Mac Repair London carries out an SSD upgrade on the MacBook Pro 15-inch Unibody from our Central London workshop, for home users and businesses.
The A1286 keeps its 2.5-inch drive under the base cover, so upgrading to an SSD is quick. 2011 and 2012 models run SATA III at 6Gb/s; the optical drive can be swapped for a second-drive caddy if you want SSD plus large storage. We handle cloning, TRIM enabling and a clean macOS install.
About this model: The 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro (A1286) was the professional’s laptop for four years. It shares the easy-access drive and RAM of the 13-inch but adds a discrete graphics chip, and that’s where the trouble is: the 2011 models with AMD Radeon 6490M, 6750M or 6770M graphics are notorious for GPU failure.
Signs it needs an SSD upgrade
- Slow start-up
- Old hard drive failing
- Want more space via optical-bay caddy
- Preparing the Mac for resale
How we do it
We use quality SATA SSDs from established brands, fitted with a bracket or adapter where the bay was designed for a larger drive. If your old drive still reads, we clone it so your apps, files and settings carry across unchanged.
Once fitted, we either restore your existing system or install the newest macOS your model supports, then run a full read/write test and check the drive’s health reporting before handing it back.
If you’d rather move to a new Mac instead, our data migration service (from £79 + VAT) transfers everything across.
At a glance
| Years | 2008–2012 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo, then Core i5/i7 with NVIDIA or AMD graphics |
| Storage | Standard SATA drive |
| Memory | Socketed, upgradeable |
| Battery | Screwed in (no glue) |
| Power / charging | MagSafe 1 |
Before you bring it in
Think about whether you want a clean install or everything moved across exactly as it is. Both are fine; a clean install can also clear out years of clutter.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the MacBook Pro 15-inch Unibody (2008–2012) (MacBookPro5,1 to 9,1; A1286). Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, then More Info or System Report. The A-number is also printed in small text on the underside. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
SSD upgrade: 250GB SSD: £165 + VAT + £95 + VAT labour; 500GB SSD: £195 + VAT. Other capacities quoted on request. All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
Will I lose my files?
No. We clone or back up your data before any upgrade and check everything is in place afterwards.
Is it worth upgrading this model?
For most owners it is. An upgrade costs a fraction of a new Mac, and we’ll say plainly if your particular machine has other faults that make it a poor investment.
Do I pay if you can’t fix it?
No. If the repair isn’t possible, you don’t pay for it, and the free initial assessment costs nothing.
Book a repair
Call us on 020 7394 2528 or email info@mac-repair.london to arrange a time to drop it off.