Dilemma

[tommyGB]

Hey,

I've got a bit of dilemma. Mum and Dad have a 2006 20inch iMac. The hard disk is on the brink of failure. Folder and question mark at start up. They really like computer and have a seagate 320gb (usb) external hard disk with time machine as back up. Although neither disk is anywhere full and doubt it will get full. Pictures are about the only sizable thing that makes it on to the mac.

So do I either:
a) advise to get the HDD repaired/replaced out of warranty? Anyone know how much that would cost?

or

b) Get an external bootable firewire HDD. Amazon have one for £87. Parents wont want to pay more than this for the repair/replacement service.

What would you guys do?

Cheers in advance

Tom

 

[-Ryan-]

Buy a new internal hard drive from a third party (eg Amazon etc). It's the simplest and cheapest option. Getting a replaced hard drive from Apple is bound to cost at least double what just buying one would cost. Also, using an external hard drive permanently is not worth it, considering it's easier to just have an internal one.

For example, this hard drive would suit you just fine: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-086-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=768

 

[xUKHCx]

So do I either:
a) advise to get the HDD repaired/replaced out of warranty? Anyone know how much that would cost?

I recently replaced a harddrive on the very same model. Difficult but not impossible to do it yourself depending on how capable you are.

I phoned a few places (tried apple but only for a laugh, they were going to charge £110 just for a drive let alone replacement) and the going rate in Birmingham was about £65 to do the replacement and you could either take your own drive or buy one through them so all in you are probably looking at about £90-120 depending on the drive you get.


The guide I used to replace the internal was

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/...C-2105-and-2118-Hard-Drive-Replacement/1092/1

As you can see it is quite involved and releasing the catches for the case through the vents (seriously who thought this was a good idea ) was quite tricky and took the better part of half an hour. All in from start to finish probably took 2-3 hours.

The old original iMac G5 was a dream in terms of opening it up compared to these intel machines.

Read the guide throughly so you know what you are getting yourself into and there might be extra cost through purchasing the required hardware if you don't already have the necessary bits and pieces.

Some more pics to help

http://home.comcast.net/~woojo/DFFA53A0-F23D-4541-9015-481FD3B6532E/iMac_Disassembly.html


edit:

Buy a new internal hard drive from a third party (eg Amazon etc). It's the simplest and cheapest option.

Simple it is not. An external drive that you plug into the wall and then into your mac is far far simpler. Replacing the internal is quite an involved process and probably the least simple solution.

 

[Hellhammer]

If you/they are okay with opening the iMac and installing a new HD, that's the best option. It's easily the fastest option. If not, then external HD is your/their only option

 

[-Ryan-]

Simple it is not. An external drive that you plug into the wall and then into your mac is far far simpler. Replacing the internal is quite an involved process and probably the least simple solution.

Fair enough, but it's not particularly difficult. Sure, it takes a while, but it's not really beyond the ability of anyone if you have step-by-step instructions.

 

[MacHamster68]

if you are not confident in opening the iMac ...better leave it alone as even it is not that difficult , there is still a possibility to damage the screen or something else in the attempt,
and if you dont want to spend big money to get it replaced in a store just buy a external harddrive , its just plug and play and there are nice looking ones out there from iomega for example looks like a mac mini its called minimax

which would not look out of place on the side of a iMac