Redfaced Apple has had to launch a repair programme to fix dodgy hard drives on its expensive toys.

Apparently the hard drives on its 13-inch MacBook laptops have a nasty habit of failing completely leaving users with a flashing question mark on the screen. Obviously people buying the machines might see the question mark as a personal symbol as to why they paid so much for a gadget with a shonky hard-drive.

The program specifically address issues with Apple's 1.83 GHz, 2.0 GHz, and 2.16 GHz 13-inch MacBook laptops with factory installed hard drives of 60 GB, 80 GB, 100 GB, 120 GB, and 160 GB capacities.

Apple has told affected customers to set up an appointment at an Apple Authorized Service Provider or the severely over-rated “Genius bar”.  If the drive is buggered then Apple will replace it with a new unit.