Mac Mini Upgrade: How to replace the hard drive

Visit our Help Desk http://www.macusersguide.com/help-desk/ to keep up with the latest developments in iPhone, iPod and third-party software, hardware and networking and learn the latest tips, shortcuts and tricks to get the most out of your Mac. This video podcast focuses on how to upgrade a Mac Mini hard drive featuring step-by-step instructions on how to open, take a part, install the hard drive and how to put the Mac mini back together again.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• mac mini upgrade
• upgrade mac mini
• macmini hardrive
• mac mini hardrive
• macintosh support

[ne0ne0]

hey, can you use any brand of 2.5 sata disk? as well as appropriate memory to make the replacement?(your other vid)

i ask because i have a macbook and at least with the memory it was picky with the brand.

[MacUsersGuide]

Thanks for the comment. In my experience, specifically working on this model of Mac Mini, the brand is not so much an issue. I would recommend sticking with a standard brand like Crucial or OWC RAM chips (my preference), and would stay way from the cheaper chip sets (you get what you pay for). As for the Hard Drive I would follow the same train of thought and get something that Apple uses themselves, Maxtor, Western Digital or Seagate. Hope that helps!

[MrJeuqe]

Nice Instructions. I am trying to figure out what size HD goes into the mini.

[MacUsersGuide]

I would recommend a Seagate 500GB 7200RPM Serial ATA 2.5 hard drive. It is slightly faster then the installed 5400 RPM and Seagate is commonly recommended by Apple.

[zildbanez]

so mac mini uses 2.5"?

[MacUsersGuide]

yes, the mac mini uses a 2.5"  Sorry if this was not clear.

[J25x]

Hey great guide. Does the foam padding come off easily and will it re-attach to the new hard drive with no problem?

[RamiRiefert]

that coin was a german 1 euro coin :D

[sleepy19131]

what hard drive would you recomend for a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo upgrade?

[agatons100]

...and I used the install DVD to restore the system and all its files from the firewired connnection Timemashine backup. It was easy and took about 1 hour.

But first of all you need to open diskutility and erease the new harddrive to make it an OS X journal. That takes 2 minutes - and after that you can see the new HDD as n option to restore to.

/thanks again from Sweden

[agatons100]

Great instructions!

Thanks a lot.

I used a HITACHI TRAVELSTAR 5K500.B 2.5" 500GB 5400RPM instead of the original 80 Gb. Veeeery gooood in all aspects.

[frosted1030]

I just opened my mac mini with wire from an Ethernet cable, took about an hour to open but no risk of damage to the case. No clicking or popping noises, no prying.

[frosted1030]

I just opened my mac mini with wire from an Ethernet cable, took about an hour to open but no risk of damage to the case.