MacBook Hard Disk Replacement: Double-check the drive you buy!

The other night I attempted to upgrade the hard disk of a relative’s MacBook, which is something I’ve done with my own MacBook before to excellent results.

In theory it is an easy and painless process; you just need a 00-size screwdriver, which doesn’t cost much at all (but you do have to make a trip to the ‘old fashioned’ hardware store to get one).

MacBooks accept SATA 2.5-inch hard disks. That kind of HD is not unusual at all; in fact I’d say the overwhelming majority of laptops made today use them, which means that their development has been good and you can now buy a large-sized disk for only a little bit of dosh.

When I did this procedure the first time, it went off without a hitch. I read a few articles, double checked the HD specs when I ordered it, it came, I installed it, it worked like a dream; now I have a 250GB HD with 80GB left to spare.

This week, however, when I provided my relative with a list of what to buy (including the new HD), I made an oversight - and I am not happy about this at all.

It appears that there are TWO subclasses of SATA 2.5-inch hard drives… and only one will fit into the MacBook.

It’s all to do with their thickness. MacBooks accept the 9.5mm kind, while 12mm kinds are also readily available on the market.

So last night; after hours of installing Leopard and RAM and backing up (finishing at 1.30am), when I was finally try to insert the new hard drive… failure. It’s too big. Only just.

It turns out that all the articles I read (and there must have been at least three) didn’t mention this distinction. And while I know that the ultimate responsibility lies on me to check, check, check… reading three bloody articles regarding how to replace your MacBook’s hard drive can get a little repetitive after a while.

It’s cruel and disappointing result, mostly because of the waiting involved with backing up.

Here’s hoping no one else makes this same mistake in the future.