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MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

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Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#91

Post by umsm »

azov wrote: post #88

I have one of those 128G MacBook Airs, and the SSD failed on me literally a few days after the warranty expired. I took it to the Apple store to see if they would repair it under warranty (Apple used to be lax about warranty dates), but they told me no. I ended up ordering 256G SSD from OWC and repairing it myself (which was cheaper and faster then what Apple store clerk quoted me for a new 128G SSD). Called them tod…

I noticed that recently Apple stores are managed independently.

Many actions / decisions being made really depend on the store. Personally, I needed an iphone replaced and one local apple store decided NOT to even look at the iphone. Another apple store was very upfront: they looked at the damaged iphone, and offered an exchange for $200.

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#92

Post by r00fus »

wonginator1221 wrote: post #48

I personally had my Macbook Air that I bought in August 2012 have its 128GB SSD fail on me this past August. The data was not recoverable and I had to get the SSD replaced by an Apple technician for free as my Air was still under warranty. Fortunately, I was mostly backed up, but it is definitely aggravating to see a < 12 month old SSD fail.

Sorry, but SSDs have never had a good history of being reliable. I've been lucky, but I hear too many horror stories. Backup is essential.

No medium is reliable, and it's good you were backed up recently.

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#93

Post by alecdbrooks »

rsync wrote: post #76
ValentineC wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate on why Time Machine isn't reliable for network backups? That's my setup at the moment. (My 2012 MBA's SSD failed, but thankfully much of my data was automatically backed up to my NAS the previous night. The backup restored fine, too.)

All you need to do is run a "dumb"[1] rsync to a backup provider running on ZFS, and the remote will have its own set of day/week/month snapshots - exactly like time machine[2]. Now if only there were such a provider ... standards based rsync over ssh ? Remote ZFS filesystem ? 12+ years of history providing that service ? Progressive stance on govt. monitoring ?[3] No, it would be too good to be true. [1] Dumb, as in…

One important difference between Time Machine and using rsync.net in the way you describe is that Time Machine doesn't require trusting anyone with your data[0].

Of course, it's possible to have encrypted snapshots on rsync.net with duplicity[1], the method I use. That being said, I have no particular reason to distrust rsync.net, and I have liked the service they have provided. If anything, I trust rsync.net more than other backup providers and certainly more than Apple.

[0]: Assuming Apple hasn't set up Time Machine to secretly send files back to Apple. But if you run Mac OS X, you're already trusting them not to do something like that.

[1]: http://www.rsync.net/resources/howto/duplicity.html

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#94

Post by nandhp »

whalesalad wrote: post #63
ValentineC wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The drives that have been failing are the 64GB and 128GB Toshiba SSDs (TS064E and TS128E).

I've never been happy with a Toshiba product in my entire life. Seems like everything they make is garbage.

Have you tried Toshiba hard disks? I replaced my laptop hard disk several years ago with a Toshiba that was fast, quiet, inexpensive, and reliable.

More recently, after my network-storage USB Western Digital issued an error once or twice, I replaced it with a USB 3.0 Toshiba Canvio. It's also fast, quiet, and inexpensive -- plus it has 3x the warranty; WD only gives 1 year.

When I got my MacBook Air this Spring, I picked up a second one for some extra space. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to setting it up for backups before my SSD failed; but I've learned my lesson, my backups are now entirely automated.

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#95

Post by nandhp »

misframer wrote: post #77

How long would it take to replace if you take it to a local Apple store?

I had an SSD replacement in July. Once they got the part in stock, it took about 20 minutes+reimaging time (Saturday at noon). Ordering the part took about two days (it actually arrived the next day, but only 10 minutes before closing).

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#96

Post by jedberg »

r00fus wrote: post #89
jedberg wrote: post #80

The fact that they are not helping people move their data is very un-apple of them. Apple used to be a customer focused company but they seem to have lost that in the last few years. Telling my mother in law to "back up her computer" and then giving her a new, blank drive that she has to install her own OS on and then restore from backup is completely useless -- she'd have no clue where to even begin. So now Apple ha…

Not sure where you're getting that from the Apple page. They say that a backup should be done before migration, but nowhere does it say that Apple won't assist those who have no clue of what a backup is.

"You will be able to reinstall the operating system version that shipped with your product by going to the Mac App Store. Any other applications or other data should be restored from the back up that you made before the replacement."

Maybe they worded it poorly, but that to me sounds like you're on your own.

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#97

Post by rsync »

alecdbrooks wrote: post #93
rsync wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All you need to do is run a "dumb"[1] rsync to a backup provider running on ZFS, and the remote will have its own set of day/week/month snapshots - exactly like time machine[2]. Now if only there were such a provider ... standards based rsync over ssh ? Remote ZFS filesystem ? 12+ years of history providing that service ? Progressive stance on govt. monitoring ?[3] No, it would be too good to be true. [1] Dumb, as in…

One important difference between Time Machine and using rsync.net in the way you describe is that Time Machine doesn't require trusting anyone with your data[0]. Of course, it's possible to have encrypted snapshots on rsync.net with duplicity[1], the method I use. That being said, I have no particular reason to distrust rsync.net, and I have liked the service they have provided. If anything, I trust rsync.net more th…

Have you seen this:

https://raymii.org/s/articles/Set_up_your_own_truly_secure_e...

Encrypted dropbox replacement ... and he even wrote rsync.net specific instructions :)

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#98

Post by r00fus »

jedberg wrote: post #96
r00fus wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure where you're getting that from the Apple page. They say that a backup should be done before migration, but nowhere does it say that Apple won't assist those who have no clue of what a backup is.

"You will be able to reinstall the operating system version that shipped with your product by going to the Mac App Store. Any other applications or other data should be restored from the back up that you made before the replacement." Maybe they worded it poorly, but that to me sounds like you're on your own.

How you got from that statement to:

>> So now Apple has told her "you're going to lose all your data and we can't help you". Not cool.

boggles my mind. Perhaps skip the extra serving of hyperbole?

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#99

Post by mfincham »

shocks wrote: post #50
mfincham wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, so I've got a "TS064C". Now where do I find a useful list of which models are actually broken?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6571215 Looks like you're find. :)

Thanks! I'll have to take the original poster's word for it I guess :)

Re: MacBook Air Flash Storage Drive Replacement Program

#100

Post by mfincham »

ValentineC wrote: post #78
mfincham wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, so I've got a "TS064C". Now where do I find a useful list of which models are actually broken?

I was curious as to the model number. Is yours a 2010/2011 MacBook Air? This is only for the SSDs in the 2012 MacBook Air: > Apple has determined that certain 64GB and 128GB flash storage drives used in the previous generation of MacBook Air systems may fail. These systems were sold between June 2012 through June 2013.

It looks like I just squeezed in - I bought this machine in July 2012, but it's the older model without USB 3.
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