Doubly ticked off about my iMac

[VB1010]

I have a mid 2011 iMac. I started getting signs of problems with it so I bought a copy of Scannerz (Scannerz) to test it and the drive's failing. Saying it's failing is sort of an understatement. More like experienced severe crash with a span of over 10GB showing bad sectors interspersed. Using probing on Scannerz just made it clear how bad the damage was - I would guess that if I let it finish, it would have reported over a thousand bad sectors. I got tired of waiting for it to complete probing so I just shut the thing down, thinking, "well, I obviously need a new hard drive."

First, this thing is a mid 2011, but I got it in late 2011 (December, nearly 2012) because Apple was kicking them out the door at a discount. I didn't get an extended warranty because I figured it's a desktop computer so what could possibly go wrong with it? The system gets about 4-5 hours of use per day.

Tickoff Point Number 1: The drive crashes, and crashes severely after really just over a year's use.

I then thought "I'll replace it myself. After all, HD's are so cheap." Then I find out this thing requires a specific type of drive that only Apple has because it uses some type of weird firmware to control the temperature. Do you guys have any idea how ridiculous the price is Apple wants to charge me to replace the drive?

Tickoff Point Number 2: According to Apple, only they can replace the drive or the system won't work right.

I find this hard, if not impossible to believe. Let's face the facts: since Apple went to Intel it's really nothing more than a glorified PC. Either these drives have got to be available from a third party source or there has to be some type of work around. The original drive was 500G, but I'd like to move up to 1TB. Why can't I just order the drive from Apple? Why do they insist only they do the repair.

I really sort of feel this is almost a con. Seriously, deliberately making hardware incompatible with anything else just to lock in repairs? That's the way it looks to me.

Does anyone know if there are work arounds or other drives with the type of firmware that I can get without paying Apple a fortune?

Thanks

 

[CrimsonRequiem]

I have a mid 2011 iMac. I started getting signs of problems with it so I bought a copy of Scannerz (Scannerz) to test it and the drive's failing. Saying it's failing is sort of an understatement. More like experienced severe crash with a span of over 10GB showing bad sectors interspersed. Using probing on Scannerz just made it clear how bad the damage was - I would guess that if I let it finish, it would have reported over a thousand bad sectors. I got tired of waiting for it to complete probing so I just shut the thing down, thinking, "well, I obviously need a new hard drive."

First, this thing is a mid 2011, but I got it in late 2011 (December, nearly 2012) because Apple was kicking them out the door at a discount. I didn't get an extended warranty because I figured it's a desktop computer so what could possibly go wrong with it? The system gets about 4-5 hours of use per day.

Tickoff Point Number 1: The drive crashes, and crashes severely after really just over a year's use.

I then thought "I'll replace it myself. After all, HD's are so cheap." Then I find out this thing requires a specific type of drive that only Apple has because it uses some type of weird firmware to control the temperature. Do you guys have any idea how ridiculous the price is Apple wants to charge me to replace the drive?

Tickoff Point Number 2: According to Apple, only they can replace the drive or the system won't work right.

I find this hard, if not impossible to believe. Let's face the facts: since Apple went to Intel it's really nothing more than a glorified PC. Either these drives have got to be available from a third party source or there has to be some type of work around. The original drive was 500G, but I'd like to move up to 1TB. Why can't I just order the drive from Apple? Why do they insist only they do the repair.

I really sort of feel this is almost a con. Seriously, deliberately making hardware incompatible with anything else just to lock in repairs? That's the way it looks to me.

Does anyone know if there are work arounds or other drives with the type of firmware that I can get without paying Apple a fortune?

Thanks

First Apple doesn't make the HDD. Secondly HDDs are prone to failure. Not pointing fingers at anyone but your own fault if you don't have a backup of your important files.

 

[M_Six]

Apple has a few questionable marketing tactics. For instance, you can spec out a Retina MBP with 16GB RAM on their website, but on a non-Retina MBP, it only allows you to spec out 8GB RAM even though it will take 16GB. Almost like they're pushing you to the Retina version if you want more RAM.

If you go to crucial.com, you can see they sell a 1TB drive for a mid-2011 iMac. They'll have directions for replacing it. Plus there should be no shortage of how-to videos out there. Watch a few and decide if you have the skills to do it yourself.

 

[TattooedMac]

First Apple doesn't make the HDD. Secondly HDDs are prone to failure. Not pointing fingers at anyone but your own fault if you don't have a backup of your important files.

I Agree here.

OP first you only tell us that it is a Mid 2011 iMac but not what model, ie: 21.5", i5, 2.5Ghz ??
More info please, but im betting Apple might have told you a couple of furphies as OWC sell HardDrives for iMacs, but without more information, i cant point you in the right direction, iFixit as well has tear downs and Fix it guides to help out, but without more info we cant help.

 

[dtravis7]

You can get a special kit from OWC. from 2010 on they using a proprietary Power Cable with 7-Pins. If YOU DO NOT use the OWC kit and just try and slap in a drive fans will run FULL SPEED and it will fail the Apple Hardware test.

