Question on Do it yourself Upgrade

[xxcool]

Would Apple really find out if I make modification to my hardware? I'm thinking about upgrading my drive to 160 GB myself but I was wondering if it really is possible for Apple to find out in case I need warranty work done on something else. Am I risking voiding my warranty?

Thanks.

 

[skunk]

It would be useful to know what machine you have. Some are designed to be user-upgradeable.

 

[NotFound]

I was told last night that upgrading RAM doesn't void warranty.... is it the same with hard drive?

 

[skunk]

Again, depends on the machine. Some, like the Intel iMac, are clearly not designed for upgrading the HD. Generally, however, if you don't cause any damage in the process, you should be OK, despite any questions asked.

 

[xxcool]

I am talking about a Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo, and I'm hoping to upgrade the hard drive. I was wondering if Apple keeps track of the original configuration based on the serial number.

Again, depends on the machine. Some, like the Intel iMac, are clearly not designed for upgrading the HD. Generally, however, if you don't cause any damage in the process, you should be OK, despite any questions asked.

 

[Jollins]

Keep the old drive on hand in case it needs to be sent in for repair. I upgraded the HDD in my macbook, and then later had to send it in for repair due to random shutdowns. The warranty was still good, but they needed to know whether the problem was caused by the hard drive or not so I put the old one back in.

 

[robbieduncan]

I am talking about a Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo, and I'm hoping to upgrade the hard drive. I was wondering if Apple keeps track of the original configuration based on the serial number.

The harddrive is not user upgradable in the MBP. If you put a drive in that Apple were not shipping when you bought your MBP then yes, they will know. I'd be very surprised if they don't have the exact spec of the machines they sell by serial.

 

[Veritas&Equitas]

I just have to say...I just upgraded my 100 gb stock hard drive to a 160 gb hard drive in my Macbook Pro. What a pain in the @$$! It's like night and day trying to install the hard drive into a Macbook and Macbook Pro. Also, I guess I have to keep the original hard drive if I ever need to send it in for Apple to fix? That blows, I could really use the extra dough

 

[skunk]

Unless it's a hard drive-related problem, I don't see why your having changed the drive would make any difference, unless you damaged some other component.

 

[toontra]

I just have to say...I just upgraded my 100 gb stock hard drive to a 160 gb hard drive in my Macbook Pro. What a pain in the @$$! It's like night and day trying to install the hard drive into a Macbook and Macbook Pro. Also, I guess I have to keep the original hard drive if I ever need to send it in for Apple to fix? That blows, I could really use the extra dough

Out of interest, what 160 hard drive did you get? I've got a C2D Macbook so the proceedure should be a doddle (at least compared to my old iBook G3, which meant dismantling virtually the whole machine!).

 

[4nex]

Unless it's a hard drive-related problem, I don't see why your having changed the drive would make any difference, unless you damaged some other component.

Depends if they're looking for any excuse to get out of it though. Does it actually say anywhere in the warranty you can't take stuff apart? I haven't actually read it tbh

 

[Veritas&Equitas]

Out of interest, what 160 hard drive did you get? I've got a C2D Macbook so the proceedure should be a doddle (at least compared to my old iBook G3, which meant dismantling virtually the whole machine!).

Well, it's not quite a doddle. You do have to dismantle the entire machine almost. You have to take off the keyboard, take off the ribbon, move the bluetooth and airport cards, take off the tape on top of the old hard drive, pop it out, and reverse the whole procedure. I think the whole thing takes ~16 screws to take out. I got the Hitachi Travelstar, and I've loved it since I got it (had it in my Macbook before, which was WAY easier to install).

 

[qbmcnabb108]

^ I thought it was easy to upgrade hard drives and RAM in the MacBook?

 

[macg4]

^ I thought it was easy to upgrade hard drives and RAM in the MacBook?

yeah it is in the mac books's not the pros.

 

[ghall]

I upgraded my 80GB drive to 160GB. I think I used a Hitachi Travelstar as well. It was the first time I ever took apart a computer. The hardest part was not loosing the microscopic screws.

 

[iW00t]

They will know. The hard drives used by Apple has a special Apple logo printed on it.