I need a bigger HDD - options?

petenet · petenet #1 (**permalink**)

01-30-2006, 09:59 PM

Hi there.

I recently switched over to Mac from the world of XP. I bought an iBook G4 with a 40GB HDD from Apple. I want to move most of media files over to it now, since I like it so much.

The problem is, 40GB isn't going to be enough - I'd like to move up to 100GB. What are my options here? Can I just go to Fry's and by a HDD to install myself? Or is this something Apple needs to do?

Thanks in advance!

-Peter

mynameis · mynameis #2 (**permalink**)

01-30-2006, 10:06 PM

Its not the easiest thing to do, but it is possible to do it yourself. Just depends on how comfortable you are with it. I don't know how that affects your warranty.

petenet · petenet #3 (**permalink**)

01-30-2006, 10:45 PM

I am pretty good with computers, so I think I could probably do it.

When it comes to hardware, what do I need?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148090

Would that work?

to_tough_to_die · to_tough_to_die #4 (**permalink**)

01-31-2006, 02:56 AM

The iBook is notorious for being horribly difficult to work with. It takes something like 54 screws to get inside the case to allow you to do any serious upgrades.

discombobulated · discombobulated #5 (**permalink**)

01-31-2006, 03:27 AM

just buy an external hard drive.

Corrosive · Corrosive #6 (**permalink**)

01-31-2006, 03:45 AM

Use a good external firewire drive... thats the best bet. You could upgrade the HDD with pretty much any hd *check ebay, but as said above its hard.

I am in the same boat as you, I had a pc but now I got the Ibook the pc just sits there. I dont have a whole lot so I just got a 15gb Ipod to use as a firewire transfer to quickly carry over my pics and some music. Congrats on the purchase!

petenet · petenet #7 (**permalink**)

01-31-2006, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the replies, I do appreciate it.

While the idea of an external HDD makes sense, it's not practical for me as I want to bring my media with me. Believe me, I wish it was that easy.

I found a website that shows how to do this, but it doesn't look like something I have any interest in doing. That being said, I found a couple of companies that will do the swap for a small fee - since I don't need them to move the OS. Speaking of that, it's easy to reinstall the OS, correct? How do I boot the dvd/rom?

Thanks again.

- Pete

ultrablue · ultrablue #8 (**permalink**)

02-01-2006, 07:26 AM

If you bought your ibook from Apple directly, why did you not choose to customize your ibook? They can come with up to 80 Gb I believe.

Other than that. Learn to only carry what you NEED on the ibook and leave all the porn on the external HD.

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #9 (**permalink**)

02-01-2006, 08:02 AM

Well if you can get someone to install it (that's what I did), just pop in your system disc (included with the iBook) and hold down 'C' to boot from there.
Complete the setup process and you should be done.

Alternatively: Buy a firewire or USB enclosure for your old harddrive and use the same setup process to migrate all your old data/settings/apps over from your old harddrive.

to_tough_to_die #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 749 Mac Specs: Powerbook G4/ 15.2"/ 1.67 ghz/ 2 gb RAM/ ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 mb RAM)/ 100 gb hdd@ 5400 RPM	01-31-2006, 02:56 AM The iBook is notorious for being horribly difficult to work with. It takes something like 54 screws to get inside the case to allow you to do any serious upgrades. I'd use Windows... but I like the Mac OS more.
	QUOTE Thanks

Aptmunich #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,073 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	02-01-2006, 08:02 AM Well if you can get someone to install it (that's what I did), just pop in your system disc (included with the iBook) and hold down 'C' to boot from there. Complete the setup process and you should be done. Alternatively: Buy a firewire or USB enclosure for your old harddrive and use the same setup process to migrate all your old data/settings/apps over from your old harddrive. Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
	QUOTE Thanks

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petenet #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 13, 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 81 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD	01-30-2006, 09:59 PM Hi there. I recently switched over to Mac from the world of XP. I bought an iBook G4 with a 40GB HDD from Apple. I want to move most of media files over to it now, since I like it so much. The problem is, 40GB isn't going to be enough - I'd like to move up to 100GB. What are my options here? Can I just go to Fry's and by a HDD to install myself? Or is this something Apple needs to do? Thanks in advance! -Peter
	QUOTE Thanks

mynameis #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2004 Posts: 3,378	01-30-2006, 10:06 PM Its not the easiest thing to do, but it is possible to do it yourself. Just depends on how comfortable you are with it. I don't know how that affects your warranty.
	QUOTE Thanks

discombobulated #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 24, 2004 Posts: 23 Mac Specs: Ibook G4 1.33 ! 60 gig/external 250gig.	01-31-2006, 03:27 AM just buy an external hard drive.
	QUOTE Thanks

Corrosive #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 11, 2006 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 162 Mac Specs: Macbook Pro Retina	01-31-2006, 03:45 AM Use a good external firewire drive... thats the best bet. You could upgrade the HDD with pretty much any hd *check ebay, but as said above its hard. I am in the same boat as you, I had a pc but now I got the Ibook the pc just sits there. I dont have a whole lot so I just got a 15gb Ipod to use as a firewire transfer to quickly carry over my pics and some music. Congrats on the purchase!
	QUOTE Thanks

petenet #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 13, 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 81 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD	01-31-2006, 08:02 AM Thanks for the replies, I do appreciate it. While the idea of an external HDD makes sense, it's not practical for me as I want to bring my media with me. Believe me, I wish it was that easy. I found a website that shows how to do this, but it doesn't look like something I have any interest in doing. That being said, I found a couple of companies that will do the swap for a small fee - since I don't need them to move the OS. Speaking of that, it's easy to reinstall the OS, correct? How do I boot the dvd/rom? Thanks again. - Pete
	QUOTE Thanks

ultrablue #8 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	02-01-2006, 07:26 AM If you bought your ibook from Apple directly, why did you not choose to customize your ibook? They can come with up to 80 Gb I believe. Other than that. Learn to only carry what you NEED on the ibook and leave all the porn on the external HD.
	QUOTE Thanks

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