Anyone disagree, go try it. OWC is the only company out there that is providing this service for the newer iMacs and they were the ones to first report the issue with putting in any old hard drive into a new iMac.

This is their How to video for the 27" 2011 iMac using their kit.

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_mid27_2011_hd_h/

Here is an explanation of what Apple is doing.

http://blog.macsales.com/11638-owc-turnkey-program-for-2011-imacs-announced

 

[chas_m]

Again not disagreeing with the OP entirely, but the point about backups -- VERY VALID. Glad to hear that OWC can help with replacement. Should point out, however, that if you had problems with the drive and had bought AppleCare, this would be a non-issue ...

 

[cwa107]

This is precisely why I don't recommend the iMac, period.

HDDs fail, some prematurely. Apple also frequently uses less reliable brands of HDDs. And finally, they're difficult to replace and are now using proprietary parts. All of this adds up to an exercise in customer frustration that is simply unnecessary.

 

[Slydude]

Glad I read this thread. Don't have an iMac so I had not followed this issue. Will likely be looking for a new system soon to replace a dead Mac Pro and iMacs were on my radar. Hopefully there will be new Mac Pros soon.

 

[pigoo3]

If an older used iMac meets someones needs...I would certainly get one myself! I like iMac's...but these newer iMac's which are getting harder & harder to open up...and are really getting (or already are) worse than a laptop.

At least we can still open up & replace the HDD in Apple laptops that have them!

- Nick

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I think with the size (and price) of the SSDs being what they are, Apple jumped that a gun a little bit with making the new iMacs so hard to upgrade..I think if the SSDs matched the sizes of a regular HDD and were reasonably priced, I'd not worry about a crashing HDD and the only gripe would be the memory and frankly 8GB is more than enough for the bulk of the iMac users..

 

[codda]

Buy the OWC Kit and watch the tutorial...If your reasonably comfortable and do the right preparations the swap won't be that hard...or find a good Apple certified shop.

 

[chscag]

This is precisely why I don't recommend the iMac, period.

I have to agree even though I own a Mid 2011 iMac. As technically able that I am with electronic repairs, I have no desire to open up my iMac if the drive should go south after my Apple care has expired. I would likely pay Apple or an authorized Apple repair service to do it for me.

My next Mac will definitely not be another iMac.

 

[Slydude]

Being a tad clumsy that kind of repair is a concern for me and something I would think twice about attempting. The only motivation to do it is that I am at least an hour each way from the nearest authorized repair center. I'm 3 - 4 hours each way from the nearest Apple store.

 

[chscag]

Fortunately for me the closest Apple store is only 15 minutes away. Actually, right down the street from my eye doctor. The only thing I don't like about their location is it takes another 15 minutes to find a parking spot! ;P

 

[CanuckBoater]

My next Mac will definitely not be another iMac.

x2

Looking to get a desktop but the new iMac simply has a 'cheap' feel to it.

A 'cheap' feeling about a product is hard to quantify. You knew it when you saw a "Goldstar" tv in a motel room (or my den, lol). Well, Goldstar rebranded to become LG.

Apple is going in the other direction.

Time to get back to basics. Design and sell a premium product with premium support. Too many stories like those in this thread about Apple desktop.

 

[harryb2448]

Well if you don't like your iMac that much do the HDD replacement yourself if you don't believe Apple. Buy a set of headphones as the Jumbo Jet takes off however.

 

[VB1010]

First Apple doesn't make the HDD. Secondly HDDs are prone to failure. Not pointing fingers at anyone but your own fault if you don't have a backup of your important files.

I never said I didn't have back ups. I have 5 Mac's and I use a utility I wrote to sync all data between them. I realize HDs fail, but I've never hat an HD fail after just a year. I usually end up replacing HDs to get more space before they ever wear out.

Thanks to all for the OWC information. I'm confident I can do this myself. I do all my own servicing, but I felt somewhat ticked off by the Apple "genius" telling me only they could do the repair and making it sound like it was mission impossible.

 

[cwa107]

Thanks to all for the OWC information. I'm confident I can do this myself. I do all my own servicing, but I felt somewhat ticked off by the Apple "genius" telling me only they could do the repair and making it sound like it was mission impossible.

It was until OWC reverse-engineered that proprietary connector and designed a workaround. My guess was that your genius just wasn't well-versed in availability of third party workarounds. Not a big surprise when you live on the kool-aid

 

[dtravis7]

Also to add to what Chris said Apple is in the business of making $$$. Sure they are going to tell you to bring it to them! OWC does not pay Apple!

 

[BSD Meister]

People can always abandon Apple all together for hardware and just build Hackintoshes. There are now complete web sites dedicated to them and some of them appear to be quite capable.

Apple has always had a long history of shooting itself in the foot with what I can only call marketing elitism and arrogance.

"You must use the iCloud now, because we've made your iPhone incompatible with direct desktop syncing some apps unless you do it our way" sayeth Apple.

"No I musn't" sayeth me, "I'll just start looking at non-Apple options - you bunch of morons!"