my Macbook pro is on OSX 10.8.3

Correct. After installing the new hard drive, your Mac won't have any operating system, so you will have to reinstall OS X using Internet Recovery > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
To start in Internet Recovery, hold Command, Option (Alt) and R keys while your Mac is starting. Then, open Disk Utility and create a partition formatted with "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", if it hasn't been already created. Finally, close Disk Utility and reinstall OS X.
If you want to copy all the data you had on the old hard drive into the new one, use Disk Utility's Restore feature > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU7.html Note that you will have to buy an enclosure to put the old hard drive

Is it possible to upgrade the hard drive of my MacBook Pro Mid 2009?

I have a mid 09 MacBook Pro that has 250GB of hard drive space, and I was looking to upgrade it to something around 750GB to maybe even 1 terabyte. I've looked around and I'm afraid of getting the wrong model for my laptop, so is there any place or trusted website that I could go to to purchase this? What would be ideal would be to find something on Amazon I could use. Thanks!

Kappy's advice is spot on.
Mac123455 wrote:
What would be ideal would be to find something on Amazon I could use.
Determine the HDD you want to install and then check for the best price. Amazon is a good source.
Consider a Seagate SSHD (hybrid) which will boot and shut down your MBP much faster than a conventional HDD with only a modest increase in price.
Ciao.

I have a rather old iMac 20" (mid 2007) and I want to upgrade the Hard drive. How do I change it? How do I transfer all my applications? May I just copy the old hd into the new one? Thanks.

I have a rather old iMac 20" (mid 2007) and I want to upgrade the Hard drive. How do I change it? How do I transfer all my applications? May I just copy the old hd into the new one? Thanks.

There are many online tutorials on how to change out the HD on a mid 2007 iMac. One of the originals is from 2007 and is Upgrade your iMac 20" or iMac 24" aluminum (mid 2007) to 1TB Hard Drive and 4 GB RAM - DIY Guide. As far as migrating your system Apple helps out with that in Setup Assistant which automatically starts when you turn on a new Mac for the first time. After you have installed the new HD you will have to format the new HD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and then you will have to install OS X. The first time you turn it on Setup Assistant will start. Follow the directions and you will be fine. In order to restore your information you will need to backup what is on the current internal HD first. I'd recommend using Time Machine (Assuming you are using Leopard or later) AND also creating a bootable clone using either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner.
Please complete your profile so at the very least we know what version of OS X your machine has installed.

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.

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.

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).

Reformat the hard drive on my macBook Pro 10.5.8

how do i reformat the hard drive on my macBook Pro 10.5.8 - dvd player doesn't work - otherwise what is the best way to delete stuff off the hd - thanks a million. I want to keep the os on it.

Get your PRAM battery replaced. It may fix your optical drive in the process, if it is over 4 years old.
Read my FAQ*:
http://www.macmaps.com/diskfull.html

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.

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.

Graphic card problem maybe? Since when I have changed the hard drive to my macbook pro and I installed all the new softwares, my mac is very slow and the screen gives crazy pictures,could maybe be the graphic card, does anybody have experienced this?

Graphic card problem maybe? Since when I have changed the hard drive to my macbook pro and I installed all the new softwares, my mac is very slow and the screen gives crazy pictures,could maybe be the graphic card, does anybody have experienced this?

after a restart it works for a time, but always slow. I went to the Applestore this afternoon and the made a check and said it would be the logicboard and they would have to change it for CHF 600 and it would be ready in 10 - 15 days

Does replacing the hard drive in a MacBook Pro early 2011 void AppleCare?

Does replacing the hard drive in a MacBook Pro early 2011, as described in the manual, void AppleCare?

here's one of the provisions....
Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.[2] This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales" provisions,[3] and is frequently mentioned in the context of third-party computer parts, such as memory and hard drives.

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 do I replace the hard drive in my Macbook Pro

Okay...
I need more space on my computer, so I want to replace the hard drive. I have no OSX install disk, but my computer is running Lion from the app store download. Can I just back up my data onto my new hard drive, and literally just swap them out? Also, how should I back up my drive? should I use a hard drive enclosure with my future drive, and just use time machine or something? Would time machine back up everything? Would the drive become bootable? Please help!

The best way to do this is buy your new drive. Get the largest you can buy, and don't buy anything from Western Digital, just a recommendation. The Samsung 1TB is pretty sweet. Put that drive in a external encloser (they're inexpensive). Using CarbonCopyCloner, clone your internal drive to your external one. This is the cleanest way to do it.
Then, boot to the cloned drive, just to make sure it works. It's just a test. Shut down. Replace drive (you can find the instructions for your MacBook Pro, by searching the support section of this website, the manual is there).
Start up with new drive. Make sure everything is fine. Use old drive in external enclosure as either a data drive or scratch drive for Photoshop or whatever you do.
I would set up Time Machine going forward with your new drive. You need a drive at least as large, and probably 50% larger than your internal drive.

Can I upgrade the Hard Drive on a macbook?

I am having all kinds of problems with my 2nd (in less than a year) WD external 1TB hard drive on my Macbook. I use it for my iTunes and iPhoto, as well as my Time Machine backup. So when my Macbook just stops seeing the hard drive that is a problem. The first WD 1TB My Passport HD did the same thing until I had to run the Mac HD repair program to see the hard drive. The problem persisted. I've ordered my third HD but this time it's a Seagate GoFlex USB 2.0. My Macbook has only a Firewire 400 and USB 2.0 ports. My iPhoto and iTunes files are too big to fit on my 160GB internal HD. Is there a Apple recommended internal HD upgrade to solve this problem? I have Mac OS X 10.7.3

You sure can, up to 1 terabyte. Check ifixit.com for comprehensive guides on how to do it. If you don't feel comfortable, have an authorized apple dealer do it.

I want to upgrade the hard drive in my MacBook Pro

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