My HD died and I need help replacing it.

[bigdaddy]

So last week my HD died that's in my 13" 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm rather pissed off about it being it's not even three years old. And I need to find a job and an apartment within two weeks. So great timing. Apple said they could fix it for $154 and I pretty much laughed at that.

I somewhat know what I need, but any help would be great. I know I need a Phillips head screw driver that is size 00. (A YouTube video told me that.) But I'm debating getting a SSD because I think the reason my HD broke is because I bike 10+ miles a day with my laptop. But this really is not in my budget.

So I'm looking at this SSD...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820173072

Or this HD...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152289

Any suggestions or any advice at all would be great. I'd like to order the stuff from Newegg ASAP because my co-surgeon for this is going away on August 21st for a week. Thank you!

(Also I wasn't sure if this should go in this forum, or thew misc, so feel free to move to mods.)

 

[BillJ]

I'd honestly pay for Apple to do it. Just because it should have a warranty if something goes wrong.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I'd honestly pay for Apple to do it. Just because it should have a warranty if something goes wrong.

There isn't really anything that can go wrong when replacing a hard disk. I'm not an Apple person but I've built my own PCs for years. Replacing an hdd/ssd is really idiot-proof. Open case, plug out old one, plug in new one.

 

[BillJ]

I'd honestly pay for Apple to do it. Just because it should have a warranty if something goes wrong.

There isn't really anything that can go wrong when replacing a hard disk. I'm not an Apple person but I've built my own PCs for years. Replacing an hdd/ssd is really idiot-proof. Open case, plug out old one, plug in new one.

I've replaced various parts in my PC's over the years (Ram, hard disk, disc drives, power supply). I'd be a little less sure of myself working on an Apple product.

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

I wouldn't dare open my PC. However, I have replaced a dryer vent hose, toilet flapper, and other plumbing item.

 

[PurpleBuddha]

Go with the SSD. An SSD is the single most noticeable thing you can put in your system these days for performance.

Also, Emilia is right. It is very easy to replace on your own.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

If Apple replaces it, do they image your OS and other files and whatnot over to the new HDD and/or do a reinstall for you?

If not, you'll have to do it, or reinstall everything from scratch. Of course, imaging assumes the old HDD can be read at all (like if it's just a boot sector issue and not a total failure).

Read up on SSD's either way. I've seen some references to them being more unstable than previously thought, at least if there's a long term lack of power to them.

 

[Marc]

Read up on SSD's either way. I've seen some references to them being more unstable than previously thought, at least if there's a long term lack of power to them.

There's a lot of fud going around about hte issue of SSDs and the claims of issues if they are powered down for while and it doesn't really hold up when you look into it.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9248/the-truth-about-ssd-data-retention

I've been running a Crucial M4 120GB in my desktop system for just under 3 years (and 13018 power hours) and it hasn't skipped a beat - been very happy with it.

It's also had times when it's been powered down for a couple of weeks with no issues.
The bigger danger than having a SSD powered off for a while is having a dodgy unit. For example OCZ drives have a very bad repuptation and it's questionable about whether the company's buy out by Toshiba will be able to turn it around.

 

[bigdaddy]

I have a back up of everything on Time Machine so I can just reinstall everything. The Apple guy was really nice and even admitted that with my MacBook Pro I can change the ram and HD by watching YouTube videos. The guy in seeing replaced his SSD with a bigger one and has a MacBook Air. So he will help me but he goes on vacation in a few.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I'd honestly pay for Apple to do it. Just because it should have a warranty if something goes wrong.

There isn't really anything that can go wrong when replacing a hard disk. I'm not an Apple person but I've built my own PCs for years. Replacing an hdd/ssd is really idiot-proof. Open case, plug out old one, plug in new one.

I've replaced various parts in my PC's over the years (Ram, hard disk, disc drives, power supply). I'd be a little less sure of myself working on an Apple product.

I've replaced an hdd in my old Macbook back when they didn't insist on gluing everything to the mainboard. It's just as easy as replacing a non-Apple laptop's hdd. Because, you know, they're the same parts with the same plugs.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Read up on SSD's either way. I've seen some references to them being more unstable than previously thought, at least if there's a long term lack of power to them.

There's a lot of fud going around about hte issue of SSDs and the claims of issues if they are powered down for while and it doesn't really hold up when you look into it.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9248/the-truth-about-ssd-data-retention

I've been running a Crucial M4 120GB in my desktop system for just under 3 years (and 13018 power hours) and it hasn't skipped a beat - been very happy with it.

It's also had times when it's been powered down for a couple of weeks with no issues.
The bigger danger than having a SSD powered off for a while is having a dodgy unit. For example OCZ drives have a very bad repuptation and it's questionable about whether the company's buy out by Toshiba will be able to turn it around.

Honestly, I haven't researched it, just remembering a story from a few months ago.

I think it was more about unpowered (dead battery in the laptop or SSD not in the laptop) rather than powered down, if there's a difference there.