Joe Gramm
Level 5 (6,344 points)
iPhone

Q: iMac 1TB Replacement Program

I just got an email from Apple stating my iMac qualifies for the iMac 1TB Seagate HD Relacement Program. Oh boy, aren't I lucky   I have Time Machine and a CCC bootable clone backup. Is it as simple as cloning back my System onto the new hard drive. The Apple email says I need to start from scratch with the Install DVD that came with the computer. What's the best proceedure.

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), IOS6, Apple TV2, Airport

Posted on Oct 19, 2012 6:15 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,103 points)
iPad
A:

As far as I know, Nvidia makes graphics cards, not hard drives. Are you sure you checked here:

 

Screen Shot 2012-10-19 at 7.02.05 PM.png

 

@ abrody - They usually do not restore or backup your data - but that shouldn't be necessary; most people do have bootable clones or TM backups (or they should).

 

I've restored a clone to an internal; if an OS is installed on the new one, simply use TM to restore or, upon first setup, use Setup Assistant. I will most likely simply boot from my external clone, wipe the new internal drive, and clone my system back. That would be my preferred method.

 

I also received an email; I will call Apple to ask if it can be done in house since I have Applecare and in home service is included. If I have to take in the machine, I don't know that I would trust them with my SL install disks - I'd need to talk to them about it because I don't feel comfortable giving my disks to a repair place.

 

For anyone: remember to wipe the disk before it is replaced; you have no idea where that disk will go and who will have access to it......

 

Edit: I see you posted your HD info and it does say Nvidia - that is strange, especially since your hard drive also starts with ST which is Seagate.

Posted on Oct 19, 2012 7:14 PM

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Joe Gramm

Q: iMac 1TB Replacement Program

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  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 22, 2012 10:13 PM in response to Albert Kinderman
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2012 10:13 PM in response to Albert Kinderman

    I see; thanks for the explanation.

     

    Mine is not made by Nvidia and, until the OP mentioned his, I had not heard that Nvidia makes anything but graphics cards. It seems that the chipset has nothing to do with the actual hard drive failure since mine is being recalled as well and the chipset is not from Nvidia.

  • by SNAFU,

    SNAFU SNAFU Oct 23, 2012 12:49 AM in response to Tony Williamson
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Oct 23, 2012 12:49 AM in response to Tony Williamson

    Just got mine back today, same models.

  • by normanfrombillerica,

    normanfrombillerica normanfrombillerica Oct 23, 2012 12:39 PM in response to Tony Williamson
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 23, 2012 12:39 PM in response to Tony Williamson

    I will be having my Segate drive replace on site soon. Just wondering about the model numbers you listed. I just checked my drive that is being replaced and it is a model ST31000528AS This is the model number you listed for the new one that was installed on your iMac. Has anyone else checked their model numbers?

     

    Regards,

    Norm

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Oct 23, 2012 12:48 PM in response to normanfrombillerica
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Oct 23, 2012 12:48 PM in response to normanfrombillerica

    Which revision? The original failing ones were:

     

    ST31000528ASQ revision AP24.

     

    My current one is:

     

    ST31000528AS revision AP2E. 

  • by GKruse1,

    GKruse1 GKruse1 Oct 23, 2012 1:15 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 23, 2012 1:15 PM in response to baltwo

    Mine failed just 3 months ago, before the recall.  It was replaced with model number ST31000528AS rev AP2E.    It’s unclear if my replacement is now affected by the recall.  But after calling Apple Support twice, I’ve gotten two conflicting answers.   There doesn’t seem to be any information about which drives are good and which are bad.   For those people who’ve already had their drives replaced, Apple should provide additional information.

     

    Since my serial number is eligible for a replacement by April 13th, I'll just wait until then and take it in for a new drive.  Apple sent me the letter, they can again replace my drive if they can't tell the difference.

  • by normanfrombillerica,

    normanfrombillerica normanfrombillerica Oct 23, 2012 2:34 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 23, 2012 2:34 PM in response to baltwo

    My present HD is a model ST31000528AS  REV AP25 There is no "Q" on the end.

    I guess I will have to wait and see what they install when they come in a few days.

  • by Joe Gramm,

    Joe Gramm Joe Gramm Oct 24, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Joe Gramm
    Level 5 (6,344 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 24, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Joe Gramm

    My HD is scheduled to be replaced On Site Thursday 10/25. That's just 4 days after calling AppleCare. Quick!

     

    After the HD is replaced, is it possible to Startup holding the Option Key and selecting to boot into my Clone Backup or can it only be done by Starting up from the original iMac Install DVD (OS X 10.6.2), setting up a User and then rebooting into the Clone.

