If I take out my hard drive, will I lose everything?

My sister spilled wine on her macbook and took everything apart to dry it, however it still doesn't work. She wants to check if her hard drive is still alright and wants to put it in my macbook. We have the exact same macbook. I'm just really paranoid and I don't want to take any chances of losing everything.

A hard disk drive exhange should be perfectly OK as long as the Macs really are identical.
Back up your Mac first. This goes without saying.
If you are going to remove the HD anyway, it would be safer to obtain an external enclosure for it. They are about $20. That way you only have to disassemble one Mac.

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If I erase the imac hard drive will i lose my Discussion ID and alias ?

Hi,
Simply put, If I erase the imac hard drive will i lose my Discussion ID
and alias
Thanks.
Eme.

Hi Niel.
So i could register in my name, (as a opposed to beaus) and give the computer a new name (long and short) ?
Apple care would recognize the changes as long as it is the same serial #,
Is that correct ?
Thanks again for your help.
Eme: )
Power PC G4 (3.3) iMac ♥ Flat Panel 10.3.9 & 15 Alum.PowerBook Tiger Mac OS X (10.4.5)

How does one take out a hard drive partition on a MacBook Pro?

I have a MacBook Pro that has been configured with a partition so that my Mac can run Windows. I haven't used Windows since I got the computer -- I'm a Windows-convert and when I got the Mac, I thought I might still need Windows. BUT since I'm not using Windows at all these days and would like to regain that space on my hard drive, I want to know how to take out the partition so that the drive will just be one complete one.
I wanted to take the partition before I installed Leopard and I thought the installation would include a way to do this, BUT I guess not because it didn't work.
I realize that my taking out the partition will likely mean that I will have to reload everything... but I need first to know how to do it. Any instructions?

*Hi LGSue, Welcome* to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.
I hope you are aware that repartitioning will erase everything. It is best if you have a full clone on a FWH. You tell us nothing about your back up status.
I concur w do this before Leopard so you have a fallback. Doing a Combo Update to 10.4.10 in the process would leave you with the stable 10.4.10 and a fallback if Leopard proves buggy or unhappy with any of your apps.
Not often I differ from Niel.

How to take out the Hard Drive...

My logic board died on my 12' iBook G4 and the information on there is critical to get back. I can't start my ibook up in target mode, but I would like to take the Hard Drive out and put it in a case. Can someone point me to a current link, step by step instructions please. Time is short, and I need a quick fix.
Thanks

Try this:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/83.0.0.html
Have fun!
Adrian

I am swapping out my hard drive, will seagates 7200.9 work?

Hi I just bought a 17" imac. I am going ot swap the drive as soon as I get it and I am wondering if seagates 7200.9's will work? The have the 3.0 gb's/ sec interface. I am not sure if this is a different connection from the SATA 150? If it is will the 7200.8 work? I think I heard these are the drives the imac's ship with.
Thanks for any help.
Kal

Yes, any SATA notebook HD in the 9.5mm (2.5") format will work.
As for the brand, to each his/hers own, but Seagate would be my personal preference.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
George
In daily use: R60F, R500F, T61, T410
Collecting dust: T60
Enjoying retirement: A31p, T42p,
Non-ThinkPads: Panasonic CF-31 & CF-52, HP 8760W
Starting Thursday, 08/14/2014 I'll be away from the forums until further notice. Please do NOT send private messages since I won't be able to read them. Thank you.

Out of hard drive memory

My Mac mini is out of hard drive capacity. I bought an external drive, but I am unsure which files to move onto the second drive without affecting the ability of the system to start up and perform basic functions. Mac online help was unable to answer this question for me. Can anyone out there help me?
Also, for some reason there is a discrepancy between the available size as shown by interrogating each of my root folders, and the available size as indicated by "whatsize.dmg", the software I downloaded to advise me on how much capacity I have left in the machine. Again, this problem stumped Mac online personnel. Any ideas about the best way to determine available capacity on my Mac mini?

