My brand new Macbook PRO crashed completely after it went through the iOS 10.7.4 update, I lost everything and Apple just wants to replace the HD and let me deal with the hassle.

Question

Last Thursday May 10th I received a prompt from the Automatic Update to update the iOS to Ver. 10.7.4, set the start and was watching the progress when it stopped with an error message saying that it was not able to update, right below there was a buttom "RESTART", pressed the buttom and waited to re-boot.....That was the end of my computer, somehow the update crashed my HD beyond recover, it would only show the gray screen with Apple logo in the center and kept beeping, BEEP BEEP BEEP.....PAUSE.....BEEP BEEP BEEP.....PAUSE.....on and on and on and it never past that.
Friday May 11 I took it to a retailer where I received the bad news that the HD was crashed and the teck couldn't even try to copy anything from it as it couldn't locate it. I checked iCloud on a hope that all my stuff would be there but new surprise, iCloud didn't kept all of my stuff as it was programmed to.
Now here is the funny part, the tech from the retailer informed me that the only thing they could do was to order a new HD for my 4 months old Macbook and that the time to have my computer back will be at least 15 days, now that is the funny part, I fail to understand why do I have to suffer the hassle of loosing all my data plus wait at least 15th days to have my computer back (meanwhile loose work) on a problem caused by Apple, PROBLEM, not machine defect, clearly my computer had no problem untill I followed the procedure to update.
On Saturday May 12 I contacted Local Apple Support (I have failed to mention that I live in Brasil) and they informed me that what the dealer said was the only thing that could be done, too bad for me if I lost everything, going to loose several days of work and whenever I receive my computer back will have to re-construct all my life and deal with the forever lost data.....DEAL WITH IT
After a couple of discussion with Apple Support and the Dealer, I made my decision to take the Macbook to the dealer today for repair and meanwhile I'm opening a case with the Brazilian Justice to have Apple honor with all the trouble and hassle that it is causing me, it's said that I have to take this type of action as I'm a very fan of Apple and it's products, have had several iPods, iPhones, Macbooks, Keyboards, Mouses, Apple TV, etc.....This i the first time I have a problem with a Apple product and got a taste of the "Apple Care", it seems like Apple is more concerned on seeling products then keeping long time customers happy.
One last thing, today when I was at the dealer to drop my computer for repair, the Technician informed me that he also had a computer crashed and the HD erase on Sunday May 13th in the same way of mine, after the update everything was gone, also he said that we were not the only ones, iPads and iPhones were going trough the same situation, update causing complete breakdown.
WORD OF ADVISE, BE 1000% SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVRYTHING BACKED UP BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH AN UPDATE.

Answer 1

rvalezin wrote:
If I need to back-up every hour of my life in order to be able to save everything from something like this I won´t do anything else.....at least we should be able to trust that Apple tests this updates so situations like this won´t happen.
That's exactly what Time Machine does for you.  It backs up every hour, so you don't have to.  While it is backing up, you keep on working.  Time Macvhine came with your Mac and you chose not to use it.
The 10.7.4 update did not cause your hard disk to fail.  Hard disk fail due to mechanical causes.  They are extremely reliable, but that doesn't mean every hard disk will last a long time.  Your mileage WILL vary!
If you are dependent on your computer and the data stored on it, then you should make sure you have AT LEAST two copies of all data and probably three or four.  You should use at least two means of backing up in case the backup software has a problem.  And you should consider having a backup computer if you live in an area where replacement takes too long (whatever too long is for your business).
Apple hardware and software is very, very good.  You have documented your experience of this.  But NO hardware or software is perfect.  You also have experience of this.
It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your system is set up to protect your data and availability of computing resources.