I just bought a used 2012 Imac, A1312, 12.1 with a 27 inch LCD. Before I got it, the previous owner attempted to wipe the hard drive and it didn't work....generated a bunch of error messages he said. The machine does still boot....with the 2 Terabite mechanical hard drive. I suspect the hard drive is going bad, any one else have a opinion of the possible problem?
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Hard Drive Failure?
- Thread starter 1tomcat1
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The computer may have been sold new in 2012, but alas it is the older mid 2011 model and further 12.1 is the code for a 2011 21.5" iMac so you do need to check this for us. If the hard drive needs replacing and you intend to do it yourself, go to OWC and get a heat sensor kit as all 27" models this and later vintage have a heat sensor cable Apple installed to stop users doing the replacement. No kit and the fans road like a 747 moving down the runway vat speed.
What operating does it boot into? OS X.6 you will need the DVD to boot from, OS X.7 or later use Recovery Mode and run Repair Disk or Disk First Aid in later operating systems.
What operating does it boot into? OS X.6 you will need the DVD to boot from, OS X.7 or later use Recovery Mode and run Repair Disk or Disk First Aid in later operating systems.
Sorry for the typo, the unit is 12,2. I am aware of the heat sensor issue, will order the heat sensor kit from OWC as soon as I determine if the drive is really bad. The computer boots to a black screen that says "bootable device: insert boot disk and press any key". So I think the original owner may have a wiped the drive improperly and when they tried to re-install OS X, there was junk left on the hard drive that wasn't erased and it generated error messages....or worst case scenario the drive has crapped out!
I have a retail OS X.6 that I purchased from the Apple Store, I have OS X.10.11 on a USB drive, so I have several options to install the OS, including doing a internet recovery of the original shipped OS.
I so intend to thoroughly check the drive out with all the available OS tools and the manufacturer's tools.
Thanks for your comments and observations....a second pair of eyes is always good!
[doublepost=1489241193][/doublepost]After I address the hard drive issues and have the machine up and running, I intend to install a Samsung EVO SSD under the optical drive with a kit from OWC. I will use the SSD for the OS boot drive for both OS X.10.11 or 10.12 and Windows 10.
I have a retail copy of VM Fusion 8.5 which apparently is the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to run Windows applications on a Mac...at least that is what they claim!
I have a retail OS X.6 that I purchased from the Apple Store, I have OS X.10.11 on a USB drive, so I have several options to install the OS, including doing a internet recovery of the original shipped OS.
I so intend to thoroughly check the drive out with all the available OS tools and the manufacturer's tools.
Thanks for your comments and observations....a second pair of eyes is always good!
[doublepost=1489241193][/doublepost]After I address the hard drive issues and have the machine up and running, I intend to install a Samsung EVO SSD under the optical drive with a kit from OWC. I will use the SSD for the OS boot drive for both OS X.10.11 or 10.12 and Windows 10.
I have a retail copy of VM Fusion 8.5 which apparently is the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to run Windows applications on a Mac...at least that is what they claim!
lol the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to run Windows is on a Windows machine. When I had to use Windows before retiring, an E series Dell Latitude was much easier than messing about with and form of emulation. For mine I would simply use El Capitan, if it is the Installer only on the USB drive, erase and format.
Unless I am wrong, you either mount the SSD under the current hard drive, or remove the optical drive and mount there. This will help:-
http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php
Unless I am wrong, you either mount the SSD under the current hard drive, or remove the optical drive and mount there. This will help:-
http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php
here is a link at the bottom of the page to the video of the install below the optical drive.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/K27IM11SE240/
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/K27IM11SE240/
Ahh that is different to your question.
The link is for 'piggy backing' an OWC SSD under the existing hard drive.
The link is for 'piggy backing' an OWC SSD under the existing hard drive.
good catch.....nanbuccaheadsau, I missed the important issue in the video, 1) it uses only the OWC SSD and even it doesn't have a heat sensor fix yet....maybe there will be a firmware update later that will address this. I assume this will installation will work without the racing fan scenario only if you use the OWC SSD. So my choices now seem to that or a OWC adapter cable with a install of any SSD in the optical drive bay or just replace the existing hard drive with a SSD. Right now, I'm leaning towards replacing the hard drive with a SSD since I don't want to give up the optical drive
Now your next hurdle if you are going to pop it in the optical drive spot.
The optical drive is only SATA II 3Gb/ps, where as the hard drive is SATA III 6Gb/ps. Using the slower SATA II will somewhat throttle your proposed SSD. There will be no firmware updates to overcome the heat cable sensor problem period. Using an OWC SSD, which I have always got the best run out of when using SSDs, you can order the heat sensor kit at the same time.
Whatever SSD you get, you will need the kit.
This whole thing so disappointed me when the 2013 model was released, I got an i7 with Flash Storage, even though I had purchased the 2011 in June, 2012.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/
The optical drive is only SATA II 3Gb/ps, where as the hard drive is SATA III 6Gb/ps. Using the slower SATA II will somewhat throttle your proposed SSD. There will be no firmware updates to overcome the heat cable sensor problem period. Using an OWC SSD, which I have always got the best run out of when using SSDs, you can order the heat sensor kit at the same time.
Whatever SSD you get, you will need the kit.
This whole thing so disappointed me when the 2013 model was released, I got an i7 with Flash Storage, even though I had purchased the 2011 in June, 2012.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/
Sounds like I have only one simple option at the moment...replace the existing hard drive with a SSD and hook it up with the OWC in-line heat sensor adapter cable. I will have to think more about OWC SSD the under the optical drive location option and the in-line heat sensor adapter cable needed. It is my understanding that some IMacs were shipped early in the production of this model with a optical drive/SSD bracket. Later they just deleted the dual bracket, and provided a optical drive bracket only.
The internal SSD option locations appear to be two if you want maximum OS performance....the hard drive bay with the in-line sensor cable adapter or a with OWC SSD under the optical drive with the in-line sensor cable adapter. I will probably do first option right away....and consider the more involved install under optical drive later!
Any positive or negative comments about combining the drives into a fusion type arrangement? It looks a little complicated to me....especially the stuff you have to do in the terminal mode. I worry about the obvious, if one drive would fail....a lot like some RAID configurations! I like the likely increase in performance but wonder if it would be that much more speed vs the risk? Frankly I'm not sure its worth the effort!
Any positive or negative comments about combining the drives into a fusion type arrangement? It looks a little complicated to me....especially the stuff you have to do in the terminal mode. I worry about the obvious, if one drive would fail....a lot like some RAID configurations! I like the likely increase in performance but wonder if it would be that much more speed vs the risk? Frankly I'm not sure its worth the effort!