Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/12/23

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Subject: [Leica] Computer problems
From: gerry.walden at icloud.com (Gerry Walden)
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 06:28:25 +0000
References: <9C0C7329-83AD-4713-BF2E-95818731516B@icloud.com> <CAF8hL-EOiRaSS2mAdzhcgLxLZvMd-poPwDB4S8=E6tujbSps6g@mail.gmail.com> <BLU404-EAS2405113650788677A4D6CB8B8E60@phx.gbl>

Aram

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. The unit is only 15 months old, 
and the Apple store is only 3 miles away, so it is going back to them 
regardless of what is wrong.

Thanks again, and best wishes for the holiday season.

Gerry

> On 23 Dec 2015, at 22:23, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> If it is the hard drive, and you hear a clicking from the drive itself, 
> the most likely cause is the hard drive head is fused to a platter in the 
> drive.  There is something you can try.  You remove the drive, then open 
> it up is a dust free a place as you can find.  Yes, this definitely will 
> void the warranty.  Ha.  You will need a very small Torx driver.  I found 
> a nice set at Sears.  When you remove the cover you will see the platters 
> and the head mechanism.  If the head mechanism is NOT parked along one 
> side of the platter, most likely it is fused to the platter.  That 
> actually is good news at this point.  You will need to use a small hooked 
> device, like a very small crochet hook.  I made one out of a dissecting 
> needle I had since my wife I very possessive about her stuff.  Now 
> carefully try to move the head across the platter just a little bit.  If 
> it is fused, it will take a fair amount of force to break it free.  It if 
> moves very freely, then that is not good news since the problem now is 
> most likely electronic.  Let's assume it moves.  Carefully reassemble the 
> drive an hook it back up.  Be sure to have another drive, either external 
> or internal, so you can back up your data.  Turn the computer back on and 
> keep your fingers crossed as you press the "ON" button.  If all goes 
> according to plan, you will have a functioning drive again.  Hopefully 
> long enough to clone it or back up your data.  
> 
> I have done this three times for clicking hard drives.  Worked every time. 
>  Only lost one file on one of them.  One drive I am still using.  It is a 
> portable drive.  I don't use it for anything critical, just for 
> transferring stuff.  Drives are pretty well filtered so if you did not get 
> any gritty dust stuck under the head while it was open, the filter will 
> probably clean the air enough to have it work for as long as you might 
> need it.  
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Aram
> 
> Aram Langhans
> (Semi) Retired  Science Teacher
> & Unemployed photographer
> 
> ?The Human Genome Project has proved Darwin more right than Darwin himself 
> would ever have dared dream.?   James D. Watson
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Man [mailto:richard at richardmanphoto.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 2:49 AM
> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Computer problems
> 
> If coming from the hard drive, and most likely it is, a clicking sound 
> means the drive is dying and probably unsalvageable. Sorry to be the 
> bearer of bad news.
> 
> On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 12:56 AM, Gerry Walden <gerry.walden at icloud.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> My main computer appears not to like me any more. It is a Mac Mini and 
>> will not start. I just get a white(wish) screen full of coloured 
>> pixels and a clicking sound. I have to now use my ancient 2009 Macbook 
>> which is still going strong but is restricting my photographic output.
>> 
>> Gerry
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com> // 
> http://facebook.com/richardmanphoto
> // https://instagram.com/richardmanphoto
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information



In reply to: Message from gerry.walden at icloud.com (Gerry Walden) ([Leica] Computer problems)
Message from richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man) ([Leica] Computer problems)
Message from leica_r8 at hotmail.com (Aram Langhans) ([Leica] Computer problems)