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This drive has a hardware problem and can't be repaired

R

rjackman

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 12, 2007
56
0
Hi, My late 2009 iMac is showing the 1tb hdd as "This drive has a hardware problem and can't be repaired" in Disk Utility, I read that I will need to get this replaced ASAP but not sure what one to replace it with.
It is a "1 TB ST31000528ASQ" which I think is this...

http://www.ebuyer.com/252858-seagat...-s-hard-drive-7200rpm-32mb-cache-st31000524as

but i have also found this one...

http://www.ebuyer.com/193712-wd-1tb...viar-black-hard-drive-7200rpm-64mb-wd1002faex

which i was going to go for because of the bigger cache but on this site...

http://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=imac-core-duo

It says I cannot use that because " using it will cause excessive hard drive fan usage"

So I am unsure what to do and want to get the right one for it. Can anyone help?

Thanks
 
derbothaus

derbothaus

macrumors 601
Jul 17, 2010
4,093
30
You can get any hard drive to replace the Seagate that is having issues. I would check on fan issues though. Maybe a 2TB WD Caviar Black. Only bummer is the price right now for HDD's.
 
R

rjackman

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 12, 2007
56
0
I have read that there is a special firmware that only Apple have for this drive and I would need to use the exact hdd as before. Also I might need this part 922-9229.
 
aliensporebomb

aliensporebomb

macrumors 68000
Jun 19, 2005
1,907
332
Minneapolis, MN, USA, Urth
Drive

I saw a video on the net from a Mac repair place that indicated if you buy a drive from the same brand and type (not necessarily the same size) it will use the drives internal temperature sensors and the fan behavior will be fine. If your current Mac has a Seagate XYZ series then get one of that type and you should be ok.
 
Last edited:
R

rjackman

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 12, 2007
56
0
I went to the apple store at lunch and they said they could do it all for about £150 so I'm going to do that. Thanks for the help.
 
blueroom

blueroom

macrumors 603
Feb 15, 2009
6,381
26
Toronto, Canada
Just so you know it's not special firmware but a thermal sensor on the HDD. The Seagate has an additional two wire cable going to it, it can be shorted out with a bit of wire.

You could then mount a Seagate Momentus XT 750 in a 2.5 to 3.5 bracket and give your 2009 iMac a boost in speed.

PS I put a SSD in a 2009 27" and it's quite snappy, note: I only had to unscrew the display and remove a single cable, then I propped the display up at the top about 8" and the HDD removes with only two screws.
 
R

rjackman

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 12, 2007
56
0
I did look at the SSD route but I use about 500gb at the moment and it would cost loads for that. I think I'm going to hold out till the new iMac line which should hopefully be out next year.
 
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