Over the weekend, Apple announced that it would be expanding its iMac 1TB Seagate hard drive replacement programme, considerably increasing the number of iMac machines that are now eligible to swap out their existing hard drives.
The replacement program now includes iMacs sold between October 2009 and July 2011 that are equipped with 1TB Seagate hard drives, so if you haven’t already, now might be a good time to check yours.
Details of the Replacement Program
Apple explains: “Apple has determined that certain Seagate 1TB hard drives used in 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac systems may fail. These systems were sold between October 2009 and July 2011. Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) will replace affected hard drives free of charge.
The program covers affected iMacs for three years after the first retail sale of the unit or until April 12, 2013, whichever provides longer coverage for you. Apple will continue to evaluate service data and will provide further updates to this program as needed.”
This expansion of the replacement program is a significant move by Apple to ensure customer satisfaction and maintain the reliability of its products. The inclusion of more iMac models means that a larger number of users can benefit from the free replacement service, potentially saving them from data loss and hardware failure.
Background and Previous Issues
Apple first acknowledged the issue with the Seagate hard drives back in 2007, but didn’t start rolling out a repair programme until two years later. It’s also not the first time that Seagate hard drives have caused problems for Apple and its hardware owners. The initial delay in addressing the issue led to some frustration among users who experienced hard drive failures.
Seagate, a well-known manufacturer of hard drives, has faced criticism in the past for the reliability of some of its products. The hard drives in question were found to have a higher-than-expected failure rate, which prompted Apple to take action. By expanding the replacement program, Apple is demonstrating its commitment to resolving these issues and providing support to its customers.
For more information, jump over to the Apple repair programme website.
Steps to Take if Your iMac is Affected
If you own an iMac that falls within the specified date range and is equipped with a 1TB Seagate hard drive, it is advisable to check if your machine is eligible for the replacement program. To do this, you can visit the Apple repair programme website and enter your iMac’s serial number. If your iMac is eligible, you can then schedule an appointment with an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) to have the hard drive replaced free of charge.
It’s important to back up your data before taking your iMac in for service, as the replacement process will involve removing the existing hard drive. Using Apple’s Time Machine or another backup solution can help ensure that your data is safe and can be restored to the new hard drive once the replacement is complete.
Apple’s decision to expand the iMac 1TB Seagate hard drive replacement programme is a positive step towards addressing the hardware issues faced by its customers. By including more iMac models in the program, Apple is providing a valuable service to a larger number of users, helping to prevent data loss and hardware failures. If you own an affected iMac, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to have your hard drive replaced free of charge.
Source: Mac Rumours
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