iMac Meltdown: Hard Drive Edition.

[adamfishercox]

So I'm watching the Simpsons online last night, and my computer is fine. It has been for a long while now. I hear the normal little clicks of a seeking hard drive, and then a large pop, as if a mechanical arm had become stuck and then released and sprung back. Panic mode ensues. I turn on my external hard drive, and begin backup. About halfway through, the entire system locks up, the hard drive is clicking like the dickens, and I have to force shut down. I try to turn it on again, but it sits at the Apple Screen.

Fast forward: This morning. I turn my computer on on whim, and *BING* it's fine! I begin the backup again, get everything backed up, and then begin backing up less necessary stuff, like my Library folders. Clicking and freezing ensues.

First of all, what the hell. Has anyone else had a hard drive go from seemingly fine to dead within 30 minutes?

Second of all, and the real reason I started this thread, I have a few options of what to do and a few questions. Obviously the best thing to do would be to get the internal hard drive replaced. Short of that, I could buy a firewire external drive.

My question: How much of a speed difference would I notice between a 250 GB 7200 RPM Internal Drive and a 250 GB 7200 RPM FW 400 External Drive? For regular apps like Mail and Safari, and also for pro Apps like FCS2.

Thanks!

 

[mad jew]

I don't think you'll notice a speed difference between an internal and external drive. In the meantime though, have you tried repairing your current internal drive?

 

[0007776]

First of all, what the hell. Has anyone else had a hard drive go from seemingly fine to dead within 30 minutes?

yes but that was also in an older computer. Is there any warrenty left on the computer? if there is then definitally get it fixed, otherwise an external should work just as well, but it would probably cost the same or less to fix it yourself.

 

[adamfishercox]

yeah I realized that getting a new internal might even be cheaper for a lesser capacity FW drive.