Is my drive dead or is the Mac Hardware Test lying?

Sorry if this seems a double post from the OS X Snow Leopard forum, but realized maybe it would be better to post here.
I was having huge problems with re-occurring "Invalid Node" errors and other disk corruption - I would restore from a back and the problem would be gone - but return a day or two later, three or four times in the last week.
Well I ran the Extended Hardware Test earlier today twice... both time I got the same errors....
"4HDD/11.40000004:SATA(0,0)"
Bascially it said there is a problem with the HDD - I just put this drive in like 10 days ago... So I called the store they said if it is defective I could bring it back. Great! I thought... so I zeroed the drive tonight to ensure there is no data is on it... and for kicks after the 2 hour zeroing I ran the test again... this time there were no errors!!!
Is this hardware testing the 'Hardware' because I am thinking that if the file system was corrupted shouldn't that be a software issue and the hardware test should ignore it.
Now I am wondering... do I try using this drive again now that it is zeroed and clean - or do I return it and re-install my original 160Gb drive that came with the Mac Book (which by the way never had this problem).... is this disk really dying or is the Hardware Test pulling my leg... do I trust the drive or the Hard Test?
What do you guys/gals think?
Cheers,
Chris

Thanks Dave,
I was thinking maybe I will just get my $$ back and go back to the Fujitsu drive that came with the Mac book till my iPhoto and iTunes libs get huge and then look at a larger driver then.
Or get a diff brand... this was a Western Digital - perhaps they are not the best out there.

Similar Messages

  • How do I move a back up to another external drive and how does the Mac Book then find the new back up?

    how do I move a back up to another external drive and how does the Mac Book then find the new back up?
    I currently have the back up on a Time Capsule, I want to move it from the Time Capsule to another external hard drive.

    Did you read the link to the Pondidni website?  You will have to select the Time Machine HDD for the new MBP and the old one in System Preferences>Time Machine:
    Ciao.

  • My Mac is doing strange things: delaying between users, mouse flickering and bouncing, gets stuck with rainbow wheel flickering. I ran the appel hardware test and it detected an error: 4MOT/4/40000003:HDD-1233 Does anybody know what that means? HELP!

    My imac is doing strange things:
    -delaying between users: when closing session it goes to blue, then takes a while to appear users signin box, and then wont recognize mouse command to enter until a couple of minutes later... then everything seems alright until....
    -it gets stuck between things, the rainbow wheel appears and its just delays there forever....
    -and every now and then the mouse starts flickering and bouncing wildly onscreen.
    I ran the appel hardware test and it detected an error:
    4MOT/4/40000003:HDD-1233
    Does anybody know what that means? HELP!

    WZZZ answered about where to get iStat. And do check the SMART status. If it is an overheating problem due to a fan or logic board problem, your hard drive is possibly cooking itself to death. If so it isn't a faulty hard drive even though the hard drive might fail. So assuming it's a temperature problem, even if you are able to repair things on the disk with software, that is working on symptoms, not causes. I could be wrong however.
    RE: AppleCare: Your iMac came with one year of AppleCare (Apple's warranty program), but within the first year you can buy 2 more years. You have to extend by the one year anniversary of purchase of the computer. Your 10,1 is too old to still be in the first year, and since you asked what it was, I'm sure you don't have it. Bottom line meaning is that whatever this problem turns out to be, you'll have to pay for it. Unless there is something like this. It is for 2011 iMacs with certain Seagate drives. You can put in your serial number for fun, but it looks like yours is too old. Lastly, some people have had Apple help them anyway if it is just out of warranty, but many have not. Your machine is one of these. Type in 10,1 in the search box. Is there an Apple Store near you? Just b/c it's out of warranty doesn't mean you shouldn't have it looked at by Apple. But no one here can say at all what Apple will or will not do.
    Hope you get it taken care of!

