Call it the curse of the male, but I typically can't get excited and think simultaneously.
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Apple Launches 27" iMac 3TB Hard Drive Replacement Program
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Call it the curse of the male, but I typically can't get excited and think simultaneously.
You were right. It's going to be $67.41 to get it fixed but I won't know if I have to pay(I'm expecting to) it until I pick it up. I asked to keep the old HD to make sure it gets destroyed and they wanted me to pay $400 for it. Told them to keep it.
They have to return the drive to apple, rules is rules. and i was sure that the hinge would be chargeable because its not included in any existing REP... Yet
It "should" only take between 2-3 days but apple really messed my replacement up big time.
When I got my iMac back the stand had two dings on it and they replaced my 3TB Fusion drive with a standard drive. A chat with support and a senior advisor confirmed that they indeed messed up. I'm now without my iMac again as they replace the drive with the right one and replace the stand that they damaged which in their words will take approx 5 days as they have to dismantle the entire iMac to replace it.
That's bull, replacing the stand takes about 45 minutes including full machine strip. 2 hours total turnaround for a competent engineer.
Assuming you have a spare one on the shelve. Competent engineers are in short supply these days.
I received an email from Apple informing me about the replacement program, but I already had my 3TB fusion drive replaced a few months ago due to it failing, so I wonder if I should worry about this or not.
That is another interesting issue. I never received any mail from Apple, but my SN is part of the program.
Go into System Info and check under Hardware/Storage. If the Media Name for the replacement drive is "APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 Media", most probably they did replace it with another faulty drive and you should get it replaced again. (I had mine replaced last November after it failed, and am getting it replaced again this week)
EDIT: Turns out that this isn't a way to test. I had my drive replaced again and the new drive also shows as "APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 Media". So it must also depend on the manufacture date of the drive, which of course you can't see externally.
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My 3T Fusion drive failed around Xmas last year, and I took it in the local Apple store and had it replaced via Apple Care.
(Thanks to time machine - I lost hardly any data)
Now - yesterday I get the email that my SN is on the list.
I'm thinking of gambling that my replacement drive was NOT simply an new old stock from 2012 laying around and ignoring the email - at least for now.
According to this, I have until January 2016, since I bought mine in January 2013...
"The program covers affected iMac models until December 19, 2015 or three years from its original date of sale, whichever provides longer coverage for you."
(Thanks to time machine - I lost hardly any data)
Now - yesterday I get the email that my SN is on the list.
I'm thinking of gambling that my replacement drive was NOT simply an new old stock from 2012 laying around and ignoring the email - at least for now.
According to this, I have until January 2016, since I bought mine in January 2013...
"The program covers affected iMac models until December 19, 2015 or three years from its original date of sale, whichever provides longer coverage for you."
Just spoken with an Apple rep, my 3TB Fusion drive needs replacing, they arranged a courier to collect it tomorrow (ver fast service) Apple's customer service is brilliant! does anyone know if they replace the hard drives with new ones? or are they second hand referb's? I've had my iMac since late 2012 and not had a problem.
I'm getting (but I'm not Apple, though I'm replacing the same series of drives) 'certified repaired disks'. One manufacturer (but I forgot which one) said they reuse the housing, always replace the spinning rust and repair only certain defects in the controller boards (defective RAM, ROM or motor drivers).
Ok, I'm hoping I have no problems with whatever they put in, I've had my iMac for 3 years and not had a problem so far, I'm a little worried as I've read some reviews about Amsys who are collecting and repairing my iMac and most of those reviews have been negative.
After receiving notification from Apple that my 3TB hard drive should be replaced, I took my iMac into an Apple store this past Friday (7/3). When I arrived, the genius ran a hard drive testing application that takes approximately 15 minutes to run. They replace the hard drive if the test fails. My drive passed. I was told that about 25% of the tested drives are failing.
I was told that even if the hard drive passes the test, you can still request that the hard drive be swapped out if it is from the potentially faulty batch (which is based on your serial number).
