Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
So I hooked my 2011 Quad Core i7 iMac up again last weekend and discovered that the hard drive is toast and beyond repair.
Took two days to even figure out what the problem was after I was able to get into Recovery HD mode, erase the hard drive, download Mac OS Lion through a 15-year old link Apple embedded in a hidden partition on the system to access their servers and fetch a copy of the original operating system installer as a contingency in the event where a "worst-case-scenario" should arise (which, to their credit, still exists and functions), wait over 6 hours for the download, re-install, set up the system "for the first time" all over again, re-install my EyeTV 3.0 software, track down the serial number, hook up my external hard drive, copy over 100GB worth of content, go through each file and begin editing and exporting them... only for the system to crash 97% into the first file.
I received a prompt that the hard drive was improperly ejected. Only, it wasn't the external drive -- it was the internal drive. That was when I realized my computer wasn't recognizing ANY drive for files OR to run the operating system.
Needless to say, my computer is now running entirely off a 32gb external USB thumb stick from the late 2000s. I'd like to assume it is USB 2.0, but it may be USB 1.0 for all I know. And I'm trying to export and convert old files off my external hard drive on to a 128GB 3.X USB thumb drive which, quite frankly, is more powerful than the computer needs as it can only export at USB 2 speeds.
So now the waiting game begins to see how much I can convert before the next crash...
So I hooked my 2011 Quad Core i7 iMac up again last weekend and discovered that the hard drive is toast and beyond repair.
Took two days to even figure out what the problem was after I was able to get into Recovery HD mode, erase the hard drive, download Mac OS Lion through a 15-year old link Apple embedded in a hidden partition on the system to access their servers and fetch a copy of the original operating system installer as a contingency in the event where a "worst-case-scenario" should arise (which, to their credit, still exists and functions), wait over 6 hours for the download, re-install, set up the system "for the first time" all over again, re-install my EyeTV 3.0 software, track down the serial number, hook up my external hard drive, copy over 100GB worth of content, go through each file and begin editing and exporting them... only for the system to crash 97% into the first file.
I received a prompt that the hard drive was improperly ejected. Only, it wasn't the external drive -- it was the internal drive. That was when I realized my computer wasn't recognizing ANY drive for files OR to run the operating system.
Needless to say, my computer is now running entirely off a 32gb external USB thumb stick from the late 2000s. I'd like to assume it is USB 2.0, but it may be USB 1.0 for all I know. And I'm trying to export and convert old files off my external hard drive on to a 128GB 3.X USB thumb drive which, quite frankly, is more powerful than the computer needs as it can only export at USB 2 speeds.
So now the waiting game begins to see how much I can convert before the next crash...
![X-Play Episode 721 [Grand Theft Auto 4 Cheat! Special]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/azcLHsj575o/mqdefault.jpg "X-Play Episode 721 [Grand Theft Auto 4 Cheat! Special]
GTA IV Cheat Special
Original Air Date: 6.11.08
On tonights episode of... uh... um... hmm... is this an X-Play episode or an episode of Cheat!...?!?!?
Either way, Adam, Morgan, Kristin AND Mr. Sark show up for a special episode dedicated entirely to Grant Theft Auto IV cheats!
NOTE: This episode was filmed after CHEAT! was seemingly cancelled at the end of 2007 and new segments became integrated into X-Play when the All-New era launched in 2008. Little did we know that CHEAT! with Kristin Adams would return for 10 additional episodes later that December, to be aired seemingly only once a piece in the early mornings and fade into oblivion. This is the episode that bridged that gap.
Copyright G4 Media")
