IMac can't repair drive

My iMac (late 2009 model) recently froze and after a hard shutdown, it won't boot from the internal harddrive.
Bootup brings me to the option of restoring from time machine, install OS X, or go into disk utility.
Within disk utility, I can see all the drives but cannot verify or repair the drive.
The error message tells me to backup my files and re-format.
Unfortunately, creating a disk image also fails (some kind of input/output error).
1. Is there any way for me to access my files to perform a backup?
2. Is there a fix for this or is it more likely that the drive died?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Likely the drive is having problems.
See if the Disk is issuing any S.M.A.R.T errors in Disk Utility...
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH7029

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HT5446 is my iMac 21.5intel, fusion drive compatable

.Thank you in advance just wondering if my Imac can have fusion drive, seen a youtube vid with fusion drive but it was 27 inch, so I am not sure and on the Apple store didnt notice it as an up grade for the 21.5 inch, because of size maybe motherboard another size unless I over looked it, Why do I want it no clue always used a pc I bought this Imac cause it looked really nice and talked to people they love Apple products, also figured never see used macs for sale like dells left and right, so I figured they must last forever. but back to the fusion drive just like the speed, I also like it to do photoshop, final cut,Imovie. can someone tell if I need to run a compatability test on it from apple and a link to it, or looking through the "about this Mac"
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From what is written in the Apple Store page for iMac 21.5 and 27" models, the 21.5 can be equipped with a 1TB Fusion drive, or 256GB flash, or 512GB flash, as options. There are more BTO options for the 27" model.
Not sure what an Apple Store would charge you to upgrade a new iMac to one of those, but you could call ahead and set an appointment with a product specialist, a Genius, to discuss the matter. If they can do it, then you'd probably arrange to take the computer in so someone could do the job and not interfer with the AppleCare plan coverage. Authorized persons should be the only ones to open up and upgrade; however the BTO models in the 21.5" would be the normal path to get that upgrade. Just like RAM, there is no user access to upgrade. (Built-to-Order ships from an Apple Store online.)
So that'd be my suggestion, ask them directly at an official Apple Store or see if Apple Support online http://www.apple.com/support/contact/ can answer the question for you, to see if the product can be upgraded by an Apple tech in a store near you.
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I think you need to contact the repairer, and explain the problem as something may not have been reconnected properly on the re-assembly. That is not to be assumed as fact, so taking a diplomatic approach along these lines in negotiation would be in your interest.

Can I REPAIR my External Hard Drive in Disk Utility without losing all of the Data?

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A while back, I made the mistake of throwing my TM backups in the Trash folder. They were "stuck" there in my External Trash FOREVER until I finally decided to do something about it. I read a few forums that gave instructions on how to delete those volumes through Manually through a series of prompts in TERMINAL. This process actually WORKED and removed the files from the trash, HOWEVER, now the Disk isn't mounting properly. After running "Verify Disk" in Disk Utility, It's telling me that the disk needs to be repaired.
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Disk utility can't repair disk (1 partition) on external hard drive

I've search here some to try to find the answer to my scenario, but I really don't understand how Disk Utility got involved in my external hard drive to begin with, so here's my question.
I have a 2TB Western Digital My Book Studio FW800 external that has 5 partitions, connected to my 2011 iMac. I had help doing the partitions and don't really remember the reasoning, but one is just for my SuperDuper! backup, one is Miscellaneous, one for movie clips off my camcorder, one for misc scanned photo's and one for my genealogy research.
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I don't back them up. There isn't much on them, besides the one I save video files too, but those are 2-3 min snippets of school events, that are just uploaded to youtube without any editing (like titles, fade ins, etc.) through iMovie. All those vid's are on original tapes I have.
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External Hard Drive Disk Utility Can't Repair the Disk

Hi,
I have a Seagate 1 TB Backup Plus Drive which was working perfectly fine until I plugged it into a USB hub. It detected it while in the hub and I was able to get files off of it, but when I ejected it from the hub and put it back into the USB slot on the computer it was not detected by finder. It shows up in the disk utility and I clicked verify and repair and it says:
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Use a more powerful utility such as DiskWarrior, or a product such as those listed here.
(108710)

Disk utility can't repair a partition on external hard drive

I have a 1TB Western Digital external FW drive that's only a couple years old (2 or 3, probably). I have it split into partitions, one of which I'm using for Time Machine. The non-Time Machine partition checked out fine with DIsk Utility, but when I ran Disk Utility on the Time Machine partition, I received this message:
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Brad Cook wrote:
Disk Utility stopped reparing "Time Machine." Disk Utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.
Does this mean the drive itself is failing?
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IMac can't repair drive

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