The following story is true. No names have been changed.
+ + + + +
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 11:33 AM: Wife in crisis calls me to tell me that she had just gotten off the phone with Apple support and it had been confirmed that her 250gb iMac hard drive was dead. Tears bespoke her desperation.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 1:46 PM: Randy searches internet desperately for technical help on how to replace the hard drive on an Intel iMac, discovering that Apple does not WANT average Joe’s performing such delicate surgery.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 2:04 PM: The local Apple service center offers to replace the hard drive for ~$200. $100 for the identical 250gb drive and $100 for labor. Randy is incensed.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 4:27 PM: Randy detaches the iMac from its cabling, lays it on the kitchen counter, and searches for a means of access. Notes that only certain types of drivers will loosen the screws.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 4:44 PM: In a fit of desperation, Randy watches a ten-minute YouTube video of some guy changing the hard drive on an iMac on his bed.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 4:54 PM: Randy orders a 640gb hard drive from Amazon.com for $67 including overnight shipping charges.
Thursday, April 30, 2009, 11:46 AM: Randy buys set of mini-Torx drivers at Sears for $10 on way to lunch appointment.
Thursday, April 30, 2009, 4:00 PM: Wife calls to report that the hard drive has been delivered.
Thursday, April 30, 2009, 4:23 PM: Armed with YouTube knowledge, new set of Torx drivers, and shaky confidence, Randy begins surgery with the help of the lovely Nurse Barb.
Thursday, April 30, 2009, 4:42 PM: Having found his way in and out of the patient’s vital areas, the final Torx suture is applied to the iMac, and he is hauled back to the desk where he resides. Upon being powered up, he begins to restore the operating system.
Thursday, April 30, 2009, 4:43 PM: Randy becomes a huge fan of YouTube videos. (And of automatic backups to external hard drives. They say there are two types of people in the world: those who back up their data and those who wish they had. Three times now, in the past fifteen years, we are glad that we had backups.)
+ + + + +
NOTE: I was really impressed with myself, being able to do this with the help of a YouTube video. However, this story trumps my own. I plan to stick to hard drives.
And if anyone is really interested…
MagistraCarminum
We are very proud of you… and I won’t even make any Mac jabs…
Randy Greenwald
A Mac jab would be appropriate. I’ve not had good success with the durability of the Mac hardware. This, however, is a Western Digital hard drive, and I’ve had them go bad in PCs as well.
Gus/Adri
I think you missed your calling. You should have been a brain surgeon!GE
TulipGirl
Awww. . . you know the way to a wife’s heart is through fixing her laptop. (Hubby has demonstrated that tender knowledge of a woman’s sensitive needs, as well. . .)
Gus/Adri
My suggestion is that you watch the baby delivery video just in case – you might get to grandbaby’s birth in time to help! You could hum “Georgia on My Mind” while you watch. –ae
Rebekah
Dude, shoulda bought a Dell.Just… kidding… that is a wonderful achievement!
Randy Greenwald
But I’m ‘too cool’ to buy a Dell… 😉
Gus/Adri
Your ingenuity reminded me of my neighbors. Fabio’s wife had a Volkswagen in need of a new headlight but he thought the dealer’s price for replacing it was too high. He found the VW repair manual on the ‘net and fixed it himself saving himself a wad of money.GE