Taking apart a MBP

Deleted member 651465 · 27 Aug 2007 at 01:02

Following on from reading this guide I may decide to pop in a 200GB 7200RPM storage drive.

I know it's going to void the warranty, but it certainly looks easier than I remembered

Anyway, what you guys think.. would you risk it?

Linky

Durzel · 27 Aug 2007 at 10:34

Personally I wouldn't risk it if it was under warranty, the warranty would be more important to me.

How much do Apple Stores charge for the service of upgrading the HD (and thus keeping the warranty)?

MagicBoy · 27 Aug 2007 at 11:03

I've been umming and ahhing about changing the HDD for a couple of months now. The 80 gigger is straining at the seems so i fancy a 200Gb/7200 or 250Gb/5400 drive. I'm an experienced lappy tech (used to be Tosh trained in the 90s) so it doesn't concern me much - just appears to be fiddly. I do however prefer the thinkpad method - one screw and the drive comes out on a sled!

Apple Stores won't touch a third party HDD with a bargepole. You'd have more luck with an Apple Authorised Repairer.

I'd be more concerned about the warranty. You can always swap the OEM drive back in when a problem occurs, but if there's evidence of cack handed opening of the case they could throw a fit.

J1234 · 27 Aug 2007 at 16:08

I may up mine to the same as yours along with installing Leopard. It doesn't look to difficult, but it's the warranty that bothers me. Also I've heard that the catches on the inside of the case can be easily damaged.

manjuice · 27 Aug 2007 at 16:33

If I upgraded the RAM and something happens to the MBP, could I change back to the original RAM without Apple knowing?

MagicBoy · 27 Aug 2007 at 17:03

Pretty much. RAM isn't a stripdown job tho - there's a removable panel underneath.

Deleted member 651465 · 27 Aug 2007 at 18:40

Ok, just been watching a video on Youtube regarding a new HDD.

Looks simple enough to do, and I bet if you took your time (as with any computer) you could do it without any visible marks

If there was a 250GB 7200rpm then I'd do it tomorrow, but as it stands I might hold out until Lepoard and see what's about

SIAT · 27 Aug 2007 at 18:40

Its not that hard to do and doesn't void your warantee. There are plenty of good guides out there. Just make sure you have the right tools and a place to mark and store all the screws you need to remove.

Durzel · 27 Aug 2007 at 18:46

It's debatable whether replacing the HDD voids your warranty, there's a lot of discussion about it and it seems even Apple aren't specific about it.

The HDD in the MBP is not considered to be a user-replaceable part though, and the work required to get to it certainly isn't a procedure one would expect to have to go through if it was intended to be swapped out by Joe Public.

The memory on the other hand is clearly in a place with easy access and you only have to remove one panel to get to it.

Deleted member 651465 · 27 Aug 2007 at 18:51

I have to agree with Durzel on this.

Personally the HDD on the MacBook is classed as a user-upgradable part, but I wouldn't think that's the case on the MBP hence the thread.

I'm pretty convinced that I will do this, but only when the extra storage space is worth the hassle.

Anyone know what the formatted space on a 200GB hard drive equates to?

electric ant · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:14

I have read conflicting reports of whether it voids the warranty. I don't think it does, but the warranty will not cover the hard drvie you put in or any damage that occurs as a result of the new hard drive. If you do have to send it back to Apple care it might be wise to put the old hard drive back in.

I spotted a good guide at this site http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/

(200gb formatted = 186gb in reality)

manjuice · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:28

Durzel said:
It's debatable whether replacing the HDD voids your warranty, there's a lot of discussion about it and it seems even Apple aren't specific about it.

The HDD in the MBP is not considered to be a user-replaceable part though, and the work required to get to it certainly isn't a procedure one would expect to have to go through if it was intended to be swapped out by Joe Public.

The memory on the other hand is clearly in a place with easy access and you only have to remove one panel to get to it.

Is memory a 'user-replaceable part'? I don't want to buy 3yr warranty and have it void by upgrading RAM.

electric ant · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:31

You can definitely replace RAM in the MBP without voiding warranty, its just unscrewing one panel from the bottom of it. Very easy, ....unlike replacing the HDD...

manjuice · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:33

I know it's easy but someone here said in another thread that it will void. Not sure...

electric ant · 27 Aug 2007 at 20:22

Apple even provides instructions for you...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303491

J1234 · 27 Aug 2007 at 20:51

tchan_4 said:
I know it's easy but someone here said in another thread that it will void. Not sure...

It doesn't void your warranty for sure.

M0KUJ1N · 27 Aug 2007 at 20:59

If in doubt, keep the old disk and swap it back in if you need to have a warranty repair

I must say though that the fiddliest laptop Ive ever had the displeasure of replacing the hard drive of was a powerbook 12". About 50 screws and was pretty much a half-day job

manjuice · 27 Aug 2007 at 22:25

electric ant said:
x

Justin said:
x

Good to hear! 400pounds for 2GB is taking the biscuit.

J1234 · 28 Aug 2007 at 10:58

tchan_4 said:
Good to hear! 400pounds for 2GB is taking the biscuit.

Certainly is, you can pick up the right RAM from OcUK for a fraction of the price.

Taking apart a MBP

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