It's not the model that is faulty but a specific range of serial numbers. Drives before and after are just fine.
Hey guys, I'm not sure if these questions have been answered already in the thread but I had a few..
1) My serial number qualifies for the replacement as I purchased it in the affected time period.. It's now 11-12-2015 and I have never had any issues with the hard drive.. Is there a way to see if my hard drive will fail due to the defect or not?
2) If I do choose to replace it.. Will I be able to use Time Machine to seamlessly bring back applications and audio plug ins such as Ableton, Pro Tools, Massive, Waves, Fabfilter, Sylenth, Logic X, Spire, and so forth? I am just not looking forward to having to try and re-install all these plug ins as well as contact companies for additional licenses.. especially since a lot of them function out of Europe.
Thanks
1) My serial number qualifies for the replacement as I purchased it in the affected time period.. It's now 11-12-2015 and I have never had any issues with the hard drive.. Is there a way to see if my hard drive will fail due to the defect or not?
2) If I do choose to replace it.. Will I be able to use Time Machine to seamlessly bring back applications and audio plug ins such as Ableton, Pro Tools, Massive, Waves, Fabfilter, Sylenth, Logic X, Spire, and so forth? I am just not looking forward to having to try and re-install all these plug ins as well as contact companies for additional licenses.. especially since a lot of them function out of Europe.
Thanks
Apple has determined that a small number of 3TB hard drives used in late 2012 27-inch iMacs sold between December 2012 and September 2013 may fail under certain conditions. The company has initiated a replacement program to replace affected hard drives free of charge through Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP).
Apple is contacting affected iMac owners that provided a valid email address during product registration to inform them about the new replacement program. iMac owners can check if they are affected by entering the computer's serial number on Apple's support website, and visit the Genius Bar, locate an AASP or contact Apple Technical Support to initiate the replacement process.
Apple advises that customers who paid to have their hard drive repaired contact the company for a refund. The replacement program covers affected iMac models until December 19, 2015, or three years from the affected iMac's original date of sale, depending on whichever is longer. Read about the iMac replacement program on Apple's support website for further details.
Apple announced a similar replacement program in mid-2011 for select 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs sold between May and July of that year with Seagate 1TB hard drives that could also fail under certain conditions, later expanding the program to include a much broader timeframe. That replacement program expired on July 23, 2013 after being extended for a year. Apple also launched a repair program for early MacBook models in 2010.
Article Link: Apple Launches 27" iMac 3TB Hard Drive Replacement Program
Apparently it's about a 40% failure rate after the first year (even Dell's got a batch - also failing only they won't admit there's a problem). I had quite an argument with the Genius' who didn't know about the "call back" (ah, to be called a liar was really good PR) but Apple telephone support sorted out the lack of knowledge of the Genius' behalf, as I had already talked to Apple Telephone help, who booked my Apple Genius appointment in the first place.
Finally the "we have the revised 3Tb hard drives in stock here in Australia - so it should only take a day or two" - became 5 days for reasons unknown. Probably it wasn't in stock locally and had to be sourced ex-USA or Singapore which would account for the delay. I had a second iMac to luckily keep my business going.
The backup and restore was completely up to me to do (would have been a nice touch if they did it).
Take it in and you'll never see that drive or data again so take TWO backups in case one hard drive dies (otherwise a single point of failure). I had to plead with Microsoft to get a Office 2011 serial number as of course, that serial number doesn't transfer across.
Finally the "we have the revised 3Tb hard drives in stock here in Australia - so it should only take a day or two" - became 5 days for reasons unknown. Probably it wasn't in stock locally and had to be sourced ex-USA or Singapore which would account for the delay. I had a second iMac to luckily keep my business going.
The backup and restore was completely up to me to do (would have been a nice touch if they did it).
Take it in and you'll never see that drive or data again so take TWO backups in case one hard drive dies (otherwise a single point of failure). I had to plead with Microsoft to get a Office 2011 serial number as of course, that serial number doesn't transfer across.