03-14-2010, 05:13 AM

Right you might have read a few of my latest posts about my mac sticking. Yesterday the mac just froze after trying to perform a task. It seems like it happing every 30 secs and the wheel of death comes up (rainbow wheel).

I was unable to do anything so had to switch it off via the switch on the back and then im faced with the annoying question mark and folder when started back up.

Using the install disks I have got on to utilities but the disk doctor isnt picking up the hard disk after several restarts still nothing.

I can here a short whirring (1-2 secs) noise then repeats this noise over and over.

The computer is little over a year old so hoping we havent had a HD faluire as the year warranty is over now.

I have backed the computer up using time machine.

03-14-2010, 05:40 AM

A hard drive is a mechanical device that relies on lot of moving parts (and spins at very high speed).

Like light bulbs, tires, or any other mechanical device, it can fail *at any time.* It is rated for an average *mean* time between failures, but all that means is that some hard drives last longer than expected, and some don't -- thus producing an average.

Obviously we don't know for a fact that this is what's happened, but yes its well within the range of possibility. You may wish to contact the drive manufacturer about the warranty *on the drive,* if any, to see about a replacement.

03-14-2010, 05:56 AM

right i restarted the computer about an 1hr ago and left it. I went back a minute ago and it had gone into sleep mode so after pressing enter to wake it looks like it has found the startup disc and was on the log on page but when i went to click in the box to type password the wheel of death appeared and doesnt dissapear.

This problem of the computer not finding the start up disc and then finding it has happened severel times now.

I have repaired the disc in disc utilities but that hasnt made the problem go away

03-14-2010, 08:05 AM

restart of computer and I boot into the install disc, use disc utility a hard drive icon comes up labelled as media saying its got 0 bytes and is unformatted wtf?

03-14-2010, 08:18 AM

This means the drive isn't dead yet, but it's nearly there. It's almost certainly a hard drive problem.

Normally at this stage I'd suggest you buy a copy of Disk Warrior, which might be able to scavenge off enough of your data to avoid a total disaster, but as you already have a TM backup, I'm just going to suggest you just buy a replacement drive, then either swap it with the boot drive yourself (get instructions!) or have a tech do it.

You can then use your install DVD to format and install OS X on the new drive, and restore your stuff from your TM backup and you're up and running again.

03-14-2010, 08:59 AM

Data Rescue II
That's the best thing I have ever used and it recently got me back 95% of TWO
failed FW drives !!
Can't recommend it highly enough.

Drives can fail at ANY moment, these two were over 3 years old.

Marty.

03-14-2010, 09:15 AM

This machine is only just over a yr old yikes.
Going to call the shop where it was purchased tomorrow and see what they say.

03-14-2010, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by njharrison1979

This machine is only just over a yr old yikes.
Going to call the shop where it was purchased tomorrow and see what they say.

Minimum drive warranty is 2 years, so at very least you should get a new free
replacement drive.
It's probably a "Maxtor" or a "Seagate" - depends what they used on that run.
You've backed up - that's a great start :-)

MM.

05-31-2010, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by njharrison1979

restart of computer and I boot into the install disc, use disc utility a hard drive icon comes up labelled as media saying its got 0 bytes and is unformatted wtf?

This is EXACTLY what is happening to my son's 15 month old iMac purchased from the Apple store. Apple's Web site says there is a one year warranty on the machine. Are you saying that there is a separate 2 year warranty on the hard drive from IT'S manufacturer?

This is so disappointing. The computer still seems brand new.

Thanks,

C

05-31-2010, 05:05 PM

Did you purchase Apple Care? If so you are covered for 3 years by Apple.

Do remember that Hard Drives can and do fail and that the drives in Apple are the same brands that are in any other computer. They are not special Apple drives.