HDD upgrade for my MBP

[ZeeG]

I have a MBP (not MB), and want to replace internal HDD with a 160GB HDD.
I was told that replacing HDD (by myself) will void warranty but if I let Apple certified technician do that, then the warranty will be still OK.
So I called one of them, and was shocked by what I was heard.
They said, it is two hour work (I don't think so..) and it will cost $100/hour.
(Do the math ... FYI, a 160G HDD is around $100)

I actually can do that by myself, I'm just worrying about the warranty.
If I replace it by myself, and keep the original HDD, and then put it back when my machine has to get a service, do they know about this? Then can I keep the warranty?

Plus, how much does it cost to be an Apple certified technician

 

[Manzana]

when does your warranty expire? I waited until mine did, I did not think it was worth it to void my warranty.

 

[vashim66]

That's funny. It took me about 15 minutes to replace mine. I would call BS on their time estimate.

 

[georgi0]

do you break any seals / label by opening it?

is there a picture disassembly site available for macbooks?

 

[vashim66]

Check out this site:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/

step by step guides for all self installs.

 

[ZeeG]

Since I bought AppleCare, so my warranty should go at least two more years.
Is there any seal inside?
Actually, my MBP was in service two times, so I assuming Apple guys broke the seal already if there is any.
So... should I try by myself?

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

I would try it, those dirty *******s trying to charge you 200$ for a simple task like this.

Given that, you better be careful because it might end up costing you 2000$.

 

[AlBDamned]

Since I bought AppleCare, so my warranty should go at least two more years.
Is there any seal inside?
Actually, my MBP was in service two times, so I assuming Apple guys broke the seal already if there is any.
So... should I try by myself?

I think there might be seals on some of the screws (on the threads) if that's possible, but not sure how that would be affected if it had already been in to be repaired for something.

However, if you put in a new drive, something goes wrong, they notice that it's got a bigger drive in than records suggest and you can't prove it was done by an authorized centre, then you might have problems with them trying to blame modifications. Plus, voiding a one-year warranty is bad, voiding your $300 Applecare would be very annoying!

I replaced the drive on my PowerBook recently and, had I not had any issues with rounded screws, it would have taken about 30 minutes tops. You could call B/S on their time estimates, definitely, although it depends if they were planning to clone your drive for you as that would take time.

If you do plan on doing it yourself, get some high quality scewdrivers and torx screws so you don't round anything off.

Good luck - and don't forget that an external drive might be an easier option!

 

[dan-o-mac]

Print out the instructions, and quotes stating how long it should take to do the job. Return to the place where they gave you that price quote and call the technician's bluff.

 

[TheSunmiester]

just replaced mine this w/e with a 160GB on a 17" MBP C2D. no seals but definitly get some quality screwdrivers and torx drivers as the screws are extremely small.
i used the quide on ifixit.com that vashiss66 refs. and although it was for a 15" it was for the most part the same.
there is some tape holding connector ribbons down and there is a piece of tape that binds the sata connector and the hdd together so you will have to remove that in order to disconnect the sata connector.
also the screws on the side of the hdd have no head, they slide out of the white rubber grommets.
this is the only part that tripped me up as it was hard to tell if the screw held the grommet in (i assumed that it did, but after stuying it for a while, realised that it didn't)
FYI there is a brace on the right of the HDD with 2 screws holding the hdd in place and are the only additional screws that need to be removed after the top case is disconnected.
i did have to boot from the install cd and repair permissions on the drive, as i had used disk utility to clone the old drive.
hope this helps and good luck

 

[emac82]

Haha..$200!! Where I work we charge $40.00CAD, which I feel is a reasonable price. Sometimes, if the laptop has to be full disassembled, then it might be $79CAD, as that can take up to an hour of work.