Late 2012 iMac - Fusion Drive Showing Some Warnings Using DriveDx - how serious?

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Hi All - having some issues w/ my APC UPS requiring several reboots on our late 2012 iMac (w/ 1TB fusion drive; Sierra installed) - an initial reboot failed to show the 'Applications' (either in Launchpad or Finder) - another reboot worked fine w/ all apps intact - so, I first ran Disk Utility which showed no problems; the ran DriveDx - 3 'warnings' appeared (shown below in several screen captures) - not sure how important these issues may be regarding an impending HD failure - would appreciate any comments - now, I was planning to replace this iMac in the near future - can I wait until the spring (P.S. running 2 TM & 2 CCC backups on the computer). Thanks, as usual. Dave :)
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chscag

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Those warnings by DriveDx are typical for a spinning hard drive that's been in use for several years or more. My 2013 27" iMac which I no longer have, displayed similar warnings for two years but the hard drive kept working well. Of course I kept up with backups all during that time.

That same iMac was given to my son who has been using it for the last year without any problems. The bottom line is should you be concerned? Yes. Backup, backup. :)
 
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as chscag said


keep up backing up the system this don't normally mean things will get worse but they do eventually fail seeing as its a spinning hard drive.

and they do all eventually fail.


although some will last years.
 
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Hi Guys - thanks for your comments - seems like minor warnings at the moment - machine is well backed up w/ TM, CCC, and Carbonite online for wife's main folders - will monitor more often and probably consider a new iMac next spring? Dave :)
 
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well as long as its well backed up you should be fine.

if not get the hard drive replaced with an SSD and the machine will keep going for a few more years yet.
 
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well as long as its well backed up you should be fine.

if not get the hard drive replaced with an SSD and the machine will keep going for a few more years yet.

Hi again - the late 2012 iMac has a 21.5" monitor (wife's preference) and 16 GB RAM (installed when purchased - only chance) - I was not sure that a SSD would be an option, but w/ the fusion drive, the EveryMac Website from the quote below implies that a SSD can be installed w/ the connector used for the SSD component of the fusion drive. However, the computer will be 6 years old next spring and I also want a 'retina display' - was planning to get a 512 GB SSD ($400 extra; 16 GB will add another $200) - SO, likely will just get a new computer. Thanks for the suggestion - Dave :)

Specifically, as first discovered via teardowns from iFixit and others, if the 21.5-Inch "Late 2012" or "Early 2013" iMac models were configured with an SSD or a "Fusion Drive" at the time of purchase, the SSD module is connected via a dedicated PCIe connector and another SSD can be installed in its place. Unfortunately, if the system only was configured with a hard drive, the needed connector is not present on the motherboard and there is not a way to add a PCIe-based "blade" SSD afterwards.
 
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However, the computer will be 6 years old next spring and I also want a 'retina display' - was planning to get a 512 GB SSD ($400 extra; 16 GB will add another $200) - SO, likely will just get a new computer.


Ahhha, so now the REAL rationalizing reason for a NEW Mac comes out!!!! :\ ;D





- Patrick
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Ahhha, so now the REAL rationalizing reason for a NEW Mac comes out!!!! :\ ;D

Hi Patrick - LOL! ;DO:) This is my wife's computer and when bought in 2013, she wanted the monitor set at a lower resolution (i.e. bigger fonts) - I just disliked using it in part for that reason (now I was on a retina MBPro bought about the same time) - SO, yes I would likely use the 'new' iMac more w/ a retina screen - BUT, 6 years and Mojave sitting 'on the fence' for this machine makes an update reasonable - Dave :)
 

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