I'm considering upgrading the internal HD of my MacBook Pro.

My machine specs are 2006/7 15in, MacBookPro2,2, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.33GHz. The current drive is an Hitachi 160GB SATA.

I'm looking at something like a 500GB 7200rpm replacement. Any recommendations as to manufacturer, and any pitfalls I need to be aware of?

Ta

I went for a WD 500GB HDD for mine. Mine is the MBP 15" 2007/08 version so very similar.

I haven't noticed any drop or increase in performance since installing it but it's very nice to have the extra room.

It will void the warranty but it's prob already run out.

Totally run out.

Thanks, Oli. I'm checking out the actual fitting over at ifixit.com.

My 2006 MacBook allows you to replace the hard drive and not void the warranty...

Quite. Apparently, the HD in this model is not deemed user upgradeable by Apple.

As for the drive itself, a 7200rpm drive will increase the amount of heat generated, but if you can get by with a 5400rpm drive, the Western Digital Scorpio Blue drives are pretty good. I have one in my MBP.

I don't mind the heat particularly. The MBP spends 99% of its life in desktop mode, so it's probably not an issue.

Then again, I don't really need 7200rpm, so I'll add your suggestion to the list.

Many weren’t - but i’ve taken a screwdriver to a couple of Apple laptops in the past to upgrade the HDs - they have usually involved a serious disassembly.

This reminds me - my MBP and the older PowerBook both are in need of such an upgrade.

I helped a friend do a swap on his MBP to a Seagate Momentus 500GB jobby.
It failed within a year, so you may want to look elsewhere.

Thanks, Alex. I'm considering a Hitachi at the moment.

i fitted Hitachi HDDs (250GB@7200) to 3 mac minis about 2 years ago no problems thus far ...

When I had a problem with my Superdrive I asked a local specialist to install one. He basically told me where to get the part, I ordered it and it cost me £17.50 to install it.

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Okay, I'm reviving this because I have become aware of sounds from the 160GB drive. Before, you couldn't hear it, aside from some quiet scratching noises as it was accessed. Now, I can hear a constant whine, which tells me the bearings are beginning to go. So far, no obvious issues with the drive, other than low level noises.

So, I have moved up the drive replacement strategy, and I'll be ordering a 500GB Hitachi unit early in the new year. Here's how I plan to make the swap:

1. Ensure I have a good Time Machine backup, and make a Carbon Copy clone of the current drive.
2. Fit, format and install the OS.
3. Use Time Machine to put everything else back as it was.

An alternative would be to format and carbon copy the current drive across to the new unit, then fit it.

Any suggestions welcome.

If you can spare the time a clean install (OS and Apps) then file restore of just your docs/photos/music e.t.c. from TM will give you a cleaner system than either of the other methods. It makes you think about the software you actually need on the machine rather than putting it all back.

If you can't bothered with the above I'd clone the current drive first (and ASAP) just in case it gives up the ghost.
Remove the current drive and set aside (it's effectively a third backup) and install the new drive. Boot from your most recent OS install disc, format the new drive and restore either from TM or clone back. From memory, cloning a drive using CCC (or SuperDuper!) takes less time than a TM restore but you can do the TM restore directly from the OS installer disk so whichever is most convenient I guess.

A lot of my software now comes via the App Store, so I hope it'll be a case of logging into my Apple ID and downloading them again. The only issue I may face is the Adobe stuff, as I don't seem to have the discs any more... Might be time to look at whether my business really needs Adobe CS any more, and if it does whether the cloud-based system might be more affordable.

Bearing in mind I'll be moving from a 160GB, about two-thirds full, to a 500GB, I won't be too bothered by copying a clone back to the larger drive. In any case, looking ahead, I plan on replacing the MBP as my front-line machine, shifting it down to second-line duties and for when I'm away from home.

Thanks for the input!