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ERROR 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1232

Hi, can someone knows what is this failure about? I read is something related to HDD, but don't know if it is really a big problem.
I ran the Apple Hardware Test but not the complete one, and obtained 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1232, several times and the only change was the last number.
I appreciate if someone can help me understanding this issue.
The bad news is that i didn't get AppleCare =(... can it be bought after my first year warranty limit was ended?

MC413 E/A, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Jan 22, 2011 1:18 PM

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Posted on Jan 22, 2011 5:16 PM

neogne wrote:
Hi, can someone knows what is this failure about? I read is something related to HDD, but don't know if it is really a big problem.


Yes. 😟

I ran the Apple Hardware Test but not the complete one, and obtained 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1232, several times and the only change was the last number.


It's a fan on your internal HD. The actual problem is either the fan or the HD; only Apple can tell which once they take it apart.

The bad news is that i didn't get AppleCare =(... can it be bought after my first year warranty limit was ended?


Nope, sorry.
11 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 22, 2011 5:16 PM in response to neogne

neogne wrote:
Hi, can someone knows what is this failure about? I read is something related to HDD, but don't know if it is really a big problem.


Yes. 😟

I ran the Apple Hardware Test but not the complete one, and obtained 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1232, several times and the only change was the last number.


It's a fan on your internal HD. The actual problem is either the fan or the HD; only Apple can tell which once they take it apart.

The bad news is that i didn't get AppleCare =(... can it be bought after my first year warranty limit was ended?


Nope, sorry.

Jan 22, 2011 6:20 PM in response to neogne

neogne wrote:
Allright thanks for your quick response ,one more thing.... what do you think is better; wait until the HD crashes totally and replace for a new one? or to take my imac to an Apple service center and hope they can fix my HD before it dies?


Fix it now, it will not get better. Make an appointment: http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

If you're not doing regular backups, start doing that immediately.

You might want to review the [Time Machine Tutorial|http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#timemachinebasics] and perhaps browse [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

And/or, see Kappy's post on [Basic Backup|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12366915#12366915].

Jan 22, 2011 8:05 PM in response to neogne

Pondini has guided you perfectly.
I just wanted to add --
If you wait, the chances are excellent that all of a sudden --
when you least expect it -- you'll lose everything in the blink of an eye.
It won't necessarily get gradually worse, or give you another heads up that you're in trouble.

Backing up Pondini's advice:
Do Not Wait.

Jan 30, 2011 1:16 AM in response to Pondini

Guess what! when i ran the tests with apple hardware test, it was just after a format and factory recovery for my imac and then i had in that moment Mac OS Snow leopard 10.6.1, and this errors appeared. Now i have Snow leopard 10.6.6 and just run the test again before calling Apple, i run the quick test as the first time i did it and no errors appeared .... o.O , so could it be just a firmware correction or what could have happened?? do you have an idea?

Jan 30, 2011 7:29 AM in response to neogne

I'd be very skeptical. Run the extended tests.

If that shows ok, keep a close eye on it for a while.

There are some apps that will do that. [Hardware Monitor|http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html] is the one I use. It records temperatures, fan speeds, etc., for a week, and you can also have it track things like CPU usage, and show them all in graphs, plus set alarms for various conditions. There is a small charge for it. I'm not familiar with the free iStat widget, but I don't think it keeps any history.

Why did you run the hardware test in the first place? Were you having performance problems? If so, has anything changed?

And be sure you're well backed-up.

Jan 30, 2011 3:51 PM in response to Pondini

Yeah i think it's rare! but anyway ... following your advice i ran the extended test and no errors appeared. So i'll try the software you recommended to find out if there is anything unusual.

Everything started when i started to experience low speed when opening some software like Safari and others, this issue remained during some months, and i had almost reached the HD to full with large files (15 GB each) from movies and other stuff, so i decided to backup my data and reinstall Mac OS 10.6.1 DVD. When installed and before installing any software or update i decided to run the hardware test and there appeared for first time the error i mentioned before.

You could say why didn't i run the test before reinstalling MAC OS ?, well the truth is i never used this tool before, and didn't remember i have it until i had to use the app dvd ... hehe =)

Anyway as you recommended i'll monitor fans and temp activity with Hardware Monitor, i already have my backup and i'm saving docs and info in an external HD.

Thanks!

Dec 10, 2011 5:29 PM in response to neogne

I had 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1240 and HDD-1244 errors. Unlike what many people are saying all over the web - mine had NOTHING to do with a bad fan or harddrive. It was simply BAD RAM. I encourage you to pull ram and retest.


I had a rash of new problems - frequent and random crashes, slow performance, not waking from sleep.

I ran the Apple Test Util and got the above errors.


I pulled 2 of my 4 RAM chips and ALL problems went away. I am currently sending bad chips back and will replace.


HTH!

Nov 26, 2013 9:36 AM in response to Star Studios

2 years later..........!

4MOT/40000003: HDD 1221 error after eventually getting AHT to work from CD shipped with my imac (late-2009).


This followed 'kernal panic' and then looping grey screen - tried the full list of tips, hints before deciding to re-install Mavericks from the internet (cmd_r). Had taken full backup of disk using 'disk utility', but decided to just re-install OSX. Thankfully, a good choice as it doesn't reformat the disk and therefore all user data intact.

System back as normal (after many hours).

Then I ran AHT, which worked, resulting in the above error code.


I then read 'star studios'.

I took out a couple of 4GB memory chips (cheap ones) - ran AHT and this time no errors (imac at normal operating temperature) . Ran it again some time later to make sure.... again no errors (not from cold).


The upshot is, if you have non-Apple purchased RAM.....a) keep the original RAM if you've taken it out. b) can't trust AHT to report actual errors, so do the test with only Apple RAM installed. c) keep the CDs that arrived with the imac and remember also that the AHT is on the 'Applications CD' (it wouldn't work from 'cmd_d' or 'option_d').

ERROR 4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1232

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