Apple Recalls Some iMac Seagate 1TB Hard Drives

[formkatze]

Originally Posted by winty03

I was going to have a service provider do the install for free via Apple's recall, and have them put a Seagate Barrauda XT ST33000651AS 3TB drive. I had read on new egg, that a reveiwer said it was TOO hot and lost control of his fans..they ran at 5,000 RPM constant. I had asked the tech if I needed to purchase a specific drive to maintain fan control. He told me no that there are ways they are able to get around or control that. Is this possible and or what your thoughts of the choice of drive. Thanks

I, too, considered this very option. However, it's not a matter of the drive overheating. Apple modifies its hard drives before installing them in these computers (iMacs specifically). The drives have proprietary firmware which directly informs OS X of their temperatures so that OS X can regulate fan speed. If you install a drive that wasn't modified by Apple, your fan will spin out of control no matter how cool the drive runs. You can install software to control the fan speed at hddfancontrol.com. The trouble with this option is, what happens when Apple releases an update for OS X that causes this software to stop functioning? And what if the developer decides to stop updating it? You're stuck with a fan spinning like crazy 24/7, unless you want to pull out the monitor again, remove your 3 GB, and stick an Apple drive back in the machine. You could have an authorized repair center order a 2 GB drive from Apple, but they will charge you way, way too much for it. And Apple doesn't offer 3 GB drives. For me, the best option was to just take the new 1 GB.

[winty03]

And thats fine, I was a bit dissapointed to hear some are being replaced with WD black drives...which I like, but users said they made a bit more noise.....thats why I was looking into the Seagates.

[formkatze]

Sure, just know that whether you buy Western Digital or Seagate or anything else, if you don't have an authorized service center order it from Apple, you're going to be dealing with the fan issue.

[ikahlE43]

I was thinking the same thing.

[adamdt]

mine is on the list as well but its been fine up intill recently were ive noticed the comp acting up abit unless its just me but problems like



When connected through router, was dropping connection quite a bit especially when awakening from sleep

it has slowed down a lot since i first got it, lots of beach balls when opening applications

websites have also slowed down, the page often pixelate in between loading sites

recently the cd drive wouldn't recognize a blank disc when inserted
(ran onyx & disk utility, seems to have corrected it)

the HD recall, needing replacement

when i want to turn of the computer and i choose Shut Down it begins to but then a message pops up telling me * i need to restart the computer
(hold the power button down then restart) * once rebooted a msg pops up telling me the imac was shutdown because of a problem & would i like to report it.

pluging into the headphone jack creates a lag for a few secs in performance


i called the closest apple store about 20mins from me and asked if they did repairs in house and told them my situation. they didnt seem to know much about it and asked if i could call back monday when the technician is in ..... so i gotta call monday now

[Kuvmom]

After the new hard drive is installed, how do you get your backed up stuff
Onto the computer again?

[brbrcoil]

I too was told by Apple.com my 21.5" IMac did not qualify for HD replacement. But I checked online and the HD (ST31000528AS) was in fact a SeaGate. Called Apple Advisor and he looked it up and said my computer didn't qualify as it didn't have a seagate HD. I told him I thought his records were wrong and after he googled the same model # (the IMAC info screen didn't have the make - only model # which I believe is what has Apple screwed up) he forwarded me to his Sr. Advisor. Sr. Advisor said I was not eligible... I shared with him all my research which clearly showed my HD was in fact the same hard drive being recalled and I gave him not only my info and findings, but also another case # (361827989) whom indicated the exact same issue and they then replaced his HD...

Needless to say, Sr. advisor called me back a few minutes later after being baffled (said he had never heard of such an issue) and said if my HD had a Revision # (Rev#) of "AP25" then it was the recalled hard drive and BINGO - it was. They are replacing my HD with a new one and my case # is 413087829 and I would guess thousands and thousands (if not millions) have been told by Apple (either when doing the online check or calling in) their iMac didn't qualify for the SeaGate 1T HD replacement - due solely to Apple not having correct info in their databases - when in fact they do.

So if you have this issue, call them and give them the two above case #'s and get your new HD!!!! Have to be turned in by April if my info is correct.

Good Luck!!

Be Persistent!!!