3 Ways to Replace or Upgrade a MacBook Pro Hard Drive

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Do you use an Apple MacBook Pro computer? But, why do you want to replace or upgrade your hard disk drive? The idea is very simple. When you see that the data in your device is behaving abnormally, it’s the time to take care of your HDD. No, you don’t need to perform the MacBook repair process for now.

But, all you need to do is replace or upgrade the secondary memory. Before that, you need to examine the behaviour of the data. If you are facing a shortage of space, then simple upgrading the secondary memory will do the job. Else, just replace the HDD with a new one.

Replacement or Upgrade?

How can you understand the situation, you have to select any one of these options. Just observe carefully and you will notice the recurring symptoms, such as:

Slow running of the device
Suddenly, the computer freezes
Certain files refuse to open
The disappearance of the files and many more

If these situations take place, then verify the lifespan of the existing hard drive in your computer. Now, you have to decide, whether you will replace the HDD with the existing size or get an upgraded version. If you want, you can also take suggestions from the MacBook repair expert.

How about an SSD?

Solid-state drives are a bit expensive, but they are of great use. They have the capability to read and write data, faster than normal drives. So, take your time and think about it. On the other hand, if you are planning to fix a normal hard drive, then you have to handle it very carefully. But, in the case of solid-state drives, it has a protective outer covering. You can handle it very easily.

Which MacBook models are compatible with an upgrade?

Not all the MacBook models will allow you to upgrade the secondary memory. Several models like MacBook Core2 Duo, Unibody, Pro 13 inches, Pro 13 inches with retina display, Pro 15’, Pro 15’’ with retina display, all the models of Pro 17”, Air 11”, Air 13”, Mac Mini, iMac Pro, iMac and Mac Pro are compatible.

Back it up

Hopefully, you have made up your mind to replace or upgrade! As the new secondary drive arrives, you need to back up your important data from the old drive. In this case, the MacBook repair experts always suggest keeping an external HDD or a USB drive with you. You need to wait as the copying time will depend on the amount of data you have.

Initiation of the Process

It is better that you choose an SSD instead of a normal HDD. Now, the process is not very straight forward. You have to inspect before the new SSD installation. And, here’s how:

Cloning and Installing OS from HDD to SSD

Till now, the device has been compatible with HDD. Now, you have to make the device ready for SSD installation. That is why cloning is important. There are several third-party disk cloning software. Choose a secured software and attach your SSD to the system. Select the SSD icon and choose the option named ‘partition’. After that, access the first aid tab and allow the necessary disk permissions.

After that, shut down the system and press the ‘Option’ key. Don’t leave it unless and until the option for OS reinstallation appears. Select the SSD as the installation destination. Now, start the operation. It will take at least 20 to 30 minutes. Moreover, the process also depends on the number of files present on the HDD.

Set the SSD

Now, you can take assistance from a MacBook repair expert or continue on your own. Gather all the necessary tools before starting the process. After that, revert the device and you will see a number of screws. Use a dedicated screwdriver to open it. Place the screws in a safe place so that you don’t lose them.

Now, open the back cover and you will clearly locate the HDD in the top right corner of the device. There will be four screws that are tightened to hold the HDD. Unscrew them and keep them aside and lift up the HDD.

There will be a plastic-type material used to hold the disk. Simply, lift it up. Place the SSD on the plastic and screw up the disk properly to the system. Make sure that you have tightened up the screws properly to avoid loose connections.

Final Step

Now, attach the back cover of the device and screw it up. After that, turn your device on. You will see two drives- one is the SSD icon and the other will be untitled. The untitled one is the recovery drive and the other one is the actual SSD. Select the SSD icon and restart your MacBook.

Your Logical Expectations

After installing the SSD successfully, you might have some expectations from the storage facility. Yes, the expectations are logical and you deserve that. You will enjoy a good life span of the SSD. In case you accidentally slip and drop the device on the floor, no delicate parts will be damaged easily.

You will be fascinated by the blazing-fast, read and write speed of the SSD, as it is powered by electricity. You might not know that HDD faces malfunctions most of the time. So, the possibilities of malfunctions in SSD is much less. You can defragment the SSD anytime you want. The loading of data keeps pace with the speed of light, which is a very good sign indeed.

Finally…

There will no more issues that can arise from the disk drive. While doing the operation, make sure that you keep the opened screws in a safe place. Further, you must not mix up the screws altogether. In addition to that, you must keep patience while doing the replacement.