Gizmodo
There's never been a better time to void the warranty on your MacBook Pro and upgrade to one of those sweet 2.5" WD Scorpio 320GB drives. That was what made me throw caution to the wind and attempt a Time Machine-assisted swap. The good news is, it works as billed. You get a bit-for-bit transfer to the virgin drive with minimal fuss. The bad news is, if you don't use a little trick we discovered today, you probably won't get it to work at all.
I said "void the warranty" and I meant it. The process I went through today means it'll be harder for me to complain to Apple if things get weird, so be cautious! Given the experience I've had, I think it will get easier and easier to swap HDDs, like RAM, because on the software side, at least as far as Apple goes, installing a fresh 2.5" SATA turns out to be straightforward, and ready for novices.
The key here is that there's no preparation needed for the new drive. As long as you've backed up your old drive to an external disk using Time Machine, you can prepare for the grand opening. I won't bore you with gory details, except to say that I found a good bit of guidance from this dude's blog. 
The Process
From here on in, this issue may just as well apply to MacBooks and even iMacs as well as MacBook Pros, so everyone should take note.
Once you open up the system and swap out the drives, you can set the old drive aside, hopefully never to use it again. Assuming all went well, you restart the system and insert an OS X Leopard installation DVD. You won't need the OS installer on it, but you will need it to act as mediator between the Time Machine backup drive and the newly installed blank drive. Once it boots up (you may need to manually restart to get it to work right) follow these instructions CAREFULLY:
1. Choose your language.
2. At the main screen, choose Disk Utility from the Utilities pull-down menu.
3. Select the drive itself and click on Partition.
4. In the Partition menu, select 1 Partition and Options... where you choose GUID Partition Table. Click OK then Apply, then say "yes" to whatever warning comes up.
5. Once you have reformatted the drive, close the Disk Utility window.
6. Do Not Go Forward. Instead, when you see the main Welcome screen, click the Back button, which takes you to the language select page. It sounds silly but DO IT. This shakes the system into action.
7. Once you have reselected your language and are back on the Welcome screen, click Utilities and select Restore System From Backup...
8. The process should go smoothly from that point on. You simply select appropriate disks to copy your chosen backup data from your Time Machine drive to the new internal drive, as shown in the following sequence:
The Back Story
Originally I tried my swap without first clicking back to the language page, and the installer could not find my new hard drive. Disk Utility saw it and happily formatted it with the GUID partition, but even on the second pass, the installer wouldn't show it as a target option. All I got was this hollow emptiness:
I spoke with Jeerun Chan at Western Digital and asked him to try the same process, which yielded the same results. Then I tried it with another virginal hard drive, this time a 160GB SATA from Seagate. Between the two of us, we ran this test on three different configurations, with the same negative results.
The obvious but depressing solution was to just run the Leopard system installer, then use the migration tool to back up from my Time Machine drive. It's fairly smooth, and smart if you want a clean install on your new drive, but it's boring: it takes a few steps, and they're all obvious. I wanted a bit-for-bit dump from backup to new drive, fully automatic.
As I was installing Leopard on my second drive, the phone rang: it was Jeerun with the crazy back-button technique. I don't know how he thought to do it—I don't even think he knows, but the fact remains: when you have formatted your destination drive and are on the Welcome screen, click the back button and the process will work. If you don't click it, well, in our experience, it seems you will fail in your objective.
Obviously, this won't work if you don't regularly do a full system backup in Time Machine. If the omitted folders in your Time Machine options include system files, you won't be able to do this.
In truth, it might make sense to backup only personal files, especially since this process requires a Leopard install disk even to write the whole image back onto the new drive. Chen swears by SuperDuper, which is perhaps a better pro technique, one that doesn't require a system-install DVD. Still, I wanted to see if this major boast of Time Machine was all that it was cracked up to be. It is, and the end result will be tasty, as long as you don't forget that one little catch.
As with my last Time Machine HDD discovery, this one involves a little hocus pocus. While this method works, you may have your own trick, or a more scientific approach. If so, please share it in the comments below, and spare any fellow Mac users a frustrating afternoon.
Thanks to Jeerun and Heather at WD!
Comments
I recently threw caution into the wind myself and upgrade my Mac Mini which had the 60GB drive. I upgraded it to a 200GB drive and it was easy using Time Machine.
I just made sure it was backed up. Turned off my Mini, cracked it open, swapped out the drives, booted up with the Leopard DVD, erased the drive, installed Leopard, and restored from Time Machine through my 500GB MyBook.
