Help! Replacing MacBook Hard Drive

[JurgenWigg]

I'm on my PC right now trying to figure out how to do this supposedly simple operation - replacing a MacBook HD.

It's all good until we get to the "roll the tab back under and insert hard drive.

I just got this Seagate hard drive from OWC, and well, it has no tab. The old hard drive has this thing over the disk, a metal thing mind you, where the white tab is connected. Am I supposed to somehow transplant said metal cover? I'm quite confused...

 

[iMeowbot]

The tab's only real purpose in life is to give you something to grab onto when removing the drive. You could use a little flap of strong tape as a substitute, if you don't think the original will survive being removed and replaced.

 

[JurgenWigg]

Is there any purpose to that metal housing? My main concern is just putting it in there and having it get damaged without that cover on there..., as it is, the bottom where the label is of the seagate has metal, but the top is the exposed green board thing

 

[JurgenWigg]

Without the housing, it also doesn't slide nicely onto that fun rubber...sliding...thing

 

[iMeowbot]

Oh, the replacement doesn't have the metal springy shield thingy on it? Yeah, it would be nice to transfer it to the new drive, if it will fit. There are little screws on the sides of the shield (4 of them) and they should slip onto threaded holes on the new one.

OWC has nice little videos here so you can see what they had in mind.

 

[JurgenWigg]

Ah, awesome, i didn't even think about looking at OWC! I don't think i have one of these fun screwdrivers though...

 

[iMeowbot]

The screwdriver you need is a Torx T8. A good hardware store will carry them, very often they are sold in pouches with other small drivers. Wiha (Willi Hahn) is a decent make, if you can find that. If you happen to be in the US, I know that Sears stores usually have reasonable ones under their own brands.