Apple extends fail-prone Seagate HDD swap scheme
Own an iMac bought in or after October 2009?
Apple has extended its 2011 iMac hard drive replacement scheme.
Originally pegged to all-in-one desktop maps purchased between May and July 2011, the programme now runs from October 2009 to July 2011. If you own a 21.5in or 27in iMac bought new during that period, you may qualify for a free hard drive replacement.
At issue are a series of Seagate 1TB HDDs which Apple subsequently discovered may fail.
Getting the hard drive out of recent iMacs is by no means easy - you have to take the screen off, for starters - so Apple or one of its Authorised Service Providers will have to perform the replacement for you.
The replacement scheme covers machines bought during the stated period but only for three years from the purchase date, or until 12 April 2013, whichever comes last. Apple has a webpage into which you can enter your machine’s serial number to see whether it qualifies for a drive replacement. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Website failure...
The website recognised my S/N for a UK purchased Imac and my machine is covered. However, I have only just had the drive replaced at a cost of £250.00. I spoke with an Apple advisor who knew absolutely nothing and was surprised when I referred him to the weblink. Now have an appointment at the Genius bar that undertook the repairs but the apple technician I spoke with was not confident my money would be refunded. I feel a game of running in decreasing circles starting here!
Re: Replacing the harddrive in iMac is easy
If I'd paid iMac money for a computer I'd be expecting Apple to send someone to me to fix a known fault.
Website failure...
That link is the one I tried yesterday, told me my 2010-purchased 27" iMac with 1TB Seagate drive was NOT eligible for replacement.
I phoned the Apple Store, they checked my Serial Number and said yes, it was covered. They asked if I'd checked it on a US site.... so looks like this site is not correct for UK machines. If it says you are ineligible and you know you have a 1TB Seagate drive, give Apple a call...
Re: Website failure...
Let me get this straight... you were seriously charged £250 by Apple to replace the hard disk in iMac?! I think I might have been undercharging quite significantly... either that, or you've been severely ripped off.
Yeah...
As anecdotal evidence I know someone with a 2006 iMac with a hard drive that has died twice in its lifetime, I've got a 2007 iMac with a hard drive has just died, I know someone else with a 2007 iMac (the same as mine) with a dead hard drive, and someone else with a 2007 MacBook which a known overheating fault causing... dead hard drives. And now we have 2009 iMacs with extended guarantees for dead hard drives.
I'll keep fixing it until it finally gives up the ghost, but I'd need a lot of convincing to get another one which is a shame as I quite like the OS, well, Snow Leopard. After the Mountain Lion it starts getting a little too iOSy and the next version of the OS looks like it could easily get locked down should Apple decide to do so.
