Apple offering free hard drive replacements for certain MacBooks

Does a failed logic board qualify?

Thanks TUAW, I'm not sure how I would have known about this without you guys!!! I had a HD failure in October of 2009, I replaced it myself but had kept the old HD. I called Apple after having read this article, and like SampleRx stated above, because I did the replacement myself they couldn't refund my money but Apple did send me a new Harddrive (160GB to replace the 80GB that failed). I plan on turning it into an external harddrive.

I came here to whine about the fact that I had replaced mine myself, but after reading these comments, I am ecstatic, because the old one is sitting in a box in my room. Nice!

I bought a 13" Macbook in Sept 2007, had HD failure in Oct 2009. Called Apple at failure and today after reading this post.
Here's the scoop:
IF you replaced the HD yourself AND used a non-Apple approved HD, you're not eligible for reimbursement UNLESS you kept the old, failed HD. They'll replace the old, failed one with a new one (not terribly helpful, but somewhat compassionate).
IF you used an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, you're good. They'll have your serial number on file, and you can get your costs reimbursed.
Since I winged it myself, I'm outta luck. Service Manager that spoke to me said 3 of his 5 calls on this issue yesterday had kept their old drives, and Apple was going to send replacements to them.
Thanks, TUAW, for the handy post!

Oh thanks Apple....I am on my 3rd hard drive on my MacBook. The last one I just bought myself. I know there was something wrong with that batch of drives!! Too bad they can't replace all my lost data (Yes, I should have had a back up).

Wow. Mine failed just three weeks ago. I cleared out a pile of old receipts last night and threw away the receipt for the replacement drive I bought. Talk about bad timing …

The HD on mine died just before the warranty expired, about a couple of years ago. I called Apple, and shipped the MacBook to them. After a few weeks of not hearing anything, I called. They had a record of receiving the laptop, but could not locate it.

They told me to go to my local Apple store, where they kindly gave me a new MacBook. Of course the new one had a faster processor, more memory, a bigger hard drive, and newer version of OS X. Nice deal!

Wow! Just called and, sure enough, they're going to reimburse me for the cost of the replacement drive I bought at Frys.

For those who bought replacement drives but didn't save the receipt, you may still be able to get a replacement drive. They asked me specifically whether I wanted to get a replacement part or be reimbursed.

Go Apple!

This actually happen to me last year, when i was on a trip in europe and I went into a Aut. Apple Repair Shop and paid for a new Hard drive. When I was back in the states they told me it was 2 months out of the apple care and they could not do anything.

Now i just called Apple and wanted to ask if i qualify but it is such a complicated process this I guess i will not even bother. They told me this the store in Portugal has to prove it was broken and i have to deal with Apple Care over there even i just was visiting. Then I wanted to talk to a supervisor but they tried to connect me to Apple in Portugal without telling me and I just got a voice mail from Apple in portuguese this it is closed (off course it is nighttime over there).

I read always apple has the best customer support ... i don't see that ... at least the phone support sucks

If there's anything I've learned with my 2007 macbook it's that applecare + time machine is absolutely necessary (probably no different with any other laptop though). I had my macbook HD crash twice (one was the original HD that came with my macbook) and I've had my motherboard replaced twice, but it was all covered through applecare. Not sure exactly how much it would have been to replace the motherboard but the receipt that I got said $600 (which I didn't have to pay).