My macbook hdd died..what should I do?

Kyougu

Posting this from my phone as my only computer is dead. Horrible timing as I was hoping to replace it when ipad 2 became easy tio find. Now I have some options:

1. Replace hdd. Have no idea how hard it would be, or expensive through apple store.

2. Buy new laptop. This means no ipad.

3. Get a net book for now to tide me over till I get an ipad

4. Xoom. Another tablet I was considering and would be much easier to find.

Thoughts?

billwill

When you say your "only computer is dead", are you referring to the broken Macbook or a different unit?

I ask because the iPad requires a computer for syncing; I'm not sure how the Xoom operates.

Kyougu

Referring to my macbook.

My roommate does have a laptop I could use I figure.

Kate of Lokys

It seems like a fairly obvious first step would be to take your Macbook in to an Apple store. They can diagnose the problem for you - I know you said it was the hard drive, but depending on what actually happened, it could just as easily be something like a faulty battery or an overheating issue. Whatever it turns out to be, they should tell you what it is and give you a quote on how much they would charge to fix it, and once you have that, you'll be able to make a much more informed decision about what you want to do with it.

It won't cost you anything but time to take it in for a diagnosis, and even that can be minimized if you book a Genius Bar appointment online a day or two ahead of time.

wmelon

if the drive itself is bad, they're not terribly difficult to change.

Other World Computing sells kits with instructions for your exact model of laptop. It can't be too difficult as my non technical boss was able to swap the one in his MBP on his own without breaking anything

Fallingman

I swapped out my 1st gen MBP HDD with little trouble.
It's definitely possible and quite easy if you have the tools (cheap!) and take your time. And hey, if the warranty is expired anyway...

Kyougu

So after checking out some youtube videos and trying to get the HDD out, it does look like it's ridicolously easy to switch out HDD. Going to attempt that.

What HDD should I be looking for? This is a regular Macbook, 2007 model, so it's not an uniform body. It's the model that you had to use the coin to pop off the battery cover.

saltiness

I've replaced the HDD in my 2007 macbook twice. It's incredibly easy and you can get a drive for less than $50. Apple would probably charge you $200+ to fix it.

mts

is it the unibody? those things are ridiculously easy to replace. its like popping out one lever and 1 screw. then you just swap teh HDD posts to the new drive

the longest part for me was finding the right bit size for those damn posts

Kyougu

Not the unibody, but it was still ridicously easy to replace. Though I did have a minor freakout when it wasn't showing the HDD. Then I realized I had to format it.

Kinda sucks I lost all my stuff (though nothing too important). On the plus side my macbook is running really smoothly now.

Thread can be locked.

Supertanker

My wife's Macbook Pro had the SuperDrive and the HDD die after about a year. Apple refused to honor her extended AppleCare (they found a 4mm x 0.5mm dent on a corner as evidence of "abuse"), and gave us an estimate of $1300 to fix it. This would include a new case to replace the "abused" one, and they refused to do any partial repairs like just replacing the drives - all or nothing.

Instead, I went to Powerbook Medic, bought replacement drives & the proper screwdrivers for about $200, then used PBM's instructional videos to crack open the Pro & replace the drives. Those were very helpful in dealing with all of the various bits of tape & plastic that holds those things together inside. It only took about 45 minutes. Once I reinstalled the OS (just pop in the DVD & let it run), she was back in business.