Hard drive is Not user replaceable on Pro, but is on Macbook?

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Hard drive is Not user replaceable on Pro, but is on Macbook?

I'm debating which laptop to buy between a Dell Inspiron e1705, a Macbook, and a Macbook Pro-guess that's not really relevant to this, but anyway...

In researching the Macbook and Macbook Pro, I was surprised to find out that the Macbook's hard drive looks really easy to replace. I'm assuming that's a user replaceable part that won't violate Applecare?

But on the Macbook Pro, it looks insanely hard to replace (I figured it would be the other way around). I saw a guide that has you basically taking apart the entire thing to get at it-I'm comfortable around computers, but I wouldn't want to risk it judging by how difficult it looks. Plus apperently this DOES violate your warrenty?

Just checking, because I think this would steer me to the Macbook (in addition to the price!), even though I would like a decent GPU for gaming, and the larger screen.

This may sound nuts, but the reason I'd like a replaceable drive is mainly so that if I have to send it in for service, I can swap out the drive first. I'm a bit parinoid about sending in a drive loaded with my credit card info, passwords, etc.! So I'd just buy a cheap replacement and pop that in before sending it in for service if I ever needed to.

PowerMac G4, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Jun 21, 2006 11:34 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Mark Hunt

Level 4

1,070 points

Jun 21, 2006 11:45 AM in response to Wolfpup

Yes, replacing the harddrive (yourself) on your MacBook Pro will void your warranty.

It will not on the MacBook.

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Answer 2

Jun 21, 2006 11:44 AM in response to Wolfpup

It doesn't void your warranty to replace it, but it's not a user replaceable part so an authorised service person should do it - or make sure you don't cause other damage.

For the reason you state though, why not just get a large backup drive, dump to it and then wipe your drive before sending in? You can run 0 the drive 7 or 35 passes for extra security - ie replace all data on the drive with 0s

Anyway, who says you're going to need a repair?

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Answer 3

Jun 21, 2006 11:52 AM in response to Mark Hunt

this is false. user replaceable actually just puts apple at more liability because they are encouraging people to "diy" it. If something breaks off while doing one of these things, or something is jacked up, they will cover it. If you break off some wire while installing an HD on the MBP they won't cover it, because you should have been expert enough to know how to do it, or paid an expert to do it. It will not however VOID the entire warranty. Hard Drives (next to a battery, or RAM which are "user replace" pieces) are the most common to go bad eventually, and the most common piece swapped out in a machine.

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Answer 4

Mark Hunt

Level 4

1,070 points

Jun 21, 2006 12:22 PM in response to Randall Jenkins

Taking apart your MacBook Pro will void your warranty.
Replacing RAM will not.
While maybe just taking apart might not (only if you didn't damage anything) void your warranty, it doesn't matter because you didn't break anything. If you do break something it will void your warranty. Replacing RAM is the only supported DIY by Apple.

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Answer 5

Wolfpup Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 21, 2006 12:27 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

Okay, thanks for the feedback everyone!
Honestly the inside of the Macbook Pro looks terrifying to me. It looks like you're left with just a thin delecate metal frame by the time you get to the hard drive...far cry from the Macbook where you barely do more than pull out the battery!

That's a good thought about zeroing out data. I guess just for purposes of sending it back in that would be good enough (unless it was the drive itself that died-or I couldn't access the system well enough to zero it out).

But...what Mac utilities would zero stuff out? For Windows machines I use an open source program called Boot 'n Nuke that supposedly conforms to government standards for wiping data. Any equivalent for a Mac?

I wouldn't expect any problems per se-I've had two Macintosh desktops that work great, but still, with all the problems that seem to surround laptops (and the Macbook/Pro in particular), I'm nervous.

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Answer 6

Jun 21, 2006 12:59 PM in response to Wolfpup

Disc utility (applications/utilities) has it as an option. You boot from the install dvd, erase the drive and then re-erase it by putting 0's everywhere.

You could also get an encryption program to lock down particular files where you keep sensitive data. Apple OS incorporates encryption in the form of File Vault - but I never liked it much.

Here is a useful document.
http://www.corsaire.com/white-papers/060517-securing-mac-os-x-tiger.pdf

Personally, if you keep your sensitive data in an enctryted folder or use File Vault, use sensible security and 0 the drive if you have to you should be well covered.

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Answer 7

Jun 21, 2006 1:03 PM in response to Wolfpup

In response to the question you asked about what to use to zero the HD. All you would have to do is boot off of the CD that comes with the machine and use Disc Utility. It has a built-in option to zero the data.

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Answer 8

Wolfpup Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 21, 2006 1:14 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

Okay, thanks again guys!

EDIT: By the way, not sure how this "Helpful/Solved" thing works, but I marked everyone's message as "Helpful" 🙂

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Answer 9

V M1

Level 1

5 points

Jun 21, 2006 1:47 PM in response to Wolfpup

JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, THE HDD ON THE MACBOOK, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE EXTREMELY EASY TO REMOVE, IS NOT A USER REPLACEABLE PART ON THE MACBOOK. ONLY THE RAM IS. IF SOMETHING GETS DAMAGED WHILE YOU ATTEMPT TO CHANGE IT YOURSELF, APPLE WON'T COVER THE DAMAGE.

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Answer 10

Jun 21, 2006 2:32 PM in response to V M1

Completely and utterly wrong I'm afraid.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook13inch_HardDriveDIY.pdf

Actually not completely - Apple can always refuse to cover damage that you cause - within reason.

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Answer 11

Conal Ho

Level 3

503 points

Jun 21, 2006 2:39 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

For the reason you state though, why not just get a
large backup drive, dump to it and then wipe your
drive before sending in? You can run 0 the drive 7 or
35 passes for extra security - ie replace all data on
the drive with 0s

This is a good suggestion. There are Mac programmes out there that allow you to carbon copy your hard drive. This includes "SuperDuper" and "CarbonCopy Clone".

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Answer 12

Wolfpup Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 21, 2006 3:42 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

I have to say I really like how they designed that. The RAM and hard drive really should be user replaceable in a notebook-but everything else wouldn't need to be.

The contrast between removing the hard drive in the Macbook and Macbook Pro is hilarious. Those directions on the web for the Macbook are basically "Pull it out". Compared with like 4 pages of complex step by step instructions for the Pro, leaving you with a screen stuck to a metal frame that look like it would be easy to accidently bend.

Hope if they ever do a major overhaul to the Pro they do something similar with the hard drive.

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Answer 13

Jun 22, 2006 10:33 AM in response to Mark Hunt

As I said taking it apart and messing something up will void it, however it is not automatic, hence my suggestion for knowing what you are doing.

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Answer 14

adaseng

Level 1

0 points

Jul 8, 2006 10:43 AM in response to Wolfpup

Hi Wolfpup,

Do you mine give a link or email me the instructions of how to install a larger drive into the macbook pro 17". I've searched but came up empty. I want to replace my 100 to 120gigs myself. thanks

adaseng@yahoo.com

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Answer 15

jflnyc

Level 1

15 points

Jul 18, 2006 2:13 PM in response to Wolfpup

Here's a step-by-step video from OtherWorldComputing.com on how to do it:

http://media.macsales.com/highres.html

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Hard drive is *Not* user replaceable on Pro, but *is* on Macbook?

Hard drive is Not user replaceable on Pro, but is on Macbook?