Is my iMac dead? :(

[mrat93]

I have a late 2007 24" iMac. Today, just while browsing Facebook, Chrome stopped responding. The cursor was still moving, but nothing would respond if clicked on.

I held the power button, then turned it back on. After a couple of minutes, I got the dreaded folder with question mark.

I followed all steps on Apple's support page for this issue with no luck. I reset the PRAM, and my startup disk does not show up in disk utility at all.

Are there any other steps I should take before I take it to Apple? Also, I have some person information (banking, login info, etc.) hidden in a few random files. I assume Apple won't look through my hard drive or anything, right?

BTW, I lucked out... AppleCare expires next month

 

[Hellhammer]

http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_doesn't_boot

Sounds like the HD is dead. Data may still be accessed via data recovery software but I wouldn't worry about that, you can ask if Apple could give you the old HD as it holds personal information. Then just smash the whole HD

 

[mrat93]

http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_doesn't_boot

Sounds like the HD is dead. Data may still be accessed via data recovery software but I wouldn't worry about that, you can ask if Apple could give you the old HD as it holds personal information. Then just smash the whole HD

Thanks. I made an appointment for tomorrow at 3:30. Does Apple give you the option to keep your old, bad parts though?

 

[Hellhammer]

Thanks. I made an appointment for tomorrow at 3:30. Does Apple give you the option to keep your old, bad parts though?

I'm not sure but ask. They can't do anything with the old HD so I can't see why they could not hand it over to you

 

[AppleZwei]

Thanks. I made an appointment for tomorrow at 3:30. Does Apple give you the option to keep your old, bad parts though?

I know at the Apple store I work at if its a warranty part, they will have to ship it back to an Apple repair center. If its our of warranty you get it back.

What I would make sure and do before you leave the store is tell them if the HDD is dead to DBAN the HDD.

 

[Drag'nGT]

This EXACT thing happened to my Uncle's Mac Mini, which I now own. The folder came up with the ? mark and I told him to put the system disc in and see what was up etc... Well, none of that worked.

I get the Mini and recover the data using Data Rescue 3 because the disc wouldn't mount. In the end I thought the drive was bad but after I recovered the files and re-partitioned the drive it mounts and works as a little external HDD. So it isn't dead but it got screwed up bad somehow.

So I wouldn't say the drive is bad. But there's something that's going on that I would like to be in the loop on in case I encounter this myself. Please post back after you see the Genius.

 

[lPHONE]

If you care about your data, you can start it up in Target Disk Mode (hold letter "T" after chime), connect a FireWire cable from your Mac to another Mac and see if the Drive mounts on the host computer desktop. If it does, copy and/or delete files. If not, you can try using Data Rescue III as Drag'nGT suggested, but if DR3 doesn't see it, neither will Disk Warrior and you're out of luck.

Also, if your drive is making an abnormal clicking noise, it's more than likely done and would need professional data recovery services.

I'm not sure but ask. They can't do anything with the old HD so I can't see why they could not hand it over to you

The answer is NO, Apple will not give you back the drive, nor will they perform any data recovery services. This is stated in Apple policy.