knifeedge

Level 1 (14 points)

Desktops

Q: Cost of replacing iMac 27" hard drive?

Hi all

First off, I'm feeling somewhat annoyed. I took my iMac 27 into Apple last year under the 3TB replacement programme. Instead of immediately replacing it the staff ran some diagnostics on it. After around 20-30 mins they told me it was fine and didn't require replacement. Now my iMac is making constant hard drive access noises, it sounds like its defragmenting but it just does it constantly with the occasional slow down and pause for breath before continuing... even if I do nothing. Its been doing this for quite a long time so I am guessing its not the fusion drive moving stuff around.

Assuming it does eventually die, does anyone know how much Apple charge in the UK to replace a 3TB internal drive on an iMac? Its actually a fusion drive.

Thanks

Simon

Posted on Jun 19, 2016 5:19 AM

I have this question too

Q: Cost of replacing iMac 27" hard drive?

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Helpful answers

by Allan Jones,

Allan Jones Jun 19, 2016 9:04 AM in response to knifeedge
Level 8 (35,161 points)

iPad

Jun 19, 2016 9:04 AM in response to knifeedge

Dear Simon,

We are not Apple here, only end-users like you. The only way you might get an "almost definitive" answer in the forums is if someone in your area with the same model---and participates here---suffered the same failure within teh last year or so.

You will need to call several of the Apple stores in your area for approximate costs.

Reagards,

Allan
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by K Shaffer,

K Shaffer Jun 19, 2016 12:10 PM in response to knifeedge
Level 6 (14,394 points)

Desktops

Jun 19, 2016 12:10 PM in response to knifeedge

There also are specific consumer laws and differences in local protections in UK
as well as in the EU which may allow you greater latitude when product failures
are involved. One of these differences may be a longer duration warranty, etc.

So that is something that could affect your situation; not sure if you can document
any quirky behaviors in the fusion drive, to present as evidence of pending failure
but be careful to backup everything to external because some aspect of Fusion in
the computer you have could result in total data loss. The two elements which do
comprise the fusion (SSD + HDD) can sometimes fail to recognize each other. In
the process of re-uniting them as 'fusion' be prepared to fully restore data.

• Mac mini (Late 2012 and later), iMac (Late 2012 and later): About Fusion Drive - Apple Support

If you should choose to upgrade the drives or change the configuration, there are
ideas out there which may (or not) be suitable to use or attempt. Some include:

• "create fusion drive" problems - iMac Intel 27" Retina - (overview may be helpful)
https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/242419/Create+Fusion+Drive+problems

• 'how to make your own fusion drive" - macworld
http://www.macworld.com/article/2014011/storage-drives/how-to-make-your-own-fusi on-drive.html

search results
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=apple+fusion+drive+3+TB+problems&t=ffsb&ia=web

Once the unit is out of warranty, any AASP could help resolve issues. Figure expected
life span of a rotational drive + SSD & the duration of use vs. wear, over a few years time.

In any event...
Good luck & happy computing!
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