Is it difficult installing new hard drive in a 15mth old iMac (24" intel)?

Hi all,
A little bit of background:
My iMac became progressively slower and slower - especially when writing to the hard disc. I re-installed the OS which did not fix things. Disc repair couldn't repair after booting from CD. (Can't remember the message sorry). Finally the computer wouldn't even boot up - it would go to the no permission sign. Ran Disk Warrior - and it said that the hard drive was broken (or to that effect). So - *first question* is, am I correct in assuming that it is time for a new hard drive?
Unfortunately I don't have apple care, and it is 3 months out of warranty. So silly eh - but i've had macs for as long as i have had computers (a good 10 years). Have never needed it .... until now. GRRR!
*Second question, and most important one*: How hard is it to install a new hard drive? I am a poor student so would like to escape the rather steep service costs involved in having it installed in a shop.
Thanks in advance for your advice!

hello lenn5,
So sorry it took so long to answer back! I didn't get onto my hard drive replacement until weeks after I asked this question .. and then exams hit. Been pre-occupied. I did re-install a new hard drive, and yeah - it was as suspected, fiddly but not difficult. Mind you - I have a friend who knows his way around PC guts extremely well do it. I was too nervous. I figured a Mac would definately be easier than a PC. He was able to complete the job in a couple of hours. He said that despite being nervous about stuffing up the computer, it was all pretty straight forward, and yes - easier than a PC.
I don't know the policy of posting urls here (and I can't be bothered looking atm hehe.. so 2nd best policy - don't know, don't do), but if you want the URL that he and I followed, just pm me and I will send it to you. You probably already have it, but just in case.. [edit: can't pm on this forum. mmm... well, if needed I'll read the P&P pages to see if we are allowed to post urls)
aaanyway - so far, so good. Fingers crossed that it stays taht way!
Message was edited by: slbm

Similar Messages

Windows 7 Enterprise is not genuine after installing new hard-drive and cloning the old one

I retired from my job as a university professor two years ago, and they let me keep my laptop computer, which is a Dell Latitude E4300 with Windows 7 Enterprise installed. I do not have any of the original disks for Windows. Recently, the hard-drive began
to fail, so I replaced it with a new one, cloning the old hard-drive onto the new one. Soon after that, a popup window began appearing saying that this computer is not running genuine windows. One important consequence of this is that I can no longer use Windows
Update, so I have concerns about security. If I go to the control panel under “System”, it says windows is activated and gives me the Product ID. I have talked to tech support at Microsoft, and they tell me something along the lines of the following: that
the problem is the new hard-drive is not recognized as being licensed to use this copy of Windows, and that I should post a question on one of the forums asking this: How can I reinstall Windows 7 Enterprise on the new hard-drive? Any assistance will be much
appreciated.
PS I have no idea which forum this should go under, so pretty much just picked one randomly.

