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iBook G4 12" internal hard disk upgrade

post #1 of 8
3/20/07 at 10:35am
Thread Starter 
Hi all,

I'm thinking of upgrading my internal iBook 12" drive to something with more capacity than the current 60GB I have now.

General question: does it matter what kind of upgrade hard disk I buy? I know that it's a 2.5" drive, but do I need to get an iBook-specific drive or will any 2.5" notebook drive suffice?

I'm looking for 160GB capacity, although won't discount 120GB either.

Thanks for your help,

Al

Edit: and beside it being an ATA drive?
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post #2 of 8
3/21/07 at 5:21am
Well, almost any new, modern ATA 2.5" drive will work. Make sure, though, that it's no thicker than 9.5 millimeters.

The other BIG question, though, is whether you want to do the long and very complicated operation yourself... It takes a service technician about one hour to change the HD in an iBook, other prople will spend multiple hours (and usually end up with spare screws in the end...). You'll have to remove about 50 different screws and numerous small parts to get to the hard drive.

So I guess the money a certified Apple technician charges is well-spent comnpared to the possible damage done to the iBook if you don't know exactlywhat you have to do... \
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post #3 of 8
3/21/07 at 6:09am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reply! I realize that it's a very tedious task. I found a detailed guide after looking around the web. This is the best one I've come across yet : http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/iBoo...ve-Replacement
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post #4 of 8
3/21/07 at 6:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexluft View Post

Thanks for the reply! I realize that it's a very tedious task. I found a detailed guide after looking around the web. This is the best one I've come across yet : http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/iBoo...ve-Replacement

I've done it on a machine like that. It's not easy. The hardest thing is prying the case open after the screws are out, without damaging it. That white plastic will NOT stand up to a screw driver or anything like that. I've done it once or twice and gotten good results. Just make sure you get a small tray for the screws and LABEL each comparment for all the different screws you'll take out. It really is like 50 screws, and there are probably ten different types of screws...or more.
To save time, assume I know everything.
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post #5 of 8
3/21/07 at 6:42am
iFixit also has a printable screw guide. I highly recommend printing it out and using it to organize the screws. It's a big help.
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post #6 of 8
3/21/07 at 7:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guartho View Post

iFixit also has a printable screw guide. I highly recommend printing it out and using it to organize the screws. It's a big help.

an empty egg container is a good way to organize the screws. And some sort of hard plastic thingy to pry the case open, like maybe a credit card? You will definitely mangle it with a scewdriver. Set aside an entire afternoon, and have another computer handy, so you can look up unforseen problems on the web, in case.

Do what you will, but harm none.

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Do what you will, but harm none.

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post #7 of 8
3/21/07 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for everyone's replies!

I'll be sure to set aside an entire day for the job. Will also get carton.

I was looking at iFixit's tools for sale and they recommend the spudger to pry open the case without getting it damaged: http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/p...2_Spudger.html

Anyone have any experience with it?

Or should I get one of these instead (I know it says it's for the iPod):http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/p...ing_Tools.html
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post #8 of 8
7/8/08 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
I've done it! Got a 250GB ATA drive from MacSales - a Western Digital Scorpio 5400RPM.

I have pictures as well as a description at my site and the post about replacing the drive here.
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