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Got an email from Apple saying they will replace my hard drive for free
- Thread starter splashnader
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You guys don't read the front page do you.
Anyways I got mine replaced yesterday, since the 1tb seagate I had in it before was slowly dying.
They replaced it with a new Seagate, but I think it might be a different line. Compared to last one, this one is near silent in casual operation.
How long did the replacement take, did they reload the OS
At first the guy said 3-5 days and I literally stopped writing my email information on his iPad, then I asked him to see how many were ahead of me. Anyways, 3-5 days turned into only 2 hours, because there were only 3 computers ahead of me, and he began to work on them right away.
Apple does reload the Operating System, but I already had a time machine backup of OSX and a Winclone backup of my Bootcamp. My Time Machine backup consisted of roughly 400gigs, including the 100gigs that Winclone used for making a copy of the Bootcamp partition, and that roughly took 2-3 hours to transfer. I still have to launch bootcamp and repartition it and transfer over my winclone backup to it, that'll take another hour or two I assume.
Apple does reload the Operating System, but I already had a time machine backup of OSX and a Winclone backup of my Bootcamp. My Time Machine backup consisted of roughly 400gigs, including the 100gigs that Winclone used for making a copy of the Bootcamp partition, and that roughly took 2-3 hours to transfer. I still have to launch bootcamp and repartition it and transfer over my winclone backup to it, that'll take another hour or two I assume.
A couple of questions for you, and perhaps to everyone else who may have some insight on this...
I am currently running Mountain Lion on my iMac (which originally came with Leopard/Snow Leopard - I can't remember - though my original disks have long been missing). When Apple replaces my hard drive, will they simply do a switch and not restore an OS? Not a really big deal as I have Mountain Lion on a USB and I can do it myself, just wondering how the process would be since on the email it states:
"You will need to have the original OS installation discs that were shipped with your product in order to re-install your operating system, other applications and any backed up data after your hard drive is replaced."
User mannyo1221 mentions his was preloaded Lion, so I just wanted to see if it was typical for them to install an OS.
Secondly...
I've never had to restore from a Time Machine backup (though I do backup using Time Machine regularly). If I restore from my latest backup, would all my applications be loaded back in its functional state? I currently have Adobe CS5.5 installed for my work, which I'm wondering if I would have to reinstall them.
Thanks!
I am currently running Mountain Lion on my iMac (which originally came with Leopard/Snow Leopard - I can't remember - though my original disks have long been missing). When Apple replaces my hard drive, will they simply do a switch and not restore an OS? Not a really big deal as I have Mountain Lion on a USB and I can do it myself, just wondering how the process would be since on the email it states:
"You will need to have the original OS installation discs that were shipped with your product in order to re-install your operating system, other applications and any backed up data after your hard drive is replaced."
User mannyo1221 mentions his was preloaded Lion, so I just wanted to see if it was typical for them to install an OS.
Secondly...
I've never had to restore from a Time Machine backup (though I do backup using Time Machine regularly). If I restore from my latest backup, would all my applications be loaded back in its functional state? I currently have Adobe CS5.5 installed for my work, which I'm wondering if I would have to reinstall them.
Thanks!
Try this one:
http://www.apple.com/support/imac-h...M-P0013590-192397&cp=em-P0013590-192397&sr=em
Edit : for some reason, the link that I posted takes me iTunes on the iPad.
http://www.apple.com/support/imac-h...M-P0013590-192397&cp=em-P0013590-192397&sr=em
Edit : for some reason, the link that I posted takes me iTunes on the iPad.
Time Machine is so particular about your backups, that it'll load every single detail about your operating system that was available during the time it backed up. For instance, the play counts and ratings for songs in iTunes, whatever applications you had running at the time, and whatever windows you had open. Any software suite version you had already installed would be on there again, as a given.
It's literally like you're going back to your computer after putting it to sleep.
So did the link that I posted, it does, however, open up the support page in Safari. Must be an issue with that page.