Thank you for the reply. Below is the diagnostic report:
Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
Windows Validation Data-->
Validation Code: 0x8004FE21
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-*****-*****-XVH7B
Windows Product Key Hash: juq6zzHf9lIH1XRY1VK2YrQYWO0=
Windows Product ID: 55041-011-1350732-86681
Windows Product ID Type: 6
Windows License Type: Volume MAK
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.004
ID: {04DEBE17-699E-4D0A-A59D-3C196C2C84FE}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Enterprise
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A
Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGA Data-->
Office Status: 100 Genuine
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 - 100 Genuine
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3_E2AD56EA-765-d003_E2AD56EA-766-0_E2AD56EA-134-80004005_E2AD56EA-765-b01a_E2AD56EA-766-0_E2AD56EA-148-80004005_16E0B333-89-80004005_B4D0AA8B-1029-80004005
Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed
File Scan Data-->
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watadminsvc.exe[7.1.7600.16395], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watux.exe[7.1.7600.16395], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppobjs.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppc.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppwinob.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slc.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppuinotify.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slui.exe[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcomapi.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcommdlg.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\spsys.sys[6.1.7127.0], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\spldr.sys[6.1.7127.0], Hr = 0x80092003
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\systemcpl.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\user32.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{04DEBE17-699E-4D0A-A59D-3C196C2C84FE}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.004</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-BBBBB</PKey><PID>55041-011-1350732-86681</PID><PIDType>6</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-240060965-2561850352-3419627931</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell
Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Latitude E4300                  </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A21</Version><SMBIOSVersion
major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20110111000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>68B63A07018400F8</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time(GMT-08:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>1</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL
</OEMID><OEMTableID>M09    </OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>100</Result><Products><Product GUID="{90120000-0030-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft
Office Enterprise 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>1DB36DFCEA6586</Val><Hash>uf4pjarnSPRhy0+iMrKzL8KTLeY=</Hash><Pid>89388-707-1262377-65112</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product></Products><Applications><App
Id="15" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="16" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="18" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="19" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="1A" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="1B" Version="12" Result="100"/><App
Id="44" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="A1" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="BA" Version="12" Result="100"/></Applications></Office></Software></GenuineResults>
Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002
Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514
Name: Windows(R) 7, Enterprise edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, VOLUME_MAK channel
Activation ID: 9abf5984-9c16-46f2-ad1e-7fe15931a8dd
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 55041-00172-011-135073-03-1033-7600.0000-0402011
Installation ID: 017002020180881956515246274583104396790522223804443953
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: XVH7B
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
Trusted time: 6/6/2014 2:38:03 PM
Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x8004FE21
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x000000000001EFF0
Event Time Stamp: 5:30:2014 15:10
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppobjs.dll
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppc.dll|sppc.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcext.dll|sppcext.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppwinob.dll
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slc.dll|slc.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slcext.dll|slcext.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppuinotify.dll|sppuinotify.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slui.exe|slui.exe.mui|COM Registration
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcomapi.dll|sppcomapi.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcommdlg.dll|sppcommdlg.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppsvc.exe|sppsvc.exe.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\drivers\spsys.sys
HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MgAAAAEAAQABAAIAAQABAAAAAwABAAEAeqgiDXhybAimeiQ1hEDag8ysrmAi+8rbRso=
OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A
OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name   OEMID Value   OEMTableID Value
APIC           DELL         M09
FACP           DELL         M09
HPET           DELL         M09
BOOT           DELL         M09
MCFG           DELL         M09
____           DELL         M09
ASF!           DELL         M09
TCPA
SLIC           DELL         M09
SSDT           PmRef       CpuPm
scott cohen

Need help installing new hard drive and wiping the old one for Windows XP.

I’ve searched to try and figure out the answer to my question and haven’t been too successful, so hopefully someone can help me out. I have a new Mac Pro that I haven’t even turned it on yet because I’m waiting for some upgrades to show up. Here is what I plan to do, I’m unsure of what I need to do and what order to do it in:
It has a stock 250GB hard drive that I plan to wipe and install Windows XP on. I have a new 750GB drive coming that will run Leopard which will be my primary OS. Once I have this set up, I will probably try running VM Fusion which I assume I can install later on. Here are my questions:
When I put my new blank 750GB drive in to install Leopard, will OS X boot up off the Leopard install disc to then allow me to do the install?
When do I wipe the smaller drive to put Windows on it, before or after I’ve installed Leopard on the new drive? How should I wipe it, using the Bootcamp setup assistant or Disc Utility? If I wipe it after installing Leopard, will I be prompted for which drive to boot from?
Thanks in advance for any help.

I don't use Windows, but I think the proper order to do things would be this:
First, if your Mac Pro came with Tiger installed, when you start it up for the first time, you'll need to go through some initial setup, create an administrator account, etc. You can go ahead and do this.
Afterwards, you can install your 750 GB drive. Next, you can insert your Leopard disk, and go to System Preferences/Startup Disk to choose to start up from the disk. (Alternatively, if you just choose "Install Mac OS X" from the disk, it will instruct you to restart the mac.)
When the mac boots from the disc, install Leopard on your 750. Once you have that done, and have booted from that drive, you'll be able to erase your 250 in Disk Utility, and then install Windows on it.