Next thing I knew, everything was back to where I left it... all apps, desktop links, dock settings, System Preferences, EVERYTHING. It was as if I never turned my computer off.
I also upgraded the RAM from 512MB to 2GB for $100. Easy upgrades...
carbon copy app works better (in less steps). buy the new drive, carbon copy via usb to sata, install new drive.
@misplacedparadox: Does it have that weird cut-off links from the dock like SuperDuper can tend to do?
There's an even easier way, assuming you have an external Firewire or USB case/interface for the old internal drive. Pull the old drive out, stick it in the case. Install the new drive and close up the machine. Boot from the Leopard or Tiger DVD and open Disk Utility. Use the "Restore" function and you get a *perfect* copy of the old drive onto the new. I use it all the time and swear by it. You can also use the Restore function while booted from the system being copied, but it makes me nervous. You don't have to depend on Time Machine, and everyone who has a Mac laptop has the DVD necessary.
Also, opening a MacBook or MacBook Pro does *not* void the warranty.
apple fanboys used to rip on the zune because it was only available in 30gb; resulting in people disassembling and swapping the zune's HDD for a 80gb, 100gb, or 120gb drive.
meanwhile, macbook users have the same problem. wouldn't it be nice if apple just designed the notebooks so the internal HDD's could be easily swapped - kinda like my HP notebook?
geeze, all i have to do to swap/upgrade my HP notebook's HDD is take out two screws and pop off a cover. thanks HP!
>> There's never been a better time to void the warranty on your MacBook
I do believe you meant to say MacBook "Pro". Cuz (a) the HDD on MacBooks are ultra easy to access & swap (dare I say more so than most any other non-Apple laptops out there) and (b) as Apple themselves provide a manual to conduct the swap, I'm pretty sure won't void your warranty to do it on a MacBook.
@theorie:
So yeah, all I have to do to swap a HDD on my MacBook is remove the battery (use a quarter), unscrew 3 screws, which provides access to the two RAM slots and the HDD. Thanks Apple!
access panels have been common for yrs on pc notebooks. apple probably just wants to keep the user from doing this to ensure "stability"
I swear by Super-Duper! too (don't forget the exclamation point as part of the name). It seems like easiest way to do this, and you could use the free version of the software.
Wilson, have you submitted a bug report to Apple? Fixing the not finding drives wil help make the process easier for future versions of Leopard/Mac OS X that come via DVD.
ifixit.com also has really nice graphical guides for disassembling (and reassembling) apple hardware. I used it when i had to open up my mac book pro.
[www.ifixit.com]
i meant macbook pro, since that's what the article is about...
To replace the hard drive in my Macbook (not Pro), all I had to do was take out three screws and take out the battery (same for upgrading my ram). I'm sure the next version of the Macbook Pro will have something similar.
Heh. I think it would be even harder to complain to Apple now, if any of the Geniuses that read Gizmodo recognize you if/when you bring it back for repairs. =P
most PC laptop manufacturers have been using the easy-access cartridge system for modular HDs for years now. I don't understand why some MacBooks have their HDs available for quick access and some don't. I was still under the impression that Apple was primarily a design shop. To me, that suggests engineering that was less than I expected from them.
Did you end up using that new 320 GB Scorpio? I've been following it for a while and plan to get one for my macbook pro, even though they're out of stock right now. I know its just a hard drive, but do you have anything to say about performance, etc?
Definitely a MacBook Pro (clearly by the picture). Needs to be changed ASAP.
Except SuperDuper doesn't work on Leopard yet last time I checked (today), so this is really your only choice for now.
SuperDuper is a great utility, however be aware that it's not yet 100% Leopard compatible. I would suggest using Disk Utility, Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner for the time being, until a newer version of SD is released.
How much was the 320GB Scorpio? I put a 250GB one in my MBP right before the 320GB was announced and I absolutely love it. It's been reliable, quiet, and great capacity. I can only assume the 320GB is the same.
Unless Apple's changed their warranty policy, this shouldn't void your warranty either. Of course, the new drive won't be covered, and if you break something along the way, you're screwed, so know what you're doing.
So where'd you get the 320GB Scorpio? Can't find the silly thing anywhere, even though WD said they were shipping months ago.
I put a 250gb drive in my MacBook the day I bought it. Dang RAW files from my Nikon have nearly used up the entire thing already.
they're out of stock on the website. :(
@BillyB: You could always yank the optical bay and install anotherHD HD.
is an external drive that much of a big deal? ill keep my external 1TB drive, thanks.