     

    Seems like it would save a lot of time Restarting directly into the Clone.

     

    Update:

    By the way the Tech said there was no need to reinstall an OS after I erase the drive because she is going to just take out the HD first thing.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 24, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Joe Gramm
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    Oct 24, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Joe Gramm

    Have your external attached, then power up while holding Option. Your external should show up as a choice - pick it, boot into it, and clone back after going into Disk Utility and wipe your internal, partition, make sure it's formatted correctly, then quit DU, go to CCC and clone back. Or, you could just clone back (without wiping first) - the first method is "cleaner".

  • by Albert Kinderman,

    Albert Kinderman Albert Kinderman Oct 24, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Joe Gramm
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPad
    Oct 24, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Joe Gramm

    In my case they gave me a drive with an OS on it.  It starts just like a new purchase: what language?  what time zone?  At one point they ask you if you want to restore.  You have several options.  Choose the appropriate one.  This comes before any questions about setting up a user.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 24, 2012 9:30 AM in response to Albert Kinderman
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    Oct 24, 2012 9:30 AM in response to Albert Kinderman

    A clone isn't the same as a Time Machine backup; I don't believe you can restore from it - it is the complete system, so you just reinstall/reclone it. No need to set up anything as you are simply cloning you entire system back over.

  • by Joe Gramm,

    Joe Gramm Joe Gramm Oct 24, 2012 9:33 AM in response to babowa
    Level 5 (6,344 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 24, 2012 9:33 AM in response to babowa

    babowa- That's what I was hoping I could do, Thanks 

     

    Albert Kinderman:

      Thanks. The Technician indicated she didn't think the drive came with an OS, but wasn't possitive. I guess I'd know once the machine boots back up holding the Option Key and the list of drives is presented. But booting directly into my Clone will be the easiest method.

  • by Albert Kinderman,

    Albert Kinderman Albert Kinderman Oct 24, 2012 9:53 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPad
    Oct 24, 2012 9:53 AM in response to babowa

    Actually, I think it's the other way around.  A clone has all your files as files; a time machine backup is a single container.  When you restore, you have options, including migration assistant (see the official Apple support pages on restore).

     

    I know, because I restored from an external drive, not from a time machine back up (at first).  I gave the store a machine with Lion, but they gave me back a machine with Mountain Lion.  Since my time machine backup was made under Lion, it was invisible to Mountain Lion (at least it was not a choice given to me). I went ahead without thinking too much and restored from another external drive. I ended up with Mountain Lion as the OS with all my Snow Leopard apps on it, including all those that wouldn't run without rosetta.  So can you restore from an external drive that holds actual files?  Definitely. 

     

    So did I have to use my Lion install disk?  No.  Apple Care support had me boot into recovery, go to disk utilities, and wipe the drive.  As soon as the wipe finished, it asked if I wanted to restore and time machine was an option.  After my second restore, I had my Lion back.

     

    You don't need to hold the option key.  If you don't get the right choice, just restart and hold the option key, but I really don't think it will be necessary.

  • by Joe Gramm,

    Joe Gramm Joe Gramm Oct 24, 2012 10:06 AM in response to Albert Kinderman
    Level 5 (6,344 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 24, 2012 10:06 AM in response to Albert Kinderman

    At this point, my clone(s) are my safest bet because my Time Machine backup may have become corrupted by switching back and forth from Mac HD to Clone and having TM briefly start a backup while in the Clone because I forgot to turn it Off. That part of TM drives me crazy as it is not the first time this has happened.

     

    TM is now trying to do full backups vs incremental and I get a message saying there is not enough space on the TM disk. I tried doing a reset via Pondini's Instructions, but could not get it to reset. That method has worked for me in the past.

  • by Albert Kinderman,

    Albert Kinderman Albert Kinderman Oct 24, 2012 10:12 AM in response to Joe Gramm
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iPad
    Oct 24, 2012 10:12 AM in response to Joe Gramm

    But you don't need to boot from the clone.  The clone has files (that was my point - it's how I restored the wrong system). Boot the machine and restore from the clone.  I think that will work.

  • by Joe Gramm,

    Joe Gramm Joe Gramm Oct 24, 2012 10:21 AM in response to Albert Kinderman
    Level 5 (6,344 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 24, 2012 10:21 AM in response to Albert Kinderman

    I guess I don't understand how my bootable clone, which is an exact copy of the System (OS X 10.8.2) on my Macintosh HD, could contain the wrong files if cloned it back to the new Mac HD.

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