  • I have Mac Pro 2010 model and it's giving heavy fan noise,so run the Apple hardware test but it's showing the Error: 4SMC 1 40000000  please help me in this issue.

    I have Mac Pro 2010 model and it's giving heavy fan noise,so run the Apple hardware test but it's showing the Error: 4SMC 1 40000000  please help me in this issue.

    Same error information here.
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/13083664?messageID=13083664

  • When open photoshop a message came up saying photoshop has given up waiting for assesment of the display driver. enhancements that use the graphics hardware have been disabled... can anyone help?

    when open photoshop a message came up saying photoshop has given up waiting for assesment of the display driver. enhancements that use the graphics hardware have been disabled... can anyone help?

    The best thing to do is to go into Help > System Info, copy and paste the contents into your reply.
    One of us or several should be able to sort it out for you.
    Gene

  • Does the apple hardware test, test the optical drive?

    I think my optical drive may have issues. Does the apple hardware test the optical drive?

    No it doesn't.
    What kind of issues are you having? Reading/writing? CDs/DVDs?

  • Cannot start-up to the Apple Hardware Test — MacBook Pro & Lion

    Whenever I try holding the D key before and throughout all of the start-up process, it simply makes the grey screen appear for longer, and slow the whole process... but never beings the Apple Hardware Test.
    I'm following Apple's official instructions:
    To start up your computer in Apple Hardware Test:
    Press the power button to turn on your computer.
    Press and hold the D key before the gray startup screen appears. An Internet-enabled connection via Ethernet or Wi-Fi is required to use this feature.
    Note: Some Macintosh computers that shipped with OS X Lion support the use of Apple Hardware Test over the Internet. These computers will start up to an Internet-based version of AHT if the hard drive does not contain AHT.
    Why doesn't it work?
    My MBP was shipped as follows:
    For Apple computers that shipped with Mac OS X v10.5.5 to 10.6.7, Apple Hardware Test is located on the Applications Install Disc 2 and should be included with your computer.
    But I have upgraded to Lion! Do I need the disk still? If so, why am I to lumber around a disk from a previous OS... good that I didn't throw it out!

    I'm trying to find the answer to a similiar question.  Here's my thread.
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3549995

  • G4 that will not boot from any disc EXCEPT the Apple Hardware Test CD

    We have a DP 1ghz Quicksilver PowerMac G4 that will not boot from any disc EXCEPT the Apple Hardware Test CD that came with the machine.
    We were in the process of installing 10.4 Tiger before placing it for sale.
    The Mac was originally OSX Server 10.1 that we later converted to a worksation running 10.3 Panther.
    It has 1 GB of memory, 80GB hardrive, 250MB Zip Drive and a Radeon 7500 video card.
    Since this machine only has a CD-R drive and not a DVD-R, we installed Tiger using another Mac via Target Disk Mode. The installation process went well, but when I tried to reboot I got a Kernel Panic right after startup screen with the grey Apple logo.
    On some reboots we get to the blue startup screen, others it stops at the grey Apple logo, others a black box like the a Kernel Panic - but with no text. Twice it went directly into Open Firmware.
    We have done the following during our troubleshooting:
    - Reseat RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive, Zip & CD-R connections
    - Remove RAM 1 stick at a time and reboot
    - Replace RAM with RAM from another working Quicksilver
    - Replace Video Card with one from another working Quicksilver
    - Zap PRAM
    - Reset CUDA switch
    - Unplug the MAC and remove everything (RAM, Battery, etc) for 30 minutes and try to reboot
    - Tried booting from the Macintosh Server G4 Software Restore CD
    - Tried booting from Mac OS X Server CD
    - Tried booting from AppleCare Protection Plan CD with TechTool
    - Tried booting from Diskwarrior CD
    - Tried booting from an external FireWire drive with a disk image of Tiger OS Install
    - Tried booting with the hard drive disconnected
    The Mac WILL boot from the Apple Hardware Test CD and will pass ALL of the extended tests.

