IMac Intel destroying my Hard Drives?

I had a Seagate 1TB HDD (I use for Time Machine) die on me last year (two years old), it was connected via Firewire to my imac and always connected. i let it stay powered and let it sleep when my iMac sleep. When it died, it took with it 10 years of portfolio work. Yes, I knew I should back up on several devices. A hard lesson learned.
I purchased a LaCie 1TB HDD (also used for Time Machine) and now this one seems to be doing the same thing. It it is connected via Firewire as well. I can't seem to get it to mount, I am running Disk Utilities now as i type.
It seems quite the coincidence that 2 drives die connected to the same iMac. Could it be ruining my drives? I have the same exact drive at work, which i unplug, and plug in constantly, and it seems to have no issues whatsoever.

That could be the problem, the power being delivered to the computer and it's peripherals. I recommend getting a UPS and plugging your computer and other vital peripherals (EHD's for example) into it. That way you can ensure the power is constant. Computers and peripherals can be sensitive to the power delivered to them, if there are power fluctuations that can damage them. There are lots of UPS's available, personally I use an APC ES750.

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IMac Intel Core Duo Hard Drive Replacement

I may need to replace my iMac (Intel Core Duo) HD soon; I'm wondering whether the Geek Squad does work on Macs. Also, is this something a person can do themselves with good directions, or is that risky. I've put in memory, but think the HD is probably a step up. I have everything backed up and would get all my stuff back on HD myself. Has anyone had experience with Mac repair here?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Welcome, Selia!
We certainly do work on Macintosh computers. The criteria is: "Is the part user-serviceable?" We would need to sendthe unit in for upgrade to our repair center if it is not something Apple has in their DIY section of their website. This is toensure consistency and to avoid any issues if still under warranty. Typically only Mac Book laptop hard drives areserviceable in the store.
Either way, I recommend letting an Agent assist you in the store. Let us know if you need further answers.
Matthew|Community Advocate | Best Buy® Corporate
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Exchanging files between eMac and iMac Intel ( GUID Scheme hard drive bug )

Hi,
I have to exchange big file and folder regularly between 2 Mac ( Home and work ), before it was easy because both computer are eMac ( 700 mhz combo drive OS X 10.3.9 ) I used my firewire backup drive to transferred files.
Now I change my home computer for a new iMac intel, naturally I had to format my firewire backup drive to GUID scheme to be able to boot with, but now when I connect this drive to the eMac it refuse to mount; when I connect it to the eMac a window appeared asking to format the drive, when I check with Disk Utility the application see the drive but refused to mount it.
Is there a hack to force the eMac to read and write to a GUID scheme drive?
Cheers,
Luc

Macs running an OS earlier than 10.4.x can't recognize the GUID partition table. The easiest fix is to update the eMac to run OS X 10.4.8
There are tips online for formatting an external drive to be bootable for both Intel and PPC Macs (e.g. this link) but it appears those tips still require the PPC Mac to be running 10.4.x

How do i back up my files from an intel core duo imac to an external hard drive?

Hello
How do I back up my files from an intel core duo imac to an external hard drive?

Like you do with any other Mac*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
Note: if you have a CoreDuo, you can only upgrade up to 10.6.8. Only Core2Duos and higher can go to 10.7 (Lion).

Star-up disk Full; cannot start my 2008 iMac w/ 500 GB hard drive

Kept erasing empty files from my early 2008 Intel iMac(with 500 GB hard drive). Kept getitng message 'Strt-up disk almost full.'
Used Hard drive as start-up disk. Kept getting a file labeled (approx.) EFileS1...(didn't write it down). Tried once to totally erase
this file: Removed Garage Band by moving to trash and securely erasing; and other files( 1-3 Mb at most. Now, get message "Start-up disk Full" and I can't
log onwhen I enter name and PW, I get the screen saver; I don't get the dock or anything else. I tried to use a external hard drive, and I also tried using an external CD/DVD player (integrated one no longer works) to reload SnowLeopard (OS 10.6) with no response (I had upgraded to OS 10.6.8).
I'm now using a Nov 2008 MacBook (burned out screen with external monitor) to write this email).
I'm going to buy 2014 MacBook Pro 15in w/ retina display as my sole computer, but my iMac hard drive has documents I'd like to save-Then I plan to totally
erase its HD before discarding/donating.
All suggestions and help will be appreciated.
Snboshu

If you can get the 2008 started move large libraries such as your iPhoto, iMovie and iTunes libraries to an External HD. Once you have verified the libraries have been successfully moved then Trash the ones on the internal HD and empty the Trash. Once these operations have been done then use:
iPhoto: How to move the Library to an EHD
iMovie: How to move the Library to an EHD
iTunes: How to move the library to an EHD

I just purchased a 24" iMac A1225 without a hard drive. Can I transfer the drive from my old 17" iMac, with OS 10.68 installed on it, or do I have to clone, migrate or reinstall?