Installed new hard drive and windows 7 at the same time. Left old hard drives in computer but unable to get bookmarks from old drives to new.

Installed new hard drive and windows 7 at the same time. Left old hard drives in computer, installed firefox however I have no idea in which file the old bookmarks are located. I still have the old files for firefox in the old drives.

Your "Firefox personal data", like bookmarks, are stored in your Profile folder in Firefox. See this support article about how to recover that data from that old hard drive and transfer it your your new Profile.
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile

Just installed new hard drive in mac book pro 15", when trying to boot OSX from original disk I still get a folder with a question mark in it. How can I reinstall the OS?

Can't seem to get my mac book to boot from the CD after installing new hard drive.
I keep holding down "c" while restarting the machine with the disk in but it just keeps ejecting the disk and giving me a folder with a question mark.

If your on 10.5 with a Intel Mac, I think Apple has jinxed the firmware so you can't boot from the 10.5 disk anymore.
So far several people, myself included, can't boot from a 10.5 OS X disk on a Intel Mac.
Your going to have to buy a 10.6.3 Snow Leopard retail disk, it's wayyy better than 10.5 anyway, faster and most stable even better than Lion. Have to buy iLife though as it doesn't come on the 10.6.3 retail disks, only free with grey disks.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Bookmarks in version older than 8 - installed new hard drive - where is the bookmarks file?

installed new hard drive two months ago - just now reinstalling Firefox -- installed new version 8 -- need to know where my old bookmarks would be stored (what file and where)

Profile is a folder which store all your personal data in a safe place
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles
* here explain how to backup profile https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information
* here explain how to restore it
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Recovering%20important%20data%20from%20an%20old%20profile

Hard drive on my mac died, installed new hard drive. When I try to sync my phone for the first time, will the computer wipe all the songs, photos, ibooks from my phone?

hard drive on my mac died, installed new hard drive. When I try to sync my phone for the first time, will the computer wipe all the songs, photos, ibooks from my phone?

Yes because that information is not located on the hard-drive of your new mac! If it is purchased content from the store, than this issue isn't as bad as it looks!
Here is a link explaining how to get your previously purchased content back:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
You also want to authorize your Apple ID account on the computer by following these instructions as well:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1730
Basically this link explains to go to the top left corner of your screen where you will see file, edit, view etc! Click on Store in that section and click on authorize this computer, also you want to make sure that the computer will not automatically sync by going to iTunes in the top left corner, just to the right of the apple symbol if iTunes is selected, and go to prefrences, and here you will see back up! Right under the back-ups has an option explaining to prevent devices from automatically syncing which is good cause you may be able to transfer your purchases from there which will put your content into the computer, and if that happens than we don't lose anything
Hopefully I was of some help:)

I install new hard drive 500gb and i still have 400gb available but my macbook run very slow getting rainbow all the time on screen

i have install new hard drive 500gb and i still have 400gb available but my macbook run very slow getting rainbow all the time on screen.
need help

First boot into recovery and select Disk Utility>First Aid and repair the disk.
If there is no improvement, perform a Safe Boot:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1
If there is an improvement, then third party applications are probably the cause of the problem.
Ciao.

Installed new hard drive in imac and i get folder with question mark, put in OS install disk and it does nothing? All I have is wireless key board and mouse, is this a factor?

Installed new hard drive in imac and i get folder with question mark, put in OS install disk and it does nothing? All I have is wireless key board and mouse, is this an issue?

Other than put disc in you don't give much info about what you've done. With the install disc inserted restart your Mac while holding the C key, that should start it up from the install disc. Should also work fine with a wireless Apple keyboard.

HT4718 Installed new hard drive, click on restore from time machine, get to 'select a destination' but just keeps searching for disks.. any help please?

Installed new hard drive and want to restore from time machine.
Get as far as 'select a destination' then it goes no further - just keeps 'searching for disks'
Help anyone please?

