Hi,
My son gave me a new hard drive for christmas. I've got a 3-yr old Macbook Pro that has never given me any problems but I am starting to run out of HD space. Is there a reliable place in Ottawa other than the Apple store or Carbon Computing where I can take my Macbook and have someone replace the old HD for the new, and transfer the existing data/apps etc?
Thank you.
--Trudy
Quote from: TG on January 01, 2011, 03:57:06 PM
Hi,
My son gave me a new hard drive for christmas. I've got a 3-yr old Macbook Pro that has never given me any problems but I am starting to run out of HD space. Is there a reliable place in Ottawa other than the Apple store or Carbon Computing where I can take my Macbook and have someone replace the old HD for the new, and transfer the existing data/apps etc?
Thank you.
--Trudy
Sorry I can't recommend any
other stores – and I'm not even sure if the Apple Rideau store offers that service. Maybe other members have personal experience with, and can recommend some of the other stores (http://www.mugoo.com/smf/index.php?board=8.0) if Carbon Computing doesn't fit your requirements?
Is your new hard drive in a case or a 'bare' drive? Is it a laptop size drive? i.e. 2.5" i.e. If it's in a case, is the case about the size of your hand?
If the drive is in a case, you can at least immediately start using it as a backup and 'clone' -- i.e. a bootable copy of your internal drive -- using free software. This would be the first (and last step) before having someone swap it into your laptop's internal drive.
Assuming then new that your new drive is in a case, to clone your internal drive (which will make it a bootable replacement for your internal drive), you can download the commercial SuperDuper (http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html) or Mike Bombich's venerable, free CarbonCopyCloner (http://www.bombich.com/). You may find SuperDuper (http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html) simpler to use, and you only pay for SuperDuper if you want its additional features like incremental update. Otherwise SuperDuper in 'free' mode is limited to cloning your entire disk, even if only one file has been updated.
Good luck.
Ben's right, the Apple Store does not offer that service, but any Apple Certified Service Provider can perform a small job like that, and they'll also be happy to transfer your data for you, and know how to do it.
Since your warranty is expired, you may be tempted to not worry about the "void your warranty" thing, but you should only trust Apple Certified techs to do the data transfer - they know exactly how to do it. Though no company will guarantee your data, they have the tools and know-how to get you the best result possible.
Happy Mac'ing!
Dan
Thanks for responses. I did fin someone local--Mac Clinic--a small operation but certified Apple tech, fast, efficient and it cost 1/2 the amount Carbon Computing was asking.
Quote from: TG on January 09, 2011, 10:29:40 AM
Thanks for responses. I did fin someone local--Mac Clinic--a small operation but certified Apple tech, fast, efficient and it cost 1/2 the amount Carbon Computing was asking.
All,
The Mac Clinic, as well as several other Ottawa shops are listed under MUGOO Message Board > Ottawa Mac Stores and Services (http://www.mugoo.com/smf/index.php?board=8.0)
If you have a favourite vendor, encourage them to add themselves so other members might patronize them too.