I just purchased a 24" iMac A1225 without a hard drive. Can I transfer the drive from my old 17" iMac, with OS 10.68 installed on it, or do I have to clone, migrate or reinstall?
Hal

Aha OK then, that should work fine.
The only snag might be, if your missing the original thermal sensor from the original 24" Hard Drive.
Then again, you should be able to use the one that came from the original 17" Hard Drive.
image courtesy of > iMac Intel 24" EMC 2267 Repair - iFixit

Permission problems in my newly installed hard drive from iMac 1 TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program. Is that normal?

Just got back my iMac with a brand new replacement hard drive through the iMac 1 TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program. With only apps installed, no files and fonts added, the hard drive already shows permission problems. Is that normal? The replacement hard drive is a Seagate again, ST31000528BAS. Do people like their replacement hard drive?

Just now looking at these... Last recall 2009 MacbookPro Video issues, I waited 4 years and it took 4 trips to apple store with video of the machine problems... Days and months past, finally with stern discussion with manager, got resolved. Now Drive recall on work machine... better take advantage now. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!
Should have thought of it... Have TM full back up... (will look into clone next time, now that I see this). Take in 27iMac running 10.6.8, 5-7 days, what a joke, my boss will be happy to pay for a week without working. Finally get, "if you have TM back up, 3 days." Get machine back with 10.6.3, hit the R recovery, click TM back up, runs for 2 hours, reboots, looks great. Box up take back to office... update to install - OH CRAP, still running 10.6.3. Updates crash with error on install, BUG PROBELM, nothing runs.
Call Apple... after hours, tells me to boot using 10.6.2 disk, wipe, reinstall OS, udate to 10.6.8, THEN do the restore. GREAT! Only thing 10.6.2 DVD won't read... now back on phone... take back to the store, Genius says, "Oh, can't boot a newer system w/ old disk, that's why it won't read." PROMISES it'll be fixed, if you leave it over night... GREAT!
Pick up next day, supposedly, booted to disk, wiped drive, reinstalled, updated to 10.6.8 and did the RIGHT restore... Looks GREAT... apps run and 10.6.8 OS. Back to the office... CRAP!! not running right... fonts messed up, drop box app needs new install, cocktail needs upgrade, Fetch not working, memorized paths gone... back ups locked out of permissions... ***!!
4 hours on phone with apple and still not solved. Evidently... either different account names caused problems... and/or they never restored personal "settings". Seems there are 3 ways to restor... Running Migration Assistant, Restoring after they load a new OS... or NOW WAITING for them to send me a bootable 10.6.3 disk and then boot from disk, w/o installing OS and doing a restore from TM.
Can begin to make enough stink!! So now can't back up without doing a full 400 GB back up and possibly destroying any good back ups... can't work, liek having hands tied behind back. WAITING for solution! TICKED OFF!!!

Can time machine back up an imac and an external hard drive?

I currently back up my imac via time machine but to reduce space on my hard drive I want to move my itunes library onto an external hard drive. If i do this can time machine still back up my imac and the external hard drive with the itunes library on automatically?
Regards
Toekoms

toekoms wrote:
I currently back up my imac via time machine but to reduce space on my hard drive I want to move my itunes library onto an external hard drive. If i do this can time machine still back up my imac and the external hard drive with the itunes library on automatically?
yes, given enough space on the destination drive (your library may grow over time). also, the drive needs to be connected directly to your Mac.
you might want to make sure the drive is not excluded from TM backups by checking in system preferences > time machine > options.
also, as for moving your iTunes library, see this read for tips/instructions.
JGG
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

IMac Not Recognizing External Hard Drive

Hi friends,
I recently upgraded my MacBook from 5 years ago to the newest iMac. In doing so, I transferred my computer using Time Machine & my external hard drive. The hard drive is partitioned to allow for storage as well as Time Machine backups. I plugged my external hard drive into a PC to try to access these files and it didn't recognize the hard drive, so I didn't think anything of it and unplugged it.
Now I can't get my iMac to recognize the hard drive at all. I have gone into Disk Utilities to see if it's listed there, but nothing. It usually makes a lot of noise when it's first plugged in (whirring and sounding like it's about to take flight, etc.) but no sound today. However, the white light that indicates it's on is lit. This could be due to being plugged into the wall, however, and not having to do with being plugged into the computer. (This is a decently old hard drive in terms of technology, probably 4 years.)
I should have known better than to infect my hard drive with PC cooties. But that wouldn't have wiped everything clean, right? I'm wondering if my hard drive just happened to bite the dust coincidentally around this brush with fate.
Does this sound like something that is wrong with my hard drive, or with the connection? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have quite a few files I would hate to lose on the hard drive.
Thanks!