1. Be sure your drive is attached and mounted.
2. If you have already written any data to the drive, back it up before proceeding to the next step.
3. In the Finder, choose Go > Utilities. The /Applications/Utilities folder will open.
4. Launch Disk Utility.
5. Click the icon for your external hard drive in the sidebar on the left.
6. Click the Erase tab along the top of the window.
7. From the Volume Format menu, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
8. Enter a name for the external hard drive in the Name field.
9. Click the Erase button.
Make Sure that you choose the correct drive

Can I get my bookmarks back after installing new hard drive?

Can I get my bookmarks back after installing new hard drive?

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile
Your old Profile is located here in Vista & Win7: <br />
''drive'':\Users\''Windows login user name''\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\''profile_name''

Installed new hard drive in a Toshiba satellite and now cant do windows upadates

installed new hard drive in a Toshiba satellite S500-02J . Used recovery stick purchased from Toshiba. Windows installed and everything up and running, but when I go to do a windows update. I received this message: "Windows update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer."
Toshiba help line said it was a problem because new hard drive was not exactly the same as the old hard drive. It was a minor fix but wanted a $100 to perform the fix remotely.
Any ideas on how to fix this problem?
Thanks.

satellite S500-02J
Maybe this one from the land down under?
Satellite A500/02J (PSAR9A-02J001)
The probloem occurs because the new drive has advanced-format technology. All the new ones do. See this message from three years ago.
The fix is to install a new storage driver.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology
If you've messed around with drivers, you'll probably need to repeat the restore. Introduce the storage driver as early as possible.
-Jerry

HT203177 I had to get a new hard drive in my 27 in IMac. I used time machine to get everything back on my computer. I just turn on time machine and its says it's preparing over 800,000 items to back-up, it never back-up, it stop and starts the process ove

I had to get a new hard drive in my 27 in IMac. I used time machine to get everything back on my computer. I just turn on time machine and its says it's preparing over 800,000 items to back-up, it never back-up, it stop and starts the process over again.

Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then repair the backup/TM drive.

Tutorial: Clone/Installing new hard drive (hdd) & install windows(FAT NTFS)

This is a tutorial for people looking to clone their internal hard drive and install it into their macbook (usually because you've upgraded to a larger hdd). I have also included an installation of windows vis a vis boot camp style. Ive been battling this for the past 3 days, so hopefully this tutorial will answer some questions and save you some time.
1. Firstly get your external drive (clone) ready. Go to applications---->utilities---->disk utility. Click on your external drive and then partition it. I used 2 partitions, one for mac (200 GB) and one for windows (40 GB). For now partition in GUID partition format (found in options). This is important. You can check whether it actually as in GUID at the end of the format when you click on the drive and on the bottom part of the screen it will give you all the drive information. (NOTE: if you have a standard windows installation you can have 1 partition at this stage and then later let boot camp create a partition for you. Boot camp will only format in FAT, so all windows using NTFS are out of luck).
2. if you ve decided to go for 2 partitions, format the windows partition into FAT or NTFS. If you are using windows 7 (which by the way, is a pretty good effort by microsoft and WAS free to download on beta), anyways if your using a windows which requires NTFS obviously format so. WINXP runs just fine on FAT and is probably the easier option. (This is a note for those formatting on NTFS; sometimes OSX with have some error in formatting NTFS at this stage, God knows why, dont download NTFS 3G or Disk Warrior, nothing will fix it. Just leave it for now and when your finished cloning and ready to install windows, use the XP CD to boot from and then you will be presented with the option of formatting in NTFS. I did this then exited before the actual XP install to get my windows 7 in there. (NOTE: you cannot clone windows installations, ntfs partitions, etc)
3. With your external drive ready. Download carbon copy cloner or super duper. I used super duper. So just choose your internal drive and 'backup all files' to your external. This disk will be bootable. It will not be necessary to use a third hdd to restore to. infact i tried both ways of doing it and both worked just as well as each other. No need for a third drive as some have suggested.
4. Once finished, check out the clone. Restart, just when the mac is starting HOLD down the 'option' key....you will be presented with a list of devices to boot from, choose your external (usb or firewire------> note usb only works for INTEL macs, if your not sure if you have an intel mac. In OSX click on the small black apple on the upper left hand corner of the screen and 'about this mac'....it should say whether its intel or not. Also if your pressing option and you get a padlock wanting a password (like i did), but you dont know the password. Dont worry. Get your OSX installation discs, reboot from those (it will do so automatically). Go to Utilities drop down menu and choose reset firmware password. The other 'reset password' resets the password which would come right before entering into OSX at startup.
5. Anyways, assuming your all good booting from your external drive, check out drive, whether everything is where it should be. if it check outs your good to go.
6. Disassemble macbook to install your clone (not that difficult, get a good youtube tutorial for this like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXqJn465lxs and be careful with disengaging your keyboard cable, otherwise its fairly straight forward. I did this about 6 times trying to get everything right and experimenting with installations. So im pretty blase about it
7. Start up your machine hold OPTION at startup, choose your now internal hdd. Your in. (NOTE: if you reset your firmware password the first time, you will have to do this again with your OSX discs)
8. If you have a standard windows installation you can download boot camp assistant or alternatively it will already be in applications---->utilities---> boot camp assistant. Boot camp will create you a partition and then ask you to put in the windows installation disc, is fairly automated.
9. If you decide to do it manually because you have 2 partitions already. Just restart with your windows cd in there and wait for it to boot, if it doesnt, restart, hold option key. Then just go through the usual windows installation, choose the partition with FAT or NTFS.
10. After all this you will have a working copy of OSX and Windows. I use VMWARE to use windows inside OSX, like a virtual drive. VMWARE has a more straight forward installation then Parallels Desktop (which is apparently faster).... but choose whatever works for you. To look at OSX files through Windows install MACDRIVE and you will be able to view and alter all files as you see fit.
Hopefully this tutorial was of some help. I don t generally read any mac forums so i cant really reply to any questions. I just wanted to post my experience so if someone else out there is searching for answers like i was, then these words will be guide and save you time trawling through numberless webpages......Good luck.

