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Apple offers free repair for older MacBooks

updated 03:15 pm EST, Tue February 16, 2010

Hard drives subject to premature failure


Apple is now offering a free fix for a problem affecting some of the first MacBooks. In systems sold between May 2006 and December 2007, Apple says, a "very small percentage" of hard drives can fail. Affected machines include 1.83, 2 and 2.16GHz MacBooks, all sized at 13 inches, with hard drive capacities ranging between 60 and 160GB. Hard drive failure can be discerned by a flashing question mark appearing on boot.

Should all the criteria be met, Apple is asking people to bring their MacBooks into a local Apple Store, or else an authorized service provider. Dead hard drives are being replaced with new ones, though owners must still have their original Mac OS X installation discs to complete the process. People who have paid for repairs on their own will allegedly be contacted by Apple for reimbursement.

The repair is being covered for up to three years after purchase, or until August 15th, whichever is longer. The deadline may be extended as need be.


by MacNN Staff

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TAGS :

 MacBook, computers, troubleshooting, upgrades/storage, Apple

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Comments

  1. bleee

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Mar 2002

    +1
    02/16, 03:45pm | report spam | Reply |

    Thanks Apple :-)

    The hard drive on my black Mac Book died last week...

  1. Zaren

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +1
    02/16, 03:57pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hmm...

    A Macbook in our department had its hard drive die last year, but it fell just out of the range Apple covered on their initial recall. Now that we've bought a new drive for it, they announce this. I wonder what it will take to get a reimbursement.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -1
    02/16, 04:28pm | report spam | Reply |

    Right...

    Apple says, a "very small percentage" of hard drives can fail.

    A real small percentage? That's why they set up an extended warranty plan for it? I don't think so.

    Or maybe that's why they did it. Because it is so small, as opposed to other products with much more wide spread issues, which would cost Apple a lot more to deal with.

    Oh, and Apple claims it affects computers dating from May 2006, but then say they'll only cover it if you are within 3 years of purchase. So I guess all those people who bought in 2006 are being told "Yep, you bought a defective machine. But we're not fixing it!"

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -1
    02/16, 04:31pm | report spam | (2 replies) Reply |

    Re: Hmmmm

    It says Apple will contact those who paid for repairs, but I'm assuming that's the people stupid enough to get Apple to fix their laptops out of warranty.

    For you, if you still have the drive, you could slap it back in there, call apple, get them to replace it, then put back in your new one. Not monetary, but you get a 'new' drive. You could try to call them about reimbursement, but they'd probably just offer you something small, like $25 at the apple store or something.

  1. facebook_Christopher

    Via Facebook

    Joined: Feb 2010

    -2
    02/17, 01:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hmmmmm answered

    I just got off the phone with Apple Technical Support. Despite taking my computer to an Applestore in 2008 and having them diagnose my hard drive as broken, I'm not eligible for any refund. Why? Because instead of paying for an out of warranty repair from Apple, I (like a sane person) chose to buy a new hard drive, remove the 3 screws under my battery and slide the old one out and put the new one in. It's a user replaceable part! Why would I have to pay extra for Apple or a Apple Certified repair shop to replace it in order for them to cover the cost of a clearly faulty component. I paid $80 for a new hard drive when my original shouldn't have died in the first place, and Apple chooses to offer me nothing in the form of compensation. I would have been totally satisfied with a $25 iTunes gift card.

    Customer service rocks!

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