Zap the PRAM and Reset the SMC; then, hook up the ext HD, fire it up, and see if that fixes things.

How can I restore files from a time machine back-up of my iMac to an EXTERNAL hard drive connected to MacBook Pro. Using Migrat

I would like to restore files from a time machine back-up of my iMac to an EXTERNAL hard drive connected to MacBook Pro. When I tried using Migration Assistant it only gives me my internal hard drive as an option to restore to. The internal hard drive on my macbook isnt large enough to store the files.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
OS X can only restore data to the drive where Time Machine backed up files from.
If you want to restore files from the Time Machine backup onto an external drive, your only option is to access to the Time Machine drive manually (open a Finder window and choose your Time Machine drive in the Finder sidebar), navigate through its folders and copy the files you want to the external drive

I've just bought a new iMac with 2 TB hard drive. Can I partition the startup drive?

I've just bought a new iMac with 2 TB hard drive. Can I partition the startup drive?

Glenfern wrote:
The reason I'm considering partitioning is - I'm going to transfer about 50 GB of family photos & music to the iMac. Over time the photos & music library is going to grow. My idea was to point the iphoto & itunes library to the new partition so that the application programs (that will will reside in partition 1), will not get congested with photos & music over time & degrade performance. Also, I dabble a little bit with the music editing program LOGIC & Sound Track Pro, which creates lots of little music files in the process.
In your case I would strongly recommend against partitioning, as dwb mentions a drive loaded with data on an
O SX system doesn't equate to performance loss. However partitioning does. If you were going to tell me you were partitioning to load different OS's on the computer then you would have a good reason to think about partitioning. My suggestion is do not partition.
What I would also recommend is getting some high quality high speed external HD's to store your photo and music libraries on. This helps keept the 2GB drive available while maintaining performance. I have 3 external HD's attached to my iMac, two are backup drives (1 Time Machine & 1 Bootable Clone) the third drive is for storing my my music, photo & movie libraries on. If you go this route the 3 drives I'd recommend are:
http://g-technology.com/products/g-drive.cfm
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?id=10330
Personally I use the Lacie's however OWC or G-Tech would also be welcome on my desk.
Again if you want to take this path Apple has instructions for how to move the libraries to EHDs, if you want those links let me know.

Lost a 2 hard drives, have 7 k photos on a touch that I need to load on IMAC with a new hard drive, how do I do it. Just never went from a Touch to iMac. I have the cable hooked up and then what, I don't want to mess up,my last chance to save 7k pics!

Lost my hard drive and also an Ipad, but have 7 k photos on a Touch that I need to load on fixed IMAC with a new hard drive, how do I do it. (There were more photos than the 7k, but they were saved on other drives, thank goodness). 7K pohotos on the Touch are no where else, must be saved! Just never went from a Touch to iMac. I have the cable hooked up and then what, I don't want to mess up,my last chance to save 7k pics! New Aperture and IPhoto on IMAC with no other photos loaded on the new hard drive yet.

I'd ask in the iTouch forum where there are more iTouch users there than here and they should know how to off load the photos. It might take a 3rd party app.
OT

HT201250 I run time machine on my iMac using an external hard drive. I just bought a MacBook Pro and want to know if i can run time machine on it using my wireless network on to the iMac external hard drive

I run time machine on my iMac using an external hard drive. I just bought a MacBook Pro and want to know if i can run time machine on it using my wireless network on to the iMac external hard drive

How do I set up Time Machine to a shared drive on another Mac?

Can you use a start up disc on an iMac without formatting the hard drive?

Can you use a start up disc on an iMac without formatting the hard drive?

Yes, because the startup disk is read from the boot rom, not the Hard Disk.

I would like to transfer my iTunes and photos etc from my PC to my new iMac via a external hard drive. Would somebody recommend one. I read that the Western Digital Mybook Essential 3.0 is good.

I would like to transfer my iTunes and photos etc from my PC to my new iMac via a external hard drive. Would somebody recommend one. I read that the Western Digital Mybook Essential 3.0 is good. Though as Mac has 2.0 is this fast enough? I am a basic user, surfing only.

If you plan on using the WD with the Mac after the iTunes transfer I would strongly recommend against WD. WD external HD's tend to be the most troublesome with Macs. If you intend to use the drive for backup using Time Machine or creating a bootable clone then I'd recommend a higher quality drive than WD. The drives I'd recommend in that case would be:
OWC Mercury Elite Pro series
LaCie d2 Quadra series
G-Tech G-DRIVE series
These are all high quality drives and enclosures with similar features. Personally I use the LaCie's however I would be happy to have OWC and G-Tech on my desk too. FWIW I've been using the LaCie's for 4 years and have 4 of them, all work perfectly and have never given me any trouble.
You also my find this article helpful: Move an iTunes library from a PC to Mac (and back)

IMac Intel destroying my Hard Drives?

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