Problems replacing hard drive on Intel G5 flat-screen iMac

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Level 1

4 points

Problems replacing hard drive on Intel G5 flat-screen iMac

Good Day Everyone,

I’m having issues with the Apple instructions on hard drive replacement instructions not really matching the Intel iMac I have, so I need some help in trying to disassemble the machine. The iMac I have is the white 20-inch flat-panel (model A1174). My case does not come apart like the instructions describe the process. The instructions indicate three screws have to be removed and lifting up on the metal stand opens the back of the case, this is not the case with my G5. First I have four Torx #8 that have to be remove then I have remove the two Philips screws to remove the RAM memory door. When I lift on the metal stand the computer the whole back case separates from the front case, but that does not give me access to the hard drive.
Has anyone have a real recipe to take these white G5 Intel iMacs apart to get to the hard drive?

Thank you,

Martin

G5 Mac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 21, 2008 12:56 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 21, 2008 4:40 AM in response to MAVA

What is the "EMC" number on the bottom of the stand?

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Answer 2

MAVA Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 21, 2008 7:45 AM in response to NCPhotoguy

Thank you for replying,

The *EMC No.:2105*

The iMac is a 20"/2.0GHz/512MB(i've upgraded to 2GB of ram*)/250GB drive/8D/AP/BT*

on the outside of the cardboard box(when the mac was purchased) it says*:(1P) Part No. MA200LL/A*

Thank you,

Martin

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,674 points

Mar 21, 2008 7:53 AM in response to MAVA

BTW, just to avoid potential confusion in future posts, there is no "Intel G5". The "G5" designation applies only to the earlier, PowerPC-based Macs. Your Mac is based on Intel, so it should be referred to only with that designation or people will get confused as to what model of Mac you have.

Regards.

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Answer 4

Mar 21, 2008 9:07 AM in response to MAVA

You have not said WHY you want to replace the hard drive, so I'll just presume that you have had a drive failure.
Bear in mind that this is NOT a user replaceable part and will void any warranty that you have.
If you have Applecare, then you really should get in touch with Apple about repairing your iMac.

If you want to go further, just let me know.

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Answer 5

MAVA Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2008 12:52 PM in response to MAVA

Sorry for my confusion, I'm a hard-core PC user, but I love my iMac for what it can do with video and photo editing...

I've just run-out of hard drive space, and I know I can use an external drive-which I have... Now I need to design-write a piece of code to an iTouch, and the Apple SDK only works with Leopard only-I'm killing two birds with one stone, expanding my drive, and staring of fresh with Leopard.

My machine works fine, and it has about 40 or so gigs of space left in it.

Thanks,

Martin

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Answer 6

Mar 23, 2008 7:37 PM in response to MAVA

I found a video on you tube that does a pretty good job of stepping you through replacing the hard drive on an Intel iMac.
To tell you the truth, it really is not very difficult. It took me just over 30 minutes to do the job on my 17" white iMac.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzuBW3mu7LI

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Answer 7

Mar 23, 2008 7:38 PM in response to MAVA

Hope this helps.

Happy Easter

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Answer 8

MAVA Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 24, 2008 2:21 PM in response to NCPhotoguy

Mr. NCPhotoguy,

Hope you had a wonderful Easter, and I spent Easter with my family down in Los Angeles area.

Thank you for the YouTube link, yes the disassembly is exactly like the Mac I have.

Thank you for your research on this matter.

Now I ran into a little minor problem, exporting all the iTunes data-Music & Videos. I know I cannot just copy the files off the drive when I hook-up the original drive as an external drive, but I will post this on iTunes section of the support section.

Thank you for all your help. Have a great day.

Martin

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Answer 9

varjak paw

Level 10

182,674 points

Mar 25, 2008 7:35 AM in response to MAVA

If you are going to connect the old drive to the iMac as an external drive, just copy the entire iTunes folder from your user's Music folder to the same location on the new drive. Or for that matter, boot from the now-external drive and use a cloning utility like Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the entire volume from the old drive to the new one. You will then have the new drive set up exactly as the old one was.

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Answer 10

MAVA Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 25, 2008 10:49 AM in response to varjak paw

Dave,

Since the old hard drive will be on a USB (it will be in a USB enclosure to copy over files form other old programs) enclosure, I do not plan to permanently use the old iMac hard Drive.

Can I just copy back the entire iTunes Library as you say into the empty iTunes on the new hard drive? I’m not duplicating the old drive.

Thank you,

Martin

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Answer 11

varjak paw

Level 10

182,674 points

Mar 25, 2008 11:08 AM in response to MAVA

Can I just copy back the entire iTunes Library as you say into the empty iTunes on the new hard drive?

Yes. Just let it replace the empty iTunes folder (again, in your user's Music folder).

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