How to Upgrade a MacBook Laptop's Hard Drive
Need a bigger hard drive for your MacBook? Follow these steps to install a new one.
Up next in How to Understand Computers (59 videos)
Boost your computer know-how with these Howcast videos.
You Will Need
- MacBook
- New hard drive
- External hard drive enclosure
- USB cable
- Hard drive cloning program
- Coin
- Small Phillips-head screwdriver
- T8 Torx screwdriver
Steps
-
Step 1
Clone your hard drive
Place the new hard drive in the external hard drive enclosure; then connect the enclosure to your laptop with a USB cable. Open up your cloning program and follow the onscreen instructions to make a bootable copy of your computer's hard drive.
-
The cloning process can take several hours, but be patient; altering files during cloning could result in lost data.
-
Step 2
Prepare to remove the hard drive
Once the cloning is complete, eject the new hard drive from the enclosures and unplug it from the laptop. Then, power the laptop down, unplug it, and touch something metal to discharge any static electricity. Close the laptop and place it upside down on a static-free flat surface.
-
Step 3
Take the battery out
Use a coin to turn the battery lock 90 degrees. When the battery is released, take it out of the computer.
-
Step 4
Remove the memory cover
Unscrew the three Phillips-head screws, attaching the L-shaped memory cover to the side of the battery compartment and remove it.
-
Step 5
Remove the old drive
Locate the hard drive and gently pull it out by the white tab. Then use the T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the four Torx screws holding the EMI shield to the hard drive.
-
Step 6
Turn it on
Attach the EMI shield to the new hard drive with the Torx screws, and slide it into place in the laptop. Replace the memory cover, put the battery back, and tighten the battery lock. Now just plug it in and turn it on. Good as new!
-
The IBM 5100, the first portable computer, weighed 50 pounds!
