[dsl571]

I have two 13" MacBook Pros they are about 8 months apart. Can I swap the Hard Drives without reformatting them? I have one computer not working and need the data off that drive ASAP...

[ghporter]

Welcome to our forums!

Firstly, you posted both of your threads in the MAC PRO forum-for Apple desktop computers. I moved both to the appropriate, "Mac Notebooks" forum.

Second, the notebook forum moderator copied your first thread into the inclusive "water spill" thread-and then answered your question about swapping out the hard drive. I agree completely with his statement that it's unlikely anything happened to the hard drive in the damaged computer.

Finally, you can simply check the part numbers of the two computers to see if they're similar, but if they are basically the same model and that close together in age, the hard drives should be completely interchangeable.

[CharlesS]

If you want to get your data off as fast as possible, the fastest thing is probably to start up the computer containing that drive while holding down the "T" key on the keyboard. This will start it into FireWire Target Mode, making it effectively a big external hard disk. If you then connect it to a working Mac via a FireWire cable, you should be able to get at the data and copy it over.