SMART error

Hi Macrol and everyone, I reported some time ago that I was having this error, as I'm in Brazil now, spoke with Apple and thank go my macBookPro was under warranty. Left at Apple repair center in Brazil, took some time more than a month to fix due to logistics and inventory software problems with distributors here in Brazil. Apple need to look closely at the distributor in Brazil, the HD part was here but they were not delivering to the repais center, problems with 2 part numbers for the same part. Anyway they fix, it's working now and I was able to install the LIon and all good. I'm not sure if it's a software problem I believe it's actually the HD was defective and before it was too late better changed. Now I have the apple extended plan just in case. So, even though we get mad and crazy about this, if someone has the same problem better get the HD exchanged,. Someone from Australia had the same problem and worked after replacing. Let's hope Apple gets better and better now.

I have a 27" imac purchased in July, 2010 and installed Lion last month. My computer has been running slowly ever since the install and I couldn't figure out why. Finally last night it died completely and when I tried to restore using the lion partition it gave me the same S.M.A.R.T. error that you all got. I took it in to get repaired before finding this thread.... just figured I was unlucky enough to get a crappy hard drive that expired just after the warranty. This many people having the same problem though.... wow that's a lot of bad HDD's.

I have to say.... I'm a little bothered by all this. After using a pc for most of my life I started using a mac about 3 years ago specifically to avoid hassles like this. Now I'm in a situation where I have to pay a tech and wait a week have a hard drive replaced, something that I could have easily done by myself on a pc.... hmm, for the first time in a long time I feel myself being yanked towards purchasing a pc next time I'm in the market for a new computer.

Count me as yet one more owner of a 27" iMac purchased in late 2009 who tried to install Lion and got the dreaded S.M.A.R.T. HDD failing error. Took it into the Apple Store and they have steadfastly refused to concede that this could be a software issue or to fix this without charge, so I am footing the bill for a new HDD. New HDD has only a 90 day warranty, which must be shorter than the manufacturer's own warranty. Unfortunately, I was over a bit of a barrel as we need to get the computer back on line again ASAP.

The glow is off the Apple ...

I share the pain of you and everyone in the same situation. Believe it or not, my Apple 2010 15' started a while back to slow down and shown some slowing down and finally stuck to the point impossible to work. Guess what brought back and now I'm waiting to have the new HDD exchanged once more. Thank god I got the Apple Care Plan. That's the status now. Lesson: never let your Apple be without Apple Care plan and when runs out time to replacen it. It's too bad but will cost much more later. I hope this situation stops with us but I believe it's the HD so this is major in my opinion. Good luck to everyone !

It really works if s.m.a.r.t error on my mac (hd is full red!)?:

1. Backup all you need from your HDD, you're going to format it.
2. Use 16GB USB Flash drive (I think other types are ok, but I was using Flash) and format it with Disk Utility using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) filesystem
3. Run Lion Installation and install it on this USB disk. (It took 2-3 hours in my configuration)
4. Boot from this USB (it will be done automatically), go through initialization (username, password, time zone etc) and make sure your system is working okay (it will be painfully slow though)
5. Reboot in Recovery mode (Press and hold Cmd+R)
6. Run Disk Utility from Recovery mode and restore your USB flashdisk TO your HDD (you didn't forget to backup it on step 1, right?)
7. Quit from Recovery mode and select your HDD as your startup disk before reboot.

Some Question:

....6. Disk Utility- Restore Button...Source: Lion HD...Destination Snow Leopard HD...think this is well?

How do return data from backup, because i think it wil be a CLEAN lion without my data.

That remains after the s.m.a.r.t error?

Thanks,

macrol, yes, this can help you to install Lion on HDD with SMART errors, since Lion checks for SMART errors during the installation, and Disk utility don't.

BUT, SMART error is a very dangerous signal, so even if you install Lion on damaged disk using that method, you shouldn't expect a problemless work. Damaged HDD is always a danger. I use laptop with damaged disk only for skyping and browsing, so I'm okay with the fact that all my HDD is going to ruin one day. Are you?

There's a number of ways to backup/restore — Time Machine, or just copy needed files. It's up to you.

Same issue 27" 2009 IMac getting SMART error. iMac has had issues in the past, the very 1st one i purchased was immediatley refunded for NOT starting up the same day. The 2nd iMac had problems early 2010 with Spinning Beach Ball of Death. Apple store hinted that this wasnt the first time they saw issues with the 2009 iMacs. Their solution was to Reformat the hardrive. All has been ok since then but now the Lion issue has me thinking that i want out of the 2009-2010 iMac all together!!!

Attempting a refund at the moment :/

Hi All ,

I have same problem on macbook pro 15" 2011 after trying t install Lion.

I am very disapponted about this problem. Apple should refund all users for Lion purchasing.

regards

Luigi

HI everybody,

Same problem for me on my imac (mi-2008).

I replaced the HDD with a new one because it was out of order.

I bought a Seagate 1Tb and i decided to resize one partition on it yesterday... and noticed that i cannot do this because of the smart status which is "fail"!

I don't think it's a hardware problem because i've no problem in use but i can do anything with the drive.

did someone had an answer from Apple??

thx

It is not possible that Apple sell products that fail in so short time.

I've bought mac book pro in April 2011 and in November 2011 I have SMART errors.

Higher price , poor quality.

There is some other solutions apart Hard Disk replacing?

Anyone from Apple can answer , please?

Luigi

Same problem here. Early 2010 iMac i7 27" w/ 16gb of RAM. Everything started slowing down & getting glitchy about a week out of warranty, & then my computer wouldn't even start up. I took it in to the Apple store & they could not figure it out, but told me to re-install Lion. I did that, and everything ran fine... for a while.

About a week ago, everything started to run really really slow. iTunes could not play songs & would freeze my comp for 5-10 mins. Now the same lagging is happening in nearly every program. Applications stop responding & I get the spinny wheel of death.

So I checked my disk utility & see the error - "This drive has a hardware problem that can't be repaired..."

I'm out of warranty and can't afford all this downtime. Apple - PLEASE FIX THIS - I have been a Mac user all my life & this is the first time I have been so outraged at the performance of an Apple product!

S.M.A.R.T error showed me six months ago...reallocated bad sector number was then 1177...Now, six months later, also 1177! How is that possible? If the hard drive be a mistake, then this number would increase! Of course, the Lion so I can`t install! Are you also the reallocated bad sector incorrect? I think it is still a software issue!

looks like we all have same problem, but does any one have the Answer? i know siri dosnt. 😟

Update - my computer no longer works at all. Last time the issue surfaced, it was temporarily resolved when I re installed lion. Now when I try to re install lion by starting up in recovery mode, I get some weird DOS scrolling text and then a gray box that tells me I have to restart the computer.

I am taking it to the apple store today, but I suspect they will say the same thing & I will be S.O.L. Because I'm out of warranty.

Guys answer is easy, all of us have (or had) a bad disk. You have to replace it.

In my case, fortunately have Apple Care and got it replaced. That was my answer. Since then no problems at all and of course got Lion installed.

My question to Apple is how this could happen? Apple hardware is expected to be premium, at least that is what we pay. But a thread of by the moment 12 pages with people having these HD's failing in many cases with less than a year of use is not exactly what I understand by premium...