A hard drive is not considered a user replaceable part in a MacBook PRO [unlike RAM]. If you did have problems down the road with the computer, whether it is related to the drive or not, they have no way of knowing whether or not that the damage was caused by the user [say, static discharge]. So basically they would cover their butts by saying, "NO".
In fact, there is no way to upgrade the drive in a MBP without voiding the warranty even if it performed by Apple or an Apple certified technician. You have to either do it yourself or pay someone else [not Apple] to do it for you. However, if you don't screw up the installation in any way, there is nothing preventing you from swapping back the old drive if ever leaving the computer with Apple for repairs.
as far as i know, you can swap your harddisk on a mac book (not mac book pro) without loosing your warrenty. i did it, and have a 200 gb hd now, and it works fine. you just have to take care of the little soft-plastic sliders on the side inside the harddisk-bay, they are just glued into the case with a weak glue.
The bullshit with the Macbook Pro having a near-impossible to replace hard drive needs to get shouted from the mountains. It's lame. It's bad design, especially considering this is their 'Pro' model.
Lame lame lame. I had to upgrade my MBP hard drive myself, and it was like doing open-heart surgery on an infant. Tiny jewelry-sized screws everywhere.
At this point I really can't recommend an MBP to anyone. If you need beefy graphics, get a desktop. That's really the only advantage the MBP has to offer. Ooh, a glowing keyboard. Not worth $1000 or whatever the markup is, sorry. If you need portability, get a Macbook, and you also get the ability to upgrade your hard drive literally with your eyes closed. The only downside is integrated graphics, and they're not that bad anyway. When Intel starts rolling out the 45nm integrated graphics next year, it's all over anyway.
@theorie:
yes...but its an HP...
were talking about APPLEs here.
the MOST ADVANCED COMPUTERS ON EARTH.
get yourself together man.
@mullingitover: Yeah, Macbook Pros are completely and utterly useless if you can't upgrade your hard drive easily! I mean we all know that at least 90% of laptop owners ever want to or attempt to replace their hard drives... wait? It's not 90%? Oh, well we all know that 50% of laptop owners... what's that? Not 50%? Well then how many laptop owners try to replace their hard drive? Less than 5%? Really? Okay, well then never mind.
You kids are such whiners. When I was your age we had to un-solder the hard drives from the motherboards to swap them.
Awesome words of caution. I hope Gizmodo makes more "voiding warranty" comments for things like... the iPhone... for instance, in the future (minus recriminations to Apple). It's just responsible journalism. Lately its been much better, but every software update was highly deceptive to read as the context wasn't "we warned you" but "Apple busted your device!" Which is of course ridiculous. --Please continue the trend, and bravo.
That said, do all laptops void your warranty just to put in a larger hard drive? Sounds harsh.
~ CB
@bobdobbs: unsolder! heck, when I was a kid, we had to use a rock to knock those suckers out... after walking in the snow, uphill, both ways
@Cleverboy: Again with this?
There's a world of difference between installing aftermarket software and installing aftermarket hardware. Especially given that the unlocked iPhones can be restored to factory condition with ease.
@sqeakytoy of the apocalypse:
Snow!
Lucky bastard.
@sqeakytoy of the apocalypse: You got to 'walk' in the snow! You are lucky bastards indeed. We had to crawl on our bellies. Naked. And blindfolded.
@Pterror: SuperDuper may not work but Carbon Copy Cloner does work. Nahnahnahnahnah.
Replacing the HDD on my Macbook Pro was a real pain in the ass and a scary experience. It took me about 30 minutes to un-snap the top cover along the touchpad edge. It's also a very delicate design where one could bend the case above the optical drive if not careful. The other real delicate part was the motion sensor tape over the hard drive. Man, what a shitty experience Apple. I'm surprised people in the EU haven't sued Apple yet. Being that they sue Microsoft for every stupid chance they get. Why should we have to spend a bunch of money to replace a hard drive on a laptop when the same company makes other laptops that allow you to change the drive yourself? It also seems to be industry standard to allow the user to replace the Hard Drives. Also, I don't think Apple can turn around and say we don't have to replace the Hard Drive, we could just buy an external USB drive. Well, that would not be guaranteed to work in the 15" MBP since the only two USB ports that it has are opposite each other on the sides of the laptop. Last time I checked, most HDD enclosures require you to use one of those Y USB cables. Have you tried to plug the two ends of the USB cable to the two USB ports on the 15" Mac Book Pro? They're nice laptops, don't get me wrong. But Apple designers should really change those two design shortcomings IMHO.
