Hard drive replacement in a 24" iMac

[OVERKILL]

Had to do one of these today and figured I'd share the process for those not familiar.

1. Lay iMac on its back on a table.
2. Remove RAM door cover on the bottom with a philips screwdriver
3. Take a toilet plunger and press it onto the screen near the top. Pull up. The screen will lift off allowing you to grab it with your hands and carefully set it aside.
4. Remove the multitude of Torx screws holding the frame on.
5. Lift off frame, being extremely careful of the camera connection at the top. If you break this, you've just created a lot more work for yourself.
6. Remove the 8x Torx screws holding the LCD on.
7. Remove the small connector from the PCB at the bottom of the chassis, this will allow you to lift/pivot the LCD enough to get the hard drive out. Otherwise you need to remove this, plus two more (smaller) torx screws that hold the LCD connector to the motherboard.
8. Reach underneath and squeeze the retaining clip for the hard drive, lifting it out of the back frame.
9. Disconnect the drive temperature sensor and SATA/power connectors from the drive to free it from the chassis.
10. Transfer retaining mechanism and anchoring pins from old drive to the new drive. Re-install.
11. Reverse for assembly.

A bit more involved than your typical desktop or laptop

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

A bit more involved


Being an M5 guy, I bet you secretly liked it being a bit more involved!!!

lol

 

[simple_gifts]

I'm surprised a toilet plunger can be used on a Mac repair; I figured that would only be used for Window registry issues.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: rg200amp
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

A bit more involved


Being an M5 guy, I bet you secretly liked it being a bit more involved!!!

lol

Har har har, at least it was layered

LMAO!

 

[bubbajoe_2112]

FYI, some guys use window glass suction cup doohickies to remove the screen. Toilet plunger is probably cheaper...

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
FYI, some guys use window glass suction cup doohickies to remove the screen. Toilet plunger is probably cheaper...


Yes, I wasn't going to buy window glass suction cups for this one job when I already had a plunger on hand, LOL

 

[sleddriver]

I see they've redesigned things since my old 17" imac G5. It goes face down on a towel, loosen two captured screws, pull off back, everythings there. No need to remove screen.

I resurrected this one from electrolytic capacitor death. Found 3 bulged one's on the MB, but replaced all 18 or so since I had to remove the MB anyway. Great machine.