Symptoms of a failing HDD?

**Alucard** · 05-31-2012, 06:36 PM

Hi all,

I'm currently using a MBP 2010 15" base model with 320GB HDD. But lately I've had some annoyances with my laptop's reliability. For background, I'm currently on Lion with the latest update, and have 8GB ram installed (DIY).

Basically, around once a month or so my laptop would slow down and it would crash and hang a lot. Then after running verify disk in disk utility from within OSX, it'll report that the disk needs to be repaired. When I try to repair the disk, it prompts me that it can't be repaired and that I have to restart and do it from rescue mode (CMD+R upon bootup). After that, all's well.

My problem is that, this occurs once a month! The last time it happened, was around a month ago, and the month after that. I think this has been happening for a year now. Last week I visited Power Mac in MOA and sought some advice from the technicians. He told me that this is definitely not normal. Most users might "need" to perform repair disk maybe once a year at most, according to him.

The frequency of this bothers me. When it occurs, my laptop just hangs when I'm in the middle of something. Sometimes I just put my laptop to sleep and it never wakes up, requiring a hard boot.

Any advice from more experienced Mac users appreciated. I still have my Apple Care protection up till 2013. But according to the service center, it'll take about a month for them to assess and "possibly" repair the unit. A month without my MBP seems quite long as I use it for work, play and everything in between.

TIA!

**fr.ankie** · 05-31-2012, 06:46 PM

Why not try having your mbp checked at other service centers? Maybe the repair time is much shorter?

**650h2** · 05-31-2012, 07:41 PM

two years ago using Leopard, I was prompted by Disk Utility (Leopard) to backup my disk. I took it as a sign that my disk was failing.

AFAIK, Even being prompted by disk utility to verify a disk once a year is not normal. I know my disk are verified if my iMac's power goes out and my next re start becomes slow because of this.

I strongly suggest that you replace your hard drive now before it fails on you.

I assume that this has been going on since Snow Leopard?

**mystavros** · 05-31-2012, 07:42 PM

Why not you start backing up your data and just replace the hdd.

**bhoyetjumpay** · 05-31-2012, 09:29 PM

is this happened to you when you upgraded your ram? if you have the stock ram, i suggest to put it back your stock ram and monitor for at least a month or two. this was happened to me when i upgraded my ram, after three months my mac begins to hangs and i found out that the memory i installed is not compatible but when i replaced the ram (from kingston kvr to kta model) my mac backs to normal.

hope this helps

**Salaryman Ryan** · 05-31-2012, 09:47 PM

If you have bought AppleCare for your MBP - once diagnosed as faulty, Apple will replace your HD for free.

**Alucard** · 05-31-2012, 10:41 PM

Thanks all for the confirmations.

I guess I really have to bring this in for repairs. I just hope they can do it in the minimal time.

I do back ups regularly though so its not the data I'm worried about. Its basically the downtime as its my main laptop.

EDIT: Any recommendations on highly commendable service centers in Manila?

**Zoey** · 06-01-2012, 05:21 AM

We always had good service in Digital Hub Vmall at Greenhills. Sadly, even the best Apple service center here has lots of downtime because they still need to order parts from Apple Asia so expect about a week for your hard drive to be replaced.

**650h2** · 06-01-2012, 09:20 AM

If your MBP no longer has AppleCare and since you replaced your own RAM before, I suggest you follow a guide (like iFixit.com) and replace your own drive
buy your own drive (2.5inch , there is someone here selling a 750gig drive), a 2.5inch USB enclosure, and clone your hard drive using an App like carbon copy cloner. it may take a while to clone your hard drive depending upon the contents of your drive

**Alucard** · 06-01-2012, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by 650h2

If your MBP no longer has AppleCare and since you replaced your own RAM before, I suggest you follow a guide (like iFixit.com) and replace your own drive
buy your own drive (2.5inch , there is someone here selling a 750gig drive), a 2.5inch USB enclosure, and clone your hard drive using an App like carbon copy cloner. it may take a while to clone your hard drive depending upon the contents of your drive

My apple care is still valid. And while I probably don't have a problem with replacing my own HDD (and maybe adding a second HDD in the process), I'd rather have it repaired to save some money and also get some peace of mind. I did screw up changing my RAM a little and had a little help from Apple Australia to fix it :P

Originally Posted by Zoey

We always had good service in Digital Hub Vmall at Greenhills. Sadly, even the best Apple service center here has lots of downtime because they still need to order parts from Apple Asia so expect about a week for your hard drive to be replaced.

Maybe a week is not too bad. I'm just worried it'll take a month. But thank you for the feedback.