[Trygve]

I've got a dual USB white Ibook that was bought in Feb 2002. Recently the hard drive has begun to make a terrible clicking sound. It does this for 10-20 seconds and then the system locks up. I have done a clean install and reinitiallized the drive, but it continues.

It does this perhaps once a day, sometimes every few days. It is not under AppleCare. I am in New Zealand and will be on the road for a long time, but will be in the US in June for 20 days.

Is it best to call Apple's 800# when I get to the US, or take it to an Apple Store (I'll be in San Jose, CA)?

Will they charge me for the over-the-phone-eval, and will it apply towards any repair - I've never called on this computer.

It is a 20GB drive - any ide what Apple will charge to replace it?

I am really not sure if it is worth it or how long the drive may last. I had planned to replace to computer in a year, but can't be without it for months.

Thanks for any ideas?

[bighead]

Apple charges a good deal of money for repairing just a hard drive, but they gotta make money somehow, right? It's about $280 IIRC, for the repair (flat-rate in the US.) I would suggest finding a place who would sell you a larger hard drive and install it for less. At least in the US, you can get someone to install a 60 GB hard drive in an iBook for less than $200 with labor.

If you think you might go the non-Apple route, just make sure not to get a 5400 or 7200 RPM drive. They get warm, and those iBooks don't dissipate heat very well.

[whop]

where would one get a HD installed and purchased for $200?

my HD just died on my pb "15 and im trying to figure out if i should install it myself or pay a little extra and get someone to do it

[bighead]

Originally posted by whop:
where would one get a HD installed and purchased for $200?

my HD just died on my pb "15 and im trying to figure out if i should install it myself or pay a little extra and get someone to do it

If you have a TiBook, the hard drives are not a terrible situation. AlBooks are way different. For a TiBook, all you need is a small-medium philips screwdriver and a torx T-8 wrench. Just make sure to seat the bottom case back neat and clean.

I buy stuff from NewEgg, and they have a 60 GB Toshiba drive for under $130 here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...009&depa=1

Just search Apple's site for an authorized tech near you and call to see if they'll install.

[Detrius]

Originally posted by whop:
where would one get a HD installed and purchased for $200?

my HD just died on my pb "15 and im trying to figure out if i should install it myself or pay a little extra and get someone to do it

on the TiBook, all you need is a T8 to replace the hard drive. Take the bottom cover off and there it is. It can be a little odd to get it out, though (bending some plastic a little bit). If you can do a hard drive in a desktop, you can do a hard drive in a Ti Book.

[tooki]

Originally posted by bighead:
If you think you might go the non-Apple route, just make sure not to get a 5400 or 7200 RPM drive. They get warm, and those iBooks don't dissipate heat very well.

I can't say about the 7200RPM notebook drives, but the 5400RPM models do NOT get any hotter than the regular 4200RPM models. I actually doubt the 7200s are appreciably hotter, but I can't say for certain. NO notebook has particularly efficient cooling (compared to a desktop), so no notebook drive can get too hot.

I agree, though: going through Apple will be excessively expensive. Instead, look for a local Apple Authorized Service Provider (Apple has a locator here: http://wheretobuy.apple.com/locator/service.html )

tooki

P.S. The flat-rate for an iBook is $350. Not worth it, since the hard drive is not an Apple-specific part.

[engaged]

You could have a go yourself - it's not exactly rocket science or brain surgery. Just make sure you have the right tools to hand, a couple of hours to spare, and some clear tape to tape the screws to a clean sheet of paper and mark where they came from. I did it myself last year.