WhatSize will be the best way to obtain a trustworthy indication of available space and space folders are taking. The Finder is designed not to be able to see certain files that are critical to MacOS, and thus while it can usually give a pretty good idea of the space a folder takes, if that folder contains hidden files it will not be an accurate figure. If those hidden files are large, it can be significantly at variance with WhatSize, which can see such files.
In terms of what you can move - it depends a great deal on what you have on your system in the first place. You can, for example, move your entire 'Documents' folder (harddrive>users>yourname>documents) to the external, because the system doesn't keep track of any content there - they are just documents. However, this often won't save much space unless you typically keep a significant number of large files in that location. You can also move iTunes and iPhoto libraries (harddrive>users>yourname>music and harddrive>users>yourname>pictures respectively), but you need to tell iTunes and iPhoto if you do this so they can find the files. You can also move any iMovie or iDVD projects, the former in harddrive>users>yourname>movies and the latter usually found in your harddrive>users>yourname folder. These latter are usually large files.
You cannot move your entire user folder or any folder marked 'library', nor the folder called 'system'. You can move the applications folder, but Apple applications such as iMovie, iTunes etc will then not update correctly.
You can also

Running out of hard drive space---can I use my external hard drive-??

I have a 16GB iPod nano. I hope I can explain my problem well enough.
My laptop computer has the iTunes that I use for syncing my iPod. It has over 25gb of songs in it, but my problem is that it has completely run out of hard drive space, and I don't think I can delete anything else.
I have a 250 GB external hard drive that also has all my songs backed up on it, that has hard drive space left on it.
Is there a way to load new music into the external hard drive, that will sync up to the iPod when I connect it to the laptop, WITHOUT putting a copy of it into the laptop, and taking up space-?
The way it appears to me, and I may be wrong, is that there are 2 copies of eaxh song on my laptop---the one in my music folder, and then the one in the iTunes folder. Is that correct-?
OR, is there a way to remove some of the songs from the laptop, and put them into the external hard drive, but will still sync up to the iPod-?
Thanks for any help that anyone can offer, I'm desperate ~!
I'm not sure if this can be done, but I'd hate to think that I cannot put new music onto my iPod.
Thanks~!

Hello melbernai,
I think your best move would be to the move the entire iTunes library including of all of its file to your external hard drive and running your iTunes from there. You can even have it so that all newly imported music is saved to the external drive as well.
For more help on how to do this, I would check out this article on how to move and run your iTunes library from an external hard drive.
http://lifehacker.com/238296/ultranewb--how-to-move-your-itunes-library-to-an-ex ternal-drive
Hope this helps.
B-rock

I downloaded Lion on my iMac. It apparently cleaned out the hard drive. Nothing shows up from before. It looks like a brand new computer. It is backed up on Time machine. Any idea of why this happened and suggestions on restoring? Thanks.

I downloaded Lion on my 4 yr old iMac. The download stalled at the last minute so I clicked "CANCEL". When it was restarted, Lion was there, with no apparent option but to go ahead and install so I assumed it was okay. Didn't transfer data from "another computer" when prompted - assumed it would transfer from that computer. It apparently cleaned out the hard drive. It looks like a brand new computer. None of my apps, programs, files, or thousands of photos.   It is backed up on Time machine, but it's a sickening sight. Any idea why this happened and suggestions before restoring? Thanks.

I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
You are probably using Time Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, right? Then the additional 300 GB could be local Time Machine snapshots. Time Machine will write the hourly backups to the free space on your hard disk, if the backup drive is temporarily not connected. You do not see these local backups in the Finder, and MacOS will delete them, when you make a regular backup to Time Machine, or when you need the space for other data.
See Pondini's page for more explanation:   What are Local Snapshots?   http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
You have tested the library on the external drive, and so your photos are save there.
The local TimeMachine snapshot probably now contains a backup of the moved library. Try, if connecting your Time Machine drive will reduce the size of your local Time Machine snapshots.

My external hard drive will not open and only shows up in Disk Utilities. When I try yo repair it, it give me and error of invalid sibling link. How do I fix my external hard drive?