FWIW - I made my appointment for my local Apple store. I also called and asked about turn around time and I was told 1 - 2 days is what they are required to say. Here is to hoping for same day turn around!
Just got my 2009 iMac back from having the drive swapped under the replacement program. It is a noticeable improvement. I was suffering from long shutdown and startup times-those are gone. The old drive would show a negotiated link speed of 1.5gbps on the SATA channel-the new one shows 3gbps negotiated speed. And the Blackmagic Disk Test averages about 15MB/s over on the old drive.
My iMac originally came with a Western Digital Black, which failed about 1.5 years in. After the harddrive swap (AppleCare), I noticed my iMac being significantly louder (I knew it was the HDD) than it was before. After finding out they had swapped out my WD for a Seagate, I was a little upset, but there was much I can do.
The performance of the Seagate is terrible to my old Western Digital Black. I think it's odd that they replaced this last year with the faulty Seagate. Now I'm eligible (even though I still have AC) and considering going in.
Did anyone else get theirs replaced already and have the replacement HDD actually be the faulty Seagate being "recalled" by Apple?
The performance of the Seagate is terrible to my old Western Digital Black. I think it's odd that they replaced this last year with the faulty Seagate. Now I'm eligible (even though I still have AC) and considering going in.
Did anyone else get theirs replaced already and have the replacement HDD actually be the faulty Seagate being "recalled" by Apple?
Having never dealt with the genius appointments before just wanted to ask again. can you schedule a future appointment for a specific day.
You have a Time Machine backup, don't you? So what's the problem?
If you don't have a backup, then obviously you don't care about your data, so there's no need to transfer anything.
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Day and exact time. Well, reasonably exact time.
How long did the appointment take and what did they/didn't they restore back onto your machine?
Ok i will try and schedule my appointment in advance.
I have my time machine back up on an ext drive and i also have a monthly carbon Copy Cloner back up (that i will refresh the night before). Will this be enough to get everything back to where i am before the switch out.
I have my time machine back up on an ext drive and i also have a monthly carbon Copy Cloner back up (that i will refresh the night before). Will this be enough to get everything back to where i am before the switch out.
I took mine in to the Apple store to get replaced this past Sunday (10-21-12), they said it would take 3-5 days. I wish they could just put an SSD in there instead. 
I backed mine up using Time Machine and CCC, which one should I use to restore???
Update: They just called me this morning (Monday 10-22-12) and said that it was all done.
I backed mine up using Time Machine and CCC, which one should I use to restore???
Update: They just called me this morning (Monday 10-22-12) and said that it was all done.
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IMHO it's much easier to restore from a bootable clone (CCC or SuperDuper!) than Time Machine, especially if the OS is wrong (if they install an OS, it will be the original one that came with the system which isn't necessarily the one you are using).
Anyone have any experience dealing with this recall on a secondary drive yet?
My iMac 27 was ordered with SSD primary and the 1TB Seagate as the secondary drive.
I'm reluctant to drop off my computer with Apple being that the drive is only secondary in the machine for storage, and I definitely don't want my SSD drive wiped as well.
I've had issues with my local Apple Store completely messing up service orders before, they nearly did an unnecessary logic board and hard drive replacement on my iMac when I had it in for a Screen replacement due to black smudges.
Altogether just wondering if anyone has gone through this scenario yet and what the results/turnaround time were?
My iMac 27 was ordered with SSD primary and the 1TB Seagate as the secondary drive.
I'm reluctant to drop off my computer with Apple being that the drive is only secondary in the machine for storage, and I definitely don't want my SSD drive wiped as well.
I've had issues with my local Apple Store completely messing up service orders before, they nearly did an unnecessary logic board and hard drive replacement on my iMac when I had it in for a Screen replacement due to black smudges.
Altogether just wondering if anyone has gone through this scenario yet and what the results/turnaround time were?