Pfah! Hard drives? HARD DRIVES? Everyone who remembers needing a case cracker, and a long handled torx driver, raise your hand. Freakin' kids these days *mutter mutter*
I'm goin' inside to notch some 5.25 disks and make em' DOUBLE sided. Now git off my lawn!
@bobdobbs:
"6. Do Not Go Forward. Instead, when you see the main Welcome screen, click the Back button, which takes you to the language select page. It sounds silly but DO IT. This shakes the system into action."
It's like the kid says to John Hodgman in the commercial, some people want a computer that thinks like you do. Backwards, apparently.
@theorie:
And I was replying to your comment:
"wouldn't it be nice if apple just designed the notebooks so the internal HDD's could be easily swapped"
Because clearly, with the MacBook (which is a design that is newer than the current MBP design), they have done just that.
I'm not making any promises, but something tells me the MBPs will see similar treatment come their next semi-mejor design renovation.
all that headache for a "bit-for-bit" copy of the hard drive? what a waste of time and effort. i just did this the other day with my new machine. unplugged an external usb2 500GB hard drive, plugged it in to the new machine, selected restore from time machine and 2 hours later had an identical working copy of my previous workstation on my new workstation.
i'm sure there are rare examples where "bit-for-bit" copies are useful, but i guarantee that anyone who needs such precision shouldn't be using time machine as their backup solution in the first place
@dashielm: Suffice it to say, we go through all of this trouble to (hopefully) save readers from it. It's okay—we're just doing our job.
Just wanna throw something out here, as an aside: It's not opening the case that voids your warranty here. I know, I know, they say it is. But there's no way for them to tell, IF (huge if!) you are careful. If you put in a 320 gb drive, then yeah it's going to be obvious. But the notion that there's magical warranty gas that escapes the second you crack the case open... bogus.
I'll likely be using carbon copy cloner instead, since I already have an external case for a 2.5" drive for this purpose alone. I'd only use Time Machine for a full restore to a new drive if the original drive actually died, not when I'm simply doing an upgrade.
Carbon Copy Cloner 3!!!
CCC for sure sure sure
that, and bombich is a true hero
Yes, PC laptops have had swappable hard drive bays for quite some time. If that is a deciding factor for you, then the MBP really won't work out for you, and I can get that.
The thing that nobody seems to grasp here (and its pretty amazing) is that Apple's laptop is much thinner than ALL of them. It's thinner, sturdier, sleeker, and in many people's eye's more attractive as well. When you make things thinner and smaller, you need to trade out some features, such as modularity. When I see PC's that have ~1" casings, the screen and body always have an unsettling amount of flexing and creaking due to less structural support and greater manufacturing variances.
Just look at the picture of the MPB's insides (its right up there in the article). The only way for them to add a modular drive bay would be to cut the case and add lines to the casing. The would also lose internal space and have to redesign the battery bay and the bracing, while adding lines to the outside of the casing. If you truly analyze the casing design, you'll see that the design is agonized over, that every feature and element that goes into it, or is left out of it is done on purpose, and THAT is the hallmark of good design.
If you want/need a computer with more and more and more (modular hdd bay, multimedia buttons, media LED on the front, card reader etc. etc.), buy the PC laptop, instead of struggling w/ a MBP that doesn't' meet your needs. If you want an elegant, thoughtfully designed laptop (which means leaving things out sometimes), I'd recommend a MacBook Pro.
Also, just look at a MacBook takeapart guide, that computer is much simpler with its consolidated IO ports, less cooling, etc. The ram slots aren't even stacked!
@lpranal: Well said. Generally the deal with Apple and upgrades is that if you cause collateral damage while installing your own parts, you're SOL. You also shouldn't expect to get your machine serviced under warranty while third party parts are installed (a good reason to keep your stock parts around).
However, it does in no way void your warranty to replace components. The only way Apple (or any company) can void your warranty completely simply by opening it is by placing information that states "No user serviceable parts" on the device.
Not to make a big deal out of it, but several people, including yours truly, have pointed out that there is a factual error in the article (MacBook should be MacBook Pro), the author has had the time to comment in the comments section, and yet the article hasn't been fixed yet?
Really scratchin' my head here.
@Dearhaw: The author has been caught in a New York-style snowstorm, but is now nice and warm, and happy to address the concern. Thanks for nagging!
Never use the drive again??? You fool... You foolish fool! $25 later and you can get one of those HD enclosures and bust out with a spiffy external, USB HD.
@Wilson Rothman:
Ah, sorry 'bout that. I know exactly what you're talking about, I'm in Boston meself ;)