    Conventional wisdom says that any Mac that will not boot up from a System/Install CD OS 9 or an Install CD Mac OS X, has a Hardware problem.
    The diagnostic CD is a red herring because it uses a very primitive method of reading the CD, and so does not properly represent the machines general ability to read CDs.
    I would look at the CD drive cables, etc, and see if another drive gives different results.
    You have not mentioned using the Startup Manager (option key at Startup) to do any checking:
    HT1310- Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume

  • The error code 4MOT/4/4000003:HDD-1393 has shown up from the apple hardware test. What should I do about this?

    My iMac has been running a little hot, it was suggested to run the Apple hardware test (AHT), as heat can cause problems witht he hard drive.
    The AHT revealed the error code 4MOT/4/4000003:HDD-1393 which I assume means a hard dtrive problem. But, what do I do. Is this a critical error or a minor fault. Everything is running as normal, but the machine is getting a little hotter than usual.

    This indicates problem with HD fan.
    Exact nature of the problem is only known to Apple.
    We have no way to interpret this error code.
    Keep a backup of your data.
    When you get a chance, take the Mac to the nearest Apple store to have it tested.
    Best.

  • Is there a download for the Apple Hardware test 3A126?

    Is there a download for the Apple Hardware test 3A126? I get a gray screen for several minutes until start up, Tried holding down the "D" key but no test, there is a disc stuck in the superdrive so I can't use the install DVD.

    You can only run the Apple Hardware Test from the correct Disc that came with your system. see > Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test
    Have you tried the following > The ultimate guide to ejecting a stuck disc
    or > Eject a stuck disk from your Mac DVD super drive to get the stuck disc out?

  • I really need help with the Apple Hardware Test!

    I have been having problems with the computer freezing. The other night the only way I was able to start it up was to boot off the install disk. My brother being fairly savy with Macs helped me with this. Long story short, I uninstalled and reinstalled all of my non Mac programs. This happened three days ago. Everything seemed fine. Then tonight, same thing. My screen froze, and I shut it down. I couldn't access anything. I zapped the pram, and my user screen came on. When I tried to log in it froze again. Then it started just shutting off on it's own. Everytime I turn on the computer it shuts off. So then I tried holding down the shift key, then by accident, I held down the D key. I thought I remembered my brother doing this. Then the Apple Hardware Test screen came on, so I did the test. It said: A harware error is detected 4HD?11?40000004:SATA(0,0)
    What does this mean and what do I do?

    SATA would very likely mean your hard drive is failing or has failed. Do you have AppleCare?
    ~Lyssa

  • How do I run the Apple Hardware Test? Its not on my DVD and the Internet-connected version tells me my computer isn't supported!

    I have a mini - late 2010 2.4 ghz core 2 duo - that just started black-screen crashing and failing to wake from sleep. Up to a few dasy ago this was a really bulletproof machine! When trying to restart it afer a crash it sometimes emits three weak beeps (sometimes more).
    Apart from spontaneous motherboard failure (??) I can only guess that the RAM failed (an 8GB upgrade installed last fall). I pulled one 4GB RAM board and the mini booted again! But it still sometimes fails to wake from sleep, and sometimes give the three beeps. I've run REMBER (a memory test program) on one of the RAM boards and it passes the test. My next step is to test the second one -- but whether it passes or fails there seems to be something else going on.
    I'd love to try the Apple Hardware Test but:
    - pressing D on startup has no effect (even when starting up with the original install DVD)
    - pressing Option-D brings up an Internet-loading screen that brings up a Hardware Test screen then tells me my computer is not supported.
    Is the AHT simply unavailable for my model of Mac? And/or is there any way to test my hardware?