My external hard drive will not open and only shows up in Disk Utilities. When I try yo repair it, it give me and error of invalid sibling link. How do I fix my external hard drive?

Invalid sibling link may not be fixable by Disk Utility. (Disk Utility is very conservative, and will not attempt repairs that might cause you to lose data.)
It is an indication of serious Directory damage.
that leaves
a) third-party Utilities that will take those risks, or
b) re-initializing the drive (which deletes all your data) and restoring from another backup source.
c) "Copying off whatever files you can salvage" has gone by, and you cannot copy anything off a drive that will not mount. You may be able to use "rescue" programs such as prosoft engineering Data Rescue to copy files to another drive, but that sounds a lot better than its reality. You may get many files, but not get ANY filenames.

Portable Hard Drive will not show up in Disk Utility

I purchased a Toshiba Canvio Slim 500 GB hard drive a few months ago before I updated my computer to Mac OSX Version 10.6.8. I was running out of Hard Drive Space since I bought my computer in 2009 and decided to use a portable hard drive to store some of my personal information. I was able to read and successfully transfer data to the hard drive, but then I updated my computer to 10.6.8 and now I can't access it at all. It won't even show up in Disk Utility. I read on a few forums that some people were having the same problem as I was and they bought a y-cable adapter to power the hard drive through two usb cables. I bought one and tried it out and I'm still not having any luck. I tried using my girlfriend's computer to see if I can access it from her computer and it shows up in disk utility, but I can't access it. The lights turn on and I can hear it working like it worked the first day I used it, but nothing is happening. Please help me fix the problem.

Evidence, as scant as it is from Disk Utility, suggests the Toshiba external
HDD is indeed without Partion Map Scheme, has no files on it, unformatted.
So I wonder if there isn't a wire or defective circuit inside the box (enclosure)
that may be hiding access to the actual HDD unit inside there. Those kinds
of enclosures generally use a laptop 2.5" HDD since they can run on USB
power from the port. Matching up the internal HDD from that case, with an
other one with correct life support (connections) is a way to test it.
However if the Toshiba HD is a 3.5" standard drive, a larger enclosure, or
an adapter that simply plugs into the connections of the bare hard drive,
would be a way to access that external drive. These 'drive adapters' can
work with both SATA and IDE hard drives; or just one of the two. They
run in the range of $40 or so, and essentially are a wire kit with a power
adapter to spin the drive, but some do not even have the adapter, so as
to still use USB power for smaller drives of slower disc RPM speed.
Most competent computer stores with a skilled staff would know of these.
However some of the smaller HDD enclosures may be hard to open up.
And if there were a Toshiba warranty, this action could void the same.
Adapters would be to 'test the idea of recovering any data,' if enclosure
the drive shipped in has somehow developed a defect. Though it may
be if there is a defect, it may have existed at a point in time to affect
the actual save-to-disk process. Or later. A wire could be not allowing
information to be received, if broken or circuit damages, by the Mac.
But by the look of the Disk Utility's partition map, along with the other
earlier image that shows the same info in the bottom of the image of
the status, in Disk Description, this does not bode well for recovery.
I'm not sure what else to suggest. When the dust settles, Toshiba may
have a residual warranty that could only replace that one with another.
Some older mailorder catalogs show these kinds of adapters, some use
USB port power, others also include an AC adapter so standard faster
HDDs can be used without an enclosure. This also helps if one wants
temporary access to a hard disk drive, but does not want to install it.
•USB drive cable adapter kit SATA and IDE HDD - google results:
https://www.google.com/#q=USB+drive+cable+adapter+kit+SATA+and+IDE+HDD
Companies also make hot-swap docks to allow fast swapping of HDDs
of either or both 2.5" and 3.5" size, these have their own adapter and
one simply puts drives inside from the top, like a bread toaster.
Hopefully you can take the Toshiba along to a computer store and ask
a somewhat skilled person there about getting the cable adapter kit or
another enclosure. The cable adapter would cost less & be quicker, yet
that would still involve opening up the failed HDD's enclosure for access.
Good luck & happy computing!

