MacBook Pro - HDD upgrade does not void Apple Care

chat19 · chat19 #1 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 12:34 PM

So I called apple and asked them if upgrading my HDD would void the Apple Care, and the lady said no as long as someone certified did it (like Best Buy). The obvious thing is that the new HDD would not be covered under Apple Care.

Will any 2.5" HDD fit?

So when I do this, what do I need to do to install Leopard? Do I simply put in the Leopard DVD?

Does it matter that mine is a "Mac OS X Leopard CPU Drop-in DVD?" Is that just an upgrade copy or what?

And finally, can I just use a Time Machine backup to handle it?

THANKS!

ps- I will not pay Geek Squad $150 to do it for me

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 01:18 PM

Just make sure the replacement HDD is SATA and meets these specs:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-.../2.5-Notebook/

The best way, in my opinion, to upgrade and copy your system over to the new HDD is to use cloning software: SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner are both excellent choices for doing the job. Do some reading on both applications at their respective web sites. You should not have to reinstall Leopard.

And yes, you most certainly can use Time Machine although - again my personal opinion - it's not as easy as using the software I mentioned above.

As for the "Geek Squad" thing, I certainly agree with you. Good luck on your upgrade and be careful installing that new HDD!

Regards.

Eric559 · Eric559 #3 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 02:11 PM

No one certified should have to install the HD for you. The HD is a user serviceable part.

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #4 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric559

No one certified should have to install the HD for you. The HD is a user serviceable part.

Not on the Macbook Pro. You need to disassemble the chassis to replace it.

Now, personally I don't find that to be too difficult but...

Eric559 · Eric559 #5 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dysfunction

Not on the Macbook Pro. You need to disassemble the chassis to replace it.

Now, personally I don't find that to be too difficult but...

Thanks for the clarification.

rman · rman #6 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chat19

So when I do this, what do I need to do to install Leopard? Do I simply put in the Leopard DVD?

Does it matter that mine is a "Mac OS X Leopard CPU Drop-in DVD?" Is that just an upgrade copy or what?

You will need to load tiger (10.4) first if you plan to use the leopard drop-in DVD.

chat19 · chat19 #7 (**permalink**)

07-14-2008, 01:09 PM

Thanks a lot everyone, I really appreciate your help!

Now I just need to decide if it is worth the risk of having my HDD die and then rip it open again...

fyreous · fyreous #8 (**permalink**)

07-15-2008, 01:32 AM

I just replaced my original MBP Hard Drive with the new 320GB 7200rpm model from Hitachi. While comfortable doing it myself, I took it to a local Apple-Certified shop just so that I could make sure not to ruin my AppleCare. It took them about 45 minutes, and now I have twice as much HDD space and higher performance too.

If you have a 15" MBP, MAKE SURE you get a 9.5mm height SATA drive, instead of the larger one. The 12.5mm only fits in the 17" MBP model.

Thyamine · Thyamine #9 (**permalink**)

07-16-2008, 02:58 PM

This is exactly what I'm looking at doing for my MBP, and was wondering about the steps required. I saw that it has to be taken apart to replace the drive, but didn't know what type/size/etc I could use. I have the 17" and would now have thought to check the size of the drive; I just assumed it would hold a normal laptop size drive.

macwannabe · macwannabe #10 (**permalink**)

07-17-2008, 01:12 AM

what is the diff between a 8MB cache and a 16MB cache??

WakeCarver · WakeCarver #11 (**permalink**)

07-17-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macwannabe

what is the diff between a 8MB cache and a 16MB cache??

The 16MB cache will have slightly faster seek times.

chat19 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 115 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 160 gig HDD @ 5400, 2 gig RAM, nVIDIA 8600	07-11-2008, 12:34 PM So I called apple and asked them if upgrading my HDD would void the Apple Care, and the lady said no as long as someone certified did it (like Best Buy). The obvious thing is that the new HDD would not be covered under Apple Care. Will any 2.5" HDD fit? So when I do this, what do I need to do to install Leopard? Do I simply put in the Leopard DVD? Does it matter that mine is a "Mac OS X Leopard CPU Drop-in DVD?" Is that just an upgrade copy or what? And finally, can I just use a Time Machine backup to handle it? THANKS! ps- I will not pay Geek Squad $150 to do it for me "We, the Chinese people, draft the entire Woo-Tang Clan!"
	QUOTE Thanks

chat19 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 115 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 160 gig HDD @ 5400, 2 gig RAM, nVIDIA 8600	07-14-2008, 01:09 PM Thanks a lot everyone, I really appreciate your help! Now I just need to decide if it is worth the risk of having my HDD die and then rip it open again... "We, the Chinese people, draft the entire Woo-Tang Clan!"
	QUOTE Thanks

fyreous #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 04, 2007 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 36 Mac Specs: 15" 2.3 GHz i7-quad, 16GB DDR3, Radeon 6750 1GB	07-15-2008, 01:32 AM I just replaced my original MBP Hard Drive with the new 320GB 7200rpm model from Hitachi. While comfortable doing it myself, I took it to a local Apple-Certified shop just so that I could make sure not to ruin my AppleCare. It took them about 45 minutes, and now I have twice as much HDD space and higher performance too. If you have a 15" MBP, MAKE SURE you get a 9.5mm height SATA drive, instead of the larger one. The 12.5mm only fits in the 17" MBP model. _________________ fyreous
	QUOTE Thanks

macwannabe #10 (permalink)
Member Since: May 19, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 909 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac 2.8 Ghz, 1TB, 8GB RAM \| 13" MBP 2.53Ghz 320GB HD, 4G RAM \| iPad 2 64GB+3G WHITE	07-17-2008, 01:12 AM what is the diff between a 8MB cache and a 16MB cache?? Click the logo to check out my site... "learn the basics, learn the rules, and then learn how to break them creatively.." - *Phototini*
	QUOTE Thanks

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chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,968 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	07-11-2008, 01:18 PM Just make sure the replacement HDD is SATA and meets these specs: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-.../2.5-Notebook/ The best way, in my opinion, to upgrade and copy your system over to the new HDD is to use cloning software: SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner are both excellent choices for doing the job. Do some reading on both applications at their respective web sites. You should not have to reinstall Leopard. And yes, you most certainly can use Time Machine although - again my personal opinion - it's not as easy as using the software I mentioned above. As for the "Geek Squad" thing, I certainly agree with you. Good luck on your upgrade and be careful installing that new HDD! Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thyamine #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 23, 2007 Location: Coatesville, PA Posts: 377 Mac Specs: MBP 15", 2.33 GHz, 2Gb	07-16-2008, 02:58 PM This is exactly what I'm looking at doing for my MBP, and was wondering about the steps required. I saw that it has to be taken apart to replace the drive, but didn't know what type/size/etc I could use. I have the 17" and would now have thought to check the size of the drive; I just assumed it would hold a normal laptop size drive.
	QUOTE Thanks

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