NEW SOLID STATE DRIVE FOR IMAC INSTALL
NEW SOLID STATE DRIVE FOR IMAC FULL

Next, insert the pins into their respective ports on the iMac and then drop the rest of the SSD in. Start by connecting the SATA data and power cables to the SSD.

NEW SOLID STATE DRIVE FOR IMAC INSTALL

You’re now ready to install the SSD into your iMac. You’ll also need to remove the temperature sensor and the two pins on the other side of the original hard drive and move them to the SSD adapter as well. The adapter is there is so that the 2.5″ SSD can properly fit into the 3.5″ hard drive bay in the iMac. Once the hard drive is completely removed, you’ll now need to transfer the locking tab portion over to the new SSD and attach it to the SSD adapter. Simply pull them out or use your spudger to carefully pry them off if you’re having difficulty. Once the hard drive is out of its compartment, you’ll need to unplug the SATA data and power cables from the drive. You’ll need to push down and in on the clip to unseat it, then pull up and towards you to remove the hard drive. The hard drive is held in place with a strong clip, and it takes a pretty good amount of force to remove it.

NEW SOLID STATE DRIVE FOR IMAC FULL

You could unplug the temperature sensor from its connector, but there’s too great of a chance that you’ll reverse the connection or not plug it back in all the way, which will result in your iMac’s cooling fans running full blast all the time until you re-seat the connection. To begin removing the hard drive, you’ll first need to remove the temperature sensor that’s connected to the hard drive with adhesive, so remove the foam covering the sensor and then use your spudger to pry off the temperature sensor assembly from the hard drive’s surface. This will finally get you access to the internal hard drive. Simply unplug these.Īfter that, you can completely remove the display unit and set it off to the side. This is because the display is still connected to the iMac via four inverter cables. Either have a friend hold it up like that or use a stick or something to prop it up. Next, from the left side, left up on the display unit and open it like a book, leaving the right-side portion resting on the iMac. Do this very slowly and carefully, as there is a cable you’ll need to disconnect! This will loosen the bezel and you can begin to work your way down until the whole bezel lifts up. Place your thumb on the edge of the display and your fingers on the back side of the iMac. From there, push your thumb down as your pull up your fingers. The best way to do this is by starting in the upper corners. Be aware that the four screws along the bottom are longer than the rest, so make sure you put all of them back in the correct locations.Īfter you remove these screws, it’s time to remove the whole front bezel. Next, there are twelve T8 Torx screws around the edge of the display that need removed. If you’re worried about scratching it, place it on a soft surface away from the work area. The glass is simply held on by magnets, so all you have to do is lift straight up and the glass panel will come right off. Next, take your suction cups and place them in opposite corners of the screen. The screw won’t come all the way out, so just loosen it all the way and then pull the plate out. On the bottom edge of the iMac, take your Phillips screwdriver and remove the lone screw, which will allow the memory access plate to come off. Unplug everything from your iMac and lay the machine down on a flat surface with the screen pointing up. This page will help you find out what you need. For this how-to, I’m working on a 2008 iMac, and the specific tools listed above are the ones needed for this particular model, but it’s possible that yours might have different sizes of Torx screws. That way, you’ll have all the bits you need no matter what.

Tweezers (Useful for when you accidentally drop screws in tight areas)ĭepending on what year your iMac is from, you might need different sizes of Torx screwdrivers, which is why it’s probably a good idea just to get a small set of specialty precision bits.

A 3.5″ to 2.5″ hard drive adapter (there are ton to choose from, but here’s a cheap one that will work fine).

Suction cups ( iFixit sells a pair specifically for this kind of work).

Before you begin, you’ll need a few tools that you might not already have.

New solid state drive for imac