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iMac's hard drive dead: now what?

A

Alexstre

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 6, 2008
10
0
Hello!

A few weeks ago my iMac started acting really weird; freezing on screensaver, getting really really slow to the point I had to reboot and freezing on the apple logo at boot. I ran disk utility but all I got was the "error reading drive, replace with a working device asap!@#" error message. I kept using it (mostly backing up my files) until it died completely. Now it just won't boot.

I guess now I need a replacement drive, but I'm not sure what to shop for. I have the first generation of Intel mac, the 17 inch version. I'm thinking any SATA2 drive is going to work, am I right?

Thanks!
 
Alexstre said:
Hello!

A few weeks ago my iMac started acting really weird; freezing on screensaver, getting really really slow to the point I had to reboot and freezing on the apple logo at boot. I ran disk utility but all I got was the "error reading drive, replace with a working device asap!@#" error message. I kept using it (mostly backing up my files) until it died completely. Now it just won't boot.

I guess now I need a replacement drive, but I'm not sure what to shop for. I have the first generation of Intel mac, the 17 inch version. I'm thinking any SATA2 drive is going to work, am I right?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Starting with the Intel iMacs it is no easy chore to open them up and do things like drive replacements. Unless you are very handy with such tasks and own a full complement of torx screws, etc you may just want to use a company that not only sells you the drive but does the job of replacement for you assuming you don't have Applecare on it.
 
SaSaSushi said:
Starting with the Intel iMacs it is no easy chore to open them up and do things like drive replacements. Unless you are very handy with such tasks and own a full complement of torx screws, etc you may just want to use a company that not only sells you the drive but does the job of replacement for you assuming you don't have Applecare on it.
Click to expand...

I think Best Buy / Futureshop can do it for about 30$ if I bring the hard drive. I'm just wondering what drive to buy (since I can probably get it for a lot cheaper online)

Thanks!

Edit: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26180&vpn=0A35155&manufacture=Hitachi
This is the drive I'm looking at right now.
 
I recommend a Seagate Drive, with an SATA interface. My Western Digital external does its job, but its quite noisy. Plus Seagate's have better build quality a more technology.
 
I agree with the poster above. Seagate is the best (IMO). You also have to love the fact that they have a 5 year warranty against failure on most (if not all?) of their drives these days. That's pretty sweet :)
 
bluedoggiant said:
I recommend a Seagate Drive, with an SATA interface. My Western Digital external does its job, but its quite noisy. Plus Seagate's have better build quality a more technology.
Click to expand...

From my experience of building PCs, Seagate drives are among the loudest idle/operating on the market, well above WDs output.
 
RevToTheRedline said:
From my experience of building PCs, Seagate drives are among the loudest idle/operating on the market, well above WDs output.
Click to expand...

That is true. But Seagate's performance surpasses that of WD's by far. Seagate invents the technology, WD adapts it. So its like Seagate is Apple, and WD is whatever is copying. Like Seagate invented the perpendicular writing technology in their HD's, WD and Hitachi copied.
 
Alexstre said:
I think Best Buy / Futureshop can do it for about 30$ if I bring the hard drive. I'm just wondering what drive to buy (since I can probably get it for a lot cheaper online)

Thanks!

Edit: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26180&vpn=0A35155&manufacture=Hitachi
This is the drive I'm looking at right now.
Click to expand...

Best Buy from what I remember working there will not install hardware other than RAM into Macs, unless its a PowerMac or Mac Pro, as its too involved of a process and IIRC, they dont have access to the service manuals. Its the same way with the Sony VAIO All-in-One.

I mean, every store could be different.

I just suggest finding a good tutorial online, and print it out, and take it with your iMac, and ask them to please lay the machine on a nice towel and take good care of it.
 
The white iMacs are not hard to open. There are three screws on the bottom that unscrew and the whole back lifts up and away. Check out Kodawarisan's pictures as a reference. Use a soft towel and place your iMac face down on it before trying to open it up. The harddrive is under a cage.

The Aluminum iMacs are a different story. I won't even try to open mine :).
 
I've got a Western Digital drive in my iMac, and it's extremely quiet. The only time I can really hear it is when waking the computer up from sleep or importing music or photos. Otherwise, its def. the quietest drive of any computer I have owned. I have a Seagate in my Compaq laptop and it's quite loud. It's toned out by the ever-spinning fan though...:rolleyes:
 
ArtTechFreak said:
The white iMacs are not hard to open. There are three screws on the bottom that unscrew and the whole back lifts up and away. Check out Kodawarisan's pictures as a reference. Use a soft towel and place your iMac face down on it before trying to open it up. The harddrive is under a cage.

The Aluminum iMacs are a different story. I won't even try to open mine :).
Click to expand...

Thats the first version of the iMac G5.

The case changed quite a bit at the last revision of the G5, then the CD and C2D.
 
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