iMac 1 TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program

Yesterday I dropped my computer off at an Apple store near me to have the HD replaced. I got my iMac back same day and it is much quieter now. No longer does it sound as if popcorn is in the microwave. Also, everything seems to open faster. I have certainly noticed a difference. Glad Apple came to their senses on this one. I was always told all was well when I knew it wasn't. Feel like I have a new computer.

Does anyone know if Apple is willing to mail you a drive so you can replace it yourself? Packing up a 27" iMac and going 70 miles to an Apple store to drop off the machine is a royal pain in the butt. Popping off the glass and opening up the iMac and replacing the drive is a piece of cake. I could have the whole thing fixed in less time than driving to the store.

The iMac hard drive isn't designated as a user replaceable item so I doubt that Apple would send you the part. I suggest giving them a call to see if they can send somebody out to you to perform the replacement.

Yea iCare is correct. Apple will not send out a hard drive for you to replace it on your own. It would need to be replaced by either an Apple Authorized Service Provider or an Apple Store. If you go to locate.apple.com and click on service and put in your zip code it should show you the closest providers around you.

These people are a joke, the machine is out of warranty why should they flipping care? I know more about these machines than 99% of the people they would send out to me. I'll just buy my own drive and do it myself, that way I'll get a 2TB and know it's done right and most importantly when it's convenient for me not Apple. Ya know what I mean?

Your choice, but do note that the OEM HDs have built-in heat sensors that your replacement HD won't have, so you'll be plagued with runaway fans. Good luck with that. Apple replaced the HD in April and did the work onsite. Quiet as a church mouse with a basket of cheese.

I live in Alaska with the nearest Apple store 1 1/2 hours away by plane or over 800 mi by car. There are no Apple service reps in my area. Apple tells me I have to mail it (my cost) or fly to Anchorage to the Apple store.

Come on Apple! It's your problem that you chose sucky Seagate hard drives. I shouldn't have to pay shipping for my "free" replacement.

Here is how the 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement should go, but apparently doesn't.

1. You bring your iMac to the local Apple Store.

2. They have a station setup right in the public store for data transfer, or at least give you the option to watch in the back room.

3. They transfer the HD contents on a firewire or USB 3.0 connection to the new drive, if your iMac can't handle high speed transfers then they need to pull your old drive and plug it into a machine that has a faster connection so it doesn't take foreever.

4. They verify that the new drive is working correctly by booting your machine and letting you look at it. Make sure your photos are all there.

5. They hand you the old drive in a nice Apple baggy and you know they haven't touched it.

6. They apologize nicely for the faulty harddrive that came with the iMac that you paid thousands of dollars for.

Simple as that. The fact that they are placing the backups on us is BS. The amount of time it will take is BS. I'm seriously mad to the point of swearing about this recall and the level of care that Apple is giving its customers.

SJRIP.

I spoke with the Applecare people about this this morning. The guy I spoke with told me that I should be able to take in my Time Capsule and they would transfer everything over after they put in the new drive. But, honestly, he didn't seem sure about it? I would love for that to happen. So we'll see.

I also set up for an on-site (in home) replacement since I have the Applecare. Sill waiting for them to call me back to schedule it.

This whole thing makes me nervis, tbh.

The email I received said that iMac systems sold between October 2009 and July 2011 were affected. Ummm...

When I had my hard drive, Oct. '09 iMac 27", replaced in July, I just used my last backup to restore the system when I brought it home and started it up, easy task. It did run for about an hour to finish the job, not a problem at all. I'm just wanting to make sure the hard drive replaced in July is the updated unit, they assure me it is.... I wonder how I can be sure, anybody know?

And, oh, by the way, the replacement took 4 days!

Well, think about it, what other manufacturer would even give a **** if there were hard drives failing after 3 years????

Well, I realize this is an old post, but when you restore, everything, ie Photoshop, etc, is still installed. Youre confusing an iMac with a POS Windows machine! The Time Machine is fantastic!

ABQ_G35 wrote:

I'm just wanting to make sure the hard drive replaced in July is the updated unit, they assure me it is.... I wonder how I can be sure, anybody know?

Answered at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4450521?answerId=20105067022#20105067022&ac_cid=tw123456#20105067

The tech is coming to my house to replace my drive today. I'll update later on how it all goes. But just as an fyi; I did ask at the local Genius Bar and they said they would NOT be able to transfer my data over for me if I brought in both my iMac and my Time Capsule. This is what the AppleCare tech on the phone told me. But they said no.

The tech that's coming to my house said his only responsibility was to replace the drive and give it to me clean and empty. But that he would assist me and get me started on getting everything transferred before he leaves. He just kept reitereating that I need a "good" backup. I just hope that my Time Capsule and Time Machine backup is considered "good"....

Also, he must take the old drive with him, he has no choice for these recalls. But he would erase it for me before he takes it out.