Author Topic: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?  (Read 1915 times)

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« on: July 23, 2015, 10:28:44 PM »
I bought my MacBook Pro 13" in March 2011, and it has since slowed down. The Geniuses say it's because my 500GB hard drive is beginning to fail, and I should replace the hard drive.

Basically, I am considering two options:
Replace the Mac with a new, inexpensive PC on the next DDMS deal, since I don't use anything else Apple (BlackBerry phone and Android tab), and find my mom's windows laptops to generally be faster at browsing
Keep the Mac and replace the hard drive with a 500GB SSD, because I love using Pages and GarageBand, the Mac OS interface is very sleek and intuitive (but sluggish now), and the touchpad is pure awesomeness

Does anyone have any practical advice?
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Offline loveddeals

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2015, 11:17:11 AM »
I would replace the HD with SSD, and you will see significant performance upgrade. I did the same to my 2008 MacBook Pro, and have bene really happy.

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2015, 01:15:54 PM »
I would replace the HD with SSD, and you will see significant performance upgrade. I did the same to my 2008 MacBook Pro, and have bene really happy.

Thanks for the advice. Just installed a new EVO 500GB and restored the system. Will check it out this afternoon.

Is it also worthwhile for me to upgrade the 4gb RAM to 8gb?
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Offline an613

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2015, 02:45:58 PM »

Is it also worthwhile for me to upgrade the 4gb RAM to 8gb?

If you plan to keep using for more than a few months, yes

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2015, 06:38:23 PM »
Thanks for the advice. Just installed a new EVO 500GB and restored the system. Will check it out this afternoon.

Is it also worthwhile for me to upgrade the 4gb RAM to 8gb?

The speeds on this thing are amazing! Documents just pop open, it's fast, and a pleasure to use.

Thanks for the advice.
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Offline loveddeals

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2015, 11:13:55 AM »
The speeds on this thing are amazing! Documents just pop open, it's fast, and a pleasure to use.

Thanks for the advice.

Great. You will keep getting impressed with this thing over time. If you can, I would upgrade the RAM too. That way, you can easily use this machine for couple more years.

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2015, 10:02:05 PM »
Great. You will keep getting impressed with this thing over time. If you can, I would upgrade the RAM too. That way, you can easily use this machine for couple more years.

Just installed 8 gb on it. Gotta love DDF.
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Offline bb1836

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2017, 01:45:20 PM »
Looking to upgrade my HD to solid state. i have the MacBook Pro 2012. Can someone please recommend a good replacement? TIA
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Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2017, 03:25:19 PM »
Looking to upgrade my HD to solid state. i have the MacBook Pro 2012. Can someone please recommend a good replacement? TIA

If you look upthread, my fix is still working like a charm.
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline bb1836

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2017, 09:27:10 PM »
If you look upthread, my fix is still working like a charm.
You used this?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OBRE5UE
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Offline Racer7400

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2018, 09:12:43 PM »
anyone know of a place in lakewood that can back up my failing drive from my macbook pro 2012 and replace it with a SSD?
thanx

Offline bb1836

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Re: Repair or replace Mac with failing hard drive?
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2018, 03:03:07 PM »
Not a HD question but I figured this will be a better place to ask than the computer/troubleshooting thread...

Has anyone with the MacBook Pro Mid 2012 ever upgraded their RAM from 4 GB to either 8 or 16 GB?
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