Apple has extended a hard drive replacement program for iMacs containing 1TB Seagate hard drives that have been known to fail.
The iMac 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program has been extended to include iMacs sold between October 2009 and July 2011 that feature a 1TB Seagate hard drive.
Unfortunately the news comes a little late for the Macworld team. We have already replaced the Seagate hard drives in our 1TB iMacs since the hard drives died some months back. (We have checked the serial numbers and our iMacs would have qualified for the program.)
Detailing the replacement program, Apple writes that it has determined that "certain Seagate 1TB hard drives used in 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac systems may fail. These systems were sold between October 2009 and July 2011."
Apple first recognized the issue with the Seagate hard drives back in July 2011, but at that time it only included iMacs purchased between May 2011 and July 2011, notes MacRumors.
The original program was originally valid for one year, scheduled to expire 23 July, 2012, but the company has now extended the program until 12 April, 2013.
On the webpage detailing the hard drive replacement program Apple claims that "Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) will replace affected hard drives free of charge."
Since we have already replaced affected hard drives we may be legible for a refund. Apple says: "If you believe you have paid for a repair or replacement due to this issue, contact Apple regarding a refund."
To find out if your iMac qualifies for the replacement program, visit this page and add your serial number (Which you can find in About the Mac).
Apple is thought to be preparing to launch a new iMac next week.
Follow Karen Haslam on Twitter / Follow MacworldUK on Twitter
Related:
New thinner 'tear drop' iMac to launch on 23 October
The five weirdest Macs of all time
Samsung wants a retrial, says jury foreman had litigation with partner Seagate
Hard disk drives vs. solid-state drives: Are SSDs finally worth the money?
Comments
Jim Spiller said: Re The Seagate Hard Drive ReplacementMy Hard Drive is the ST31000 it is getting slower and slower and rumbling too so I contacted Apple to see what was involvedIt seems they want me to take my Imac to them they will keep it for at least 5 days they will not give me the old HD afterwards I also have to back-up everything up and then reload etc thats another couple of days faffing aboutWhen I read the chatter that this problem has generated on line it appears to be mostly from bright young things excited about getting a new hard drive and how lucky they are that the clever Apple people are for doing this for them In fact one Apple employee has just told me that because Apple didnt make the HD in question they are not really obliged to replace it He should read the small print For my part the whole affair is a b nuisanceI will have to make two round trip journeys of over 50 miles I will not have the use of my kit for the best part of a week And my personal information passwords mail etc will be whisked off to God knows whereGiven the price that UK customers pay for all Apple products the highest in Europe I would have hoped for a better service And a less arrogant attitudeAm I alone in this