I would approach the situation as follows;
install Acronis, if your new HDD is from Seagate or Western Digital I believe you can download this free from their support sites.
create an Acronis Rescue Disc and when it's created uninstall Acronis as you don't need it any more.
attach external HDD and ODD and boot from the Acronis Rescue Disc
create an image of the current main HDD to the external HDD
remove current HDD from your X61 and insert the new HDD in it's place - this is very important.
boot from Acronis Rescue Disc and recover the image you created to it.
Enjoy your new hard drive.
Alternatively, if you can put your original HDD in the external HDD caddy (connectors are the same) or purchase a 2.5" caddy, you could clone after creating the Acronis Rescue Disc, step by step instructions for cloning can be found here.
Andy ______________________________________
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Installed new Hard drive, but Mac OS X won't install

Hi, I posted earlier about installing a new hard drive in my G3 iBook, and well, I did that! After the installation, I put in the Mac OS X CD and opened up the disk utility from the CD, and sure enough the new hard drive was there. So I clicked on the hard drive icon, then clicked erase, and selected Mac OS X extended (journaled). After this was complete, I attempted to install the Mac OS, but it told me that it could not install Mac OS X on this drive! please help me.

Alas, I too have expirienced the same problem, and I have all your answers. Yes, DO use www.ifixit.com, the instalation looks difficult, bot is quite easy. Check eBay for some HDs, I got a brand new 40 gig one for $70. I had a problem installing the OS with the new one, so if it happens to you try this:
1. Make sure you have the system restore disks.
( your restore disk (there are 4 of them,) shoud restore to mac OS 9 and you probably have a seprate X disk(s))
2. Insert the OS X disk and boot up (manualy insert disk(paper clip))
3. At the top there should be some buttons like the apple logo, file, etc.
under one of the menues there is a button either labled Services or disk utility
4. Select the erase disk tab.
5. erase your (empty!) HD.
6. shut down
7. manualy insert restore disk 1
8. Boot up holding down the C key, and run system restore
9. when that is done, boot up as OS 9
10. Insert the Mac OS X disk
10. restart whyle holding down the C key
11. install X.
hope it works!

Is it difficult installing new hard drive in a 15mth old iMac (24" intel)?

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