1 TB 7200 RPM 3.5" Hard Drive

Mon problème

Computer wouldn't boot even after trying multiple resets and safe boots. Attempted to erase hard drive but could not load OS. Decided to replace drive.

Ma solution

The video and step by step directions made replacing the drive a breeze. My 16 year old son (who has autism) and I followed the directions and fixed it. It was a great learning experience for us both and we felt so accomplished when we were able to get it working again!

Mon conseil

Don't be afraid to give this a try! I am convinced I saved hundreds of dollars and lots of time by fixing it ourselves. And now we have the confidence to try other repairs!

Mon problème

iMac internal hard drive failed and needed to replace to use computer.

Ma solution

Had my 9 year old son help read instructions while i was doing the work, as my hands were busy. I sprayed out the computer from dust accumulated over the last 8 years, which took me longer than the 1 hour it could have.

Mon conseil

When booting up, the hard drive wasn't recognized. I used the CD boot disk what was in the keyboard box. When I booted up, it didn't see the Seagate Hard Drive, so I used a USB flash drive. I installed the OS there and after a few updates and checking for the Seagate, it finally was visible to use. Then I used the CD again to put the OS on the newly installed internal Seagate Hard Drive!

We did have some complications with our Restore using Time-Machine. It had our user name /email, but the password was lost. Resetting the password worked and we got into the computer with our History still available for us to use.

Mon problème

Hard drive Failed

Ma solution

Perfect as instructed.

Mon conseil

You don’t need to buy any suction cups. Do you have packing tape? Lay it across the screen at the top through two loops of tape in the corners. Pull. The other tool recommended, the stick, I don’t know what it’s for, but I didn’t need it. Just torx drivers and teeezers and one very small jewelers screw driver for pushing the small connectors back in.

Mon problème

I had to replace a dead hard drive

Ma solution

It wasn't bad at all. The hard drive that was sent was not the same in the iMac. This means I could not use the thermal sensor. However, I found a website that allowed me to use it. Besides having big fingers, it wasn't that bad.

Mon conseil

Have another person helping you. When you have to lift the screen, you have to be careful not to tear cables, especially the vertical sync ribbon. Also make sure the hard drive is the exact model that was already in there or else the thermal sensor is going to be tricky. Use tweezers for small cables if you have fat fingers.

Mon problème

Hard Drive failed on computer. Since it was seven years old, bought new iMac and decided to repair this old.

Ma solution

The repair essentially went as advertised except for item listed below.

Mon conseil

Had to do in stages as instructions stated need same manufacturer for hard drive so that temperature monitor connection would be appropriate. Even after doing this still had issue. Connector from computer had tab on one side that defined orientation, but socket on new disk did not have slot for this tab. I cleaved the tab off with a razor blade so that connection could be made.

Mon problème

The original had become unusable. Too many sectors gone bad.

Ma solution

The iFixit PDF was almost dead on accurate.

Mon conseil

In my particular case, the thermal sensor cable warnings didn't apply. The connections were built as such that there is only one way to plug it in if it was to be plugged in at all. Now this might be because the drive I was pulling was not an Apple original. It was one that Apple had installed as a replacement for the original one that had come with it on a massive hard drive recall. The very original drive I am pretty sure was a Toshiba, the newer one that I had to replace was a Seagate. The one that I bought from iFixit was also a Seagate.