    The 2010 Mac Mini's came with a 2 DVD set, a Mac OS X Install DVD (22691-6657-A) and an Application DVD (22691-6658 -A). The Apple Hardware Test is on the Application DVD (22691-6658-A). 
    see > Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test

  • Where do I find the apple hardware test

    Hi, I'm trying to find the apple hardware test. The article here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509 does not help me - I've tried pressing the D key, but the test won't start. My version of Snow Leopard only has one DVD (10.6.3). I rebooted from the DVD and had a look in the Utility section, but could not find the AHT there either.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!
    Thanks in advance,
    Veronika
    Edit: OK, I see that it should be located on the original installation disks. However, I never had those - my Mac was once repaired under extended warranty (new harddrive), and they kindly upgraded me from Tiger to Leopard all those years ago. Any other ideas?

    Replacement disc(s) from Apple:  You can get replacement System Install & Restore CD/DVDs from Apple's Customer Support - in the US, (800) 767-2775 - for a nominal S&H fee. You'll need to have the model and/or serial number of your Mac available.

  • What Do I Put On the com.apple.Boot.Plist to Make Snow Boot to the Apple Hardware Test By Default?

    Hi. My main OS is 10.7.2 Lion but I had installed Snow 10.6.8 into a USB external drive. I will use Snow for apps that run well in it and for the Apple Hardware Test which is was my main reason why I installed Snow. Whenever I boot to this iMac's Snow DVD installers (disc 1 or disc 2) or to the one installed on the external USB drive and press D before the gray screen and 'ding', it doesn't want to go to the Apple Hardware Test. I want ot use AHT because I have no budget for similar apps like TechTool Pro.
    Why is pressing the D not working by the way?
    Is there a way to edit the Snow's com.apple.boot.plist to always boot to Apple Hardware Test (AHT)? What should I write in it. I'll be using Smultron to edit the plist instead of Terminal.
    Thank you in advance.
    Gbu.

    Put the AHT disc into the machine, restart, holding down the D key. AFAIK, you can't do the way you're envisioning.

  • HT201257 Can I reinstall the Apple Hardware Test?

    After an OS reinstall, with a Macintosh HD erase, I've lost the ability to run the Apple Hardware Test directly from my drive.
    Now when I try to run it, it only does so from Internet Recovery Mode, which does not sit right by me, once it used to do so without requiring an internet connection and no official Apple article, specifically, warns you that any OS reinstall process can lead to this situation (at least none that I have discovered...)
    Is there any way I can get back that feature, which I presume would be installed in a Recovery partition?

    I was actually responding to your statement "I've lost the ability to run the Apple Hardware Test directly from my drive." and provided the link (see the Use Apple Hardware Test section) so that you can make sure you were performing the test correctly.
    Sorry, that the Article was of no help to you.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Standard SAP Fi co Reports

    Hi Please let me know if you have code for any ABAP program or any transaction code where i can find the standard R3 reports for ECCS 6.0 in FI CO and also for MM. please tell if se92 IS THE WAY OR U CAN SUGGEST a good way so that we can say that the

  • Error while running ejb2.0 in jdeveloper

    Hello wen i am trying to run ejb stateless sesion bean application , i am getting below error, i have created with ejb2.0 version javax.naming.NameNotFoundException: HiEjb not found at com.evermind.server.rmi.RMIClientContext.lookup(RMIClientContext.

  • BAPI to insert a new row in the AUSP table

    Hi all, I am in search of a BAPI to insert a new row in the AUSP table... with the fields of the object and characteristic values. Any inputs on this..is highly appreciable... thanks in advance... regards.. prathima.

  • My iPod touch 2nd gen keeps turning the volume down automatically when i am doing things on it how do i fix it

    my iPod touch 2nd gen keeps turning the volume down automatically when i am doing things on it how do i fix it?  This happens when using the volume control buttons and the volume option in settings.  It keeps turning itself down to silent.  Any ideas

  • Dictionary problems in OS 10.6.5

    I recently upgraded to Snow Leopard and ever since I have been unable to use the dictionary application. It opens as usual but all the functions are in grey on the menu bar, and I can't access any of them. No problems whatsoever before I upgraded. It