enjoyhannah

Q: A magnet killed my hard drive

While rearranging my desk, I put an AC remote on the right side of my Macbook Pro's trackpad while the laptop was open. After 20 seconds, I lifted the laptop to wipe underneath it while the magnet was still there. When I did this, the screen flickered oddly, the computer screen was unresponsive, the keyboard was unresponsive, and it seemingly froze up. I shut down the computer holding the power button, and when I turned it back on, it gave me a prohibitory symbol. My hard drive failed, according to an authorized Apple repair store. It needs to be completely wiped to try and reinstall OSX, or the part needs to be replaced entirely.

 

HOW CAN A MAGNET DESTROY INFORMATION ON A LAPTOP IN A FEW SECONDS? Is there anywhere in the Apple Macbook Pro 2011 manual that mentioned magnets as being dangerous to hardware function?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 29, 2016 8:26 AM

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Q: A magnet killed my hard drive

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  • by JimmyCMPIT,Solvedanswer

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 29, 2016 8:31 AM in response to enjoyhannah
    Level 6 (8,013 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 8:31 AM in response to enjoyhannah

    if this is not common sense to you at this point in the game I'm curious to know where the breakdown is.

     

    but actually it the 2011 MacBook Pro does indeed warn about magnets.

     

    here

     

    Carrying your MacBook Pro If you carry your MacBook Pro in a bag or briefcase, make sure that there are no loose items (such as paper clips or coins) that could accidentally get inside the computer through vent openings or the optical drive slot or get stuck inside a port. Also, keep magnetically sensitive items away from the MagSafe power port.

     

     

    And here

    The MagSafe power port contains a magnet that can erase data on a credit card, iPod, or other device. To preserve your data, don’t place these or other magnetically sensitive material or devices within 1 inch (25 mm) of this port.

     

  • by enjoyhannah,

    enjoyhannah enjoyhannah Sep 29, 2016 8:38 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 29, 2016 8:38 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    magsafe is the charger, not the right side of the laptop.

     

    also, try not to be rude.

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Sep 29, 2016 8:40 AM in response to enjoyhannah
    Level 6 (15,448 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 8:40 AM in response to enjoyhannah
  • by enjoyhannah,

    enjoyhannah enjoyhannah Sep 29, 2016 8:51 AM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 29, 2016 8:51 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

    Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, this does not help.

     

    Older computers, beyond 10 years old, are prone to failure if exposed to magnets.

    New computers, such as mine, are not supposed to be sensitive, especially to a tiny remote magnet

    Should Apple cover the cost of hard drives that aren't up to snuff?

     

    No where in the manual does it mention magnets potentially wiping data and causing hard drives to physically malfunction. I was told by the repair store the hard drive is damaged and must be replaced, that there's no reinstalling OSX.

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Sep 29, 2016 8:56 AM in response to enjoyhannah
    Level 6 (15,448 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 8:56 AM in response to enjoyhannah

    enjoyhannah wrote:

     

    Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, this does not help.

     

    Older computers, beyond 10 years old, are prone to failure if exposed to magnets.

    New computers, such as mine, are not supposed to be sensitive, especially to a tiny remote magnet

    Should Apple cover the cost of hard drives that aren't up to snuff?

     

    No where in the manual does it mention magnets potentially wiping data and causing hard drives to physically malfunction. I was told by the repair store the hard drive is damaged and must be replaced, that there's no reinstalling OSX.

    Your profile indicates that you have a MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)  which may lead us to believe it is not a new computer. If your profile is not correct please update it so that we at least know what model/year computer you are talking about.


    Although not specifically addressing your data loss this article does say that Apple computers can be affected by magnets.

  • by enjoyhannah,

    enjoyhannah enjoyhannah Sep 29, 2016 8:59 AM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 29, 2016 8:59 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

    It's an early 2011 I believe. Five years isn't "old" based on how computers have changed.

    What article says? It certainly doesn't say anything about magnets and hard drives in my manual.

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Sep 29, 2016 9:04 AM in response to enjoyhannah
    Level 6 (15,448 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 9:04 AM in response to enjoyhannah

    It may have been coincidental that your hard drive failed at the same time a magnet was near the computer. Unless it was a very strong magnet I doubt it could cause your hard drive to fail. The act of moving your computer while it was running may have been the cause of the drive failure. Replace the drive and restore your data from your backup.

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 29, 2016 9:08 AM in response to enjoyhannah
    Level 6 (8,013 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 9:08 AM in response to enjoyhannah

    Apple will not cover the cost of your drive because a 2011 MacBook Pro is long past any type of warranty possibility from Apple unless you bought it refurbished directly from Apple and with a warranty from Apple.

    Also if your HD died and it's from a 2011 computer all computer hard drives mechanical or solid state have whats' called a mean time before fail or hours before fail which while not a guarantee your drive will go bad in that exact span of time but it is a guarantee if the drive goes bad at sometime between turning the computer on for the first time and whatever time is specified that behavior is expected by the manufacturer. If the drive is in warranty it can be replaced at the manufactures discretion,  if not you are among the hundreds of millions of computer owners whos hard drive data is likely gone and your recourse is to buy a new drive.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_time_between_failures

     

    any argument you wish to make with apple regarding this policy and others (e.g. squirt guns) I can direct you to their feedback site, but this forum is not that site and Apple does to read posts here.

    go to

    apple.com/feedback

    and let them know your feelings.