HD Failure?

[dawgfan]

My MacBook went out today. Will not boot and I see a folder with a question mark inside.

Sounds like the HD failed. Any idea how much the Genius bar will charge to replace it?

 

[S.B.G]

My MacBook went out today. Will not boot and I see a folder with a question mark inside.

Sounds like the HD failed. Any idea how much the Genius bar will charge to replace it?

I have no idea, but you can always call and ask them. You could also try a recovery and maintenance tool if you have access to an IBM PC.

I highly recommend Spinrite. Take the HDD out of your Mac and put it in the PC and run the DOS-based program Spinrite. It's a great HDD recovery and maintenance tool. It will detect and repair or mark bad sectors on any HDD.

Below is my MBP HDD in an old Dell PC with Spinrite running on it.

 

[dawgfan]

They will not estimate. Say technicians have to see it first. Unlike my pc laptops, I do not know how to remove a HD from this MacBook. Will have to Google it. Thanks for the advise and link.

 

[S.B.G]

They will not estimate. Say technicians have to see it first. Unlike my pc laptops, I do not know how to remove a HD from this MacBook. Will have to Google it. Thanks for the advise and link.

If you want to open it up yourself, iFixit.com has fantastic step-by-step instructions, photos and videos for almost every model Mac available. Check them out too.

 

[brop52]

If you want to open it up yourself, iFixit.com has fantastic step-by-step instructions, photos and videos for almost every model Mac available. Check them out too.

Agreed. Check out iFixit. It's not a difficult procedure. You just need the right screwdrivers and torx screwdriver.

 

[throAU]

They will not estimate. Say technicians have to see it first. Unlike my pc laptops, I do not know how to remove a HD from this MacBook. Will have to Google it. Thanks for the advise and link.

There are instructions on how to do hard drive replacement in the manual I'm pretty sure.

It is no different to a PC - remove case, unscrew drive, replace, screw back in...

 

[dawgfan]

Yes, I see how easy it is. I've been shopping for a SSD to upgrade.

 

[seveej]

My MacBook went out today. Will not boot and I see a folder with a question mark inside.

Sounds like the HD failed. Any idea how much the Genius bar will charge to replace it?

You are probably right. Do you have your original install disks? If so, you could boot up from them, and let disk utility have a look: Does it even see your HD?

In any case, you are probably in for a new HDD, but remember that you'll need some system media to install your OS from.

RGDS,

 

[dawgfan]

Does my 2007 model MacBook accept SATA 3 or is it limited to SATA 2 HDDs?

 

[dawgfan]

In closure, I changed my mind about going SSD and bought a WD Scorpio Black 500 GB SATA 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM 2.5" Mobile Hard Drive (WD5000BPKT).

edit - reason is that most warranties are 2 or 3 yr and this one has 5.


PS - Can you tell me the size of the torx needed to remove install new hdd in carrier?

 

[brop52]

For the MB it's a T8

 

[ybz90]

In closure, I changed my mind about going SSD and bought a WD Scorpio Black 500 GB SATA 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM 2.5" Mobile Hard Drive (WD5000BPKT).

edit - reason is that most warranties are 2 or 3 yr and this one has 5.


PS - Can you tell me the size of the torx needed to remove install new hdd in carrier?

It's all on ifixit. I'm glad you decided to DIY, it's an incredibly easy fix. Also, I wouldn't worry about the warranties. SSDs are the type of product that will either fail early, or last forever. If it hasn't died within about a year, you can be pretty confident it will far, far outlast the computer you put it in.