I took it in Tuesday evening, the estimated completion was 48 hours. But then the tech indicated my screen was showing discoloration and recommended I get it replaced under Applecare. So waiting for the new screen part/repair pushed the return to Yesterday.
Even though I told them it was loaded with Mt. Lion, they restored it to Lion and iLife '11. I wiped it and did a clean install of Mt. Lion just for heck of it.
I am running the latest OSX (10.8.2) and the "genius" at the store said that they would re-install Mountain Lion (10.8.1) on it for me.
My iMac came with Snow Leopard. I'd expect they will install Snow Leopard and not Mountain Lion. But it really doesn't matter since I'll just restore the image on my cloned backup.
Heavy Replacement load in Maine
Received the email 10/19.
Made appointment on line at Apple Portland, Maine for replacement of wife's Seagate 10/20 which presently works OK.
Called 10/22 to confirm availability of parts. Told they suggest waiting a while as turnaround currently 5-7 days.
Will call for reschedule. Expect overnight installation.
They will attempt migration of total disc contents "if everything works OK". Units being replaced already before email, which just increased load on techs.
Seagate Time Machined AND backed up 100% to external 2TB LaCie.
Plan to wait awhile, watch what happens Tuesday.
Hopefully in a month, new maxed out 27" can be picked up same 60 mile round trip to replace my own 8 year old PowerPC G5.
Anyone need a boat anchor?
Received the email 10/19.
Made appointment on line at Apple Portland, Maine for replacement of wife's Seagate 10/20 which presently works OK.
Called 10/22 to confirm availability of parts. Told they suggest waiting a while as turnaround currently 5-7 days.
Will call for reschedule. Expect overnight installation.
They will attempt migration of total disc contents "if everything works OK". Units being replaced already before email, which just increased load on techs.
Seagate Time Machined AND backed up 100% to external 2TB LaCie.
Plan to wait awhile, watch what happens Tuesday.
Hopefully in a month, new maxed out 27" can be picked up same 60 mile round trip to replace my own 8 year old PowerPC G5.
Anyone need a boat anchor?
Took my Nov2009 iMac in this morning and also mentioned the grey smudges on the screen. The Genius ran a few diagnostic tests and then said the good news was that they would replace the screen free of charge, and the slightly bad news was that although they had the hard drive in stock, they didn't have screens but would get one in for me.
However he reckoned that it would all be done by the end of the week which suits me fine. Very pleased with Apple for no hassle or fuss over my request to have the screen changed, and to be honest it is not that bad. Great service for a nearly two years out of warranty system, though will take AppleCare out when I upgrade to a BTO 2012 (or whenever they bring it out) iMac 27".
So I wonder if there will be any other good iMac new for me today. Can't wait (well that is a lie actually) to upgrade my system
However he reckoned that it would all be done by the end of the week which suits me fine. Very pleased with Apple for no hassle or fuss over my request to have the screen changed, and to be honest it is not that bad. Great service for a nearly two years out of warranty system, though will take AppleCare out when I upgrade to a BTO 2012 (or whenever they bring it out) iMac 27".
So I wonder if there will be any other good iMac new for me today. Can't wait (well that is a lie actually) to upgrade my system
I took my iMac in yesterday and called this morning to make sure that they checked the screen and SD reader which were issues that I mentioned when I dropped it off but wasn't included in the confirmation email. I was told that the HDD had already been swapped and that diagnostics showed no other problems. I was pleased with the quick turn around. When I arrived at the store I was told that they had the technician re- look at the iMac and that they would be replacing the screen and SD reader. Even though it means the iMac being out for a couple more days I am very pleased with the staff's thoroughness. I am very happy with AppleCare and my local Apple store.
Yep, got this email for my 2010 iMac. HDD has been fine so far, but I might as well get it replaced so I have a planned rather than unplanned outage. Since there's a lot of sensitive info on my Mac (eg, tax return PDFs) I plan on doing a clean OS install and a secure wipe of free space before bringing the unit in. Time Machine is my backup tool.