I have a white MacBook. I just changed out the hard drive with a 500GB. When I turn it on I get a file fold with a ? In the middle that flashes. What do I do next?

I have a white MacBook and I just changed out the hard drive with a 500GB. When I turn it on I get a file fold with a ? In the middle that flashes. What do I do next?

Clean Install of Snow Leopard
Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase
the drive and everything on it.
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
         a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
     2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
         button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same
         username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup
         Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh
         install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software
         Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your installation current.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

Can static electricity from a carrying case "blow out" a hard drive?

Can static electricity from a carrying case "blow out" a hard drive?
My one-month old MacBook Pro's hard drive died today. The Apple store employee said a number of things could cause it (like dropping it), but I have taken good care of it (never dropped it). The only thing I can think of is that when I take it out of the sleeve I have for it, sometimes I get a static electricity shock. Could this have blown the hard drive? If so, where can I get a nonstatic electricity case? (I got a new computer today.) Thanks!

It's quite unlikely that static electricity would affect the HDD. You may just have had a defective drive or there was some other event that damaged the drive such as leaving the computer running while in your carrying case or doing an abnormal shutdown or an electrical surge when it was connected to the AC adaptor, for example.

Best way to clean out a hard drive.

I have a A505 S605 Satelite laptop with a hard drive full of junk. I would like to start over by cleaning out the hard drive completely. After the hard drive is cleaned out, I will install everything using the recovery disks that I got from the Geek Squad when I bought the computer.
What is the best way to get the hard drive wiped out? Thank you for your help.

Just back up the data you need to keep onto a usb thumb drive or usb external hard drive then run the Recovery Disk to restore the system to it's factory out of box state. IT will wipe the drive as part of the process leaving your system exactly as it came to from the factory. You don't need to delete anything first.
If you don't post your COMPLETE model number it's very difficult to assist you. Please try to post in complete sentences with punctuation, capitals, and correct spelling. Toshiba does NOT provide any direct support in these forums. All support is User to User in their spare time.

My Hybrid 1TB Seagate Hard Drive will not work in my data doubler caddy installed in the optical bay

My Hybrid 1TB Seagate Hard Drive will not work in my data doubler caddy installed in the optical bay of my MacBook Pro

Thanks for all the advice. It looks like I have finally got my MBP working again (after two weeks of pain).
The WD HD works fine internally, but restoring from TM introduced a whole load more of issues/incompatabilities (see above). Eventually the only thing left was to re-build rather than restore:
i) mount the WD disk internally and install Snow Lepoard from the orginial installation disks
ii) get online, and after much trying download Lion (previously purchased). Perfrom all update.
iii) Connect my Time Capsule, identify my data, photo and music files and then copy them accross by hand
iv) install all the other applications (e.g. MS Office:mac, etc) from scratch.
This exercise has shown me that even though tools and procedures exist to address separate issues, when the complexity of inter-dependence is introduced there are a raft of problems that crop up.
Now I am back in business I will be using TM and CCC to take full and regular copies. I did this previously, which has saved me from losing my data and cherished pictures, but hopefully next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time) the recovery will be less infuriating.
BTW I got a refund on the Seagate Momentus XT. They guy in the shop said it wasn't the first time he'd heard of this issue with MBPs. Great.

An Entire cup of coffee was spilled on the side of my MacBook Pro, it was in my purse, port side up. They were filled. I'm assuming the board or whatever is fried. If I go to apple tomorrow, what are the odds that my hard drive will be salvageable?

I'm usually good at backing up my photos and documents, but the last 2 months of pictures and videos are on there and not backed up anywhere. I'm heartbroken.

"What are the odds that my hard drive will be salvageable?"
Very very good, it's all sealed and only a large electrical surge or dropping it while running could do some damage.
Take it and use a SATA to USB adapter you can get online for $12-$40 and hook it right up to the new Mac and use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to transfer files.
OR you can access the drive directly and on a PC with MacDrive installed.
However the Mac itself is likley a goner.

If I take out my hard drive, will I lose everything?

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