From Clothbot

Upgrading a MacBook Pro's Hard Drive

Outline for Upgrading a MacBook Pro Hard Drive.

Preparation

Measure twice; cut once.

Get Current System Specifications

• Which make/model of hard-drive is currently in your system?
  • Apple - About This Mac - More Info
  • Hardware - Serial ATA
    • Look up the model at the manufacturers web site.
      • What are the physical dimensions? Don't want a replacement drive that's too thick.
      • What are the interface specs?

• Depending on your performance and capacity needs, choose a new drive of the same interface type - Serial ATA.

Create the New Drive Image

• Make an identical, bootable copy of your current system on the new drive
  • I used SuperDuper! (See LifeHacker Example)

• (optional) Verify that the new drive is bootable using a FireWire-to-SATA interface.
  • Power off your computer
  • Plug in the FireWire drive
  • Hold down the option key and press the Power button. When presented with the option to boot from the internal or external drives, select the external.

• Note: Don't be tempted to play too much with the imaged drive yet. As the final step, you'll need to rename the new transplanted drive or some applications won't work properly.

References

• Step by Step Mirror Your Mac on a Bootable External Drive
• Fixit Guide - DIY PowerBook, MacBook and iBook Repair and Disassembly
  • MacBook Pro 7" Core Duo - Installing Hard Drive Replacement

--AndrewPlumb 14:52, 4 December 2007 (PST)