Screwdriver for memory installation

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Level 1

7 points

Screwdriver for memory installation

I have a brand new iMac and bought 1G memory to install myself. It calls for a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the back slot, but any #2 screwdriver in my house will not work! In fact, the screw itself does not really look like a phillips --it appears to have 6 points. Can anyone tell me exactly what screwdriver they used to perform the installation?

PowerPC G3 Blue & White Mac OS X (10.1.x) iMac 17" Intel

PowerPC G3 Blue & White Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Mar 14, 2006 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

pbeaudet

Level 2

369 points

Mar 14, 2006 10:43 AM in response to jenny42653

Those are torx screws. If you haven't noticed already, the two phillips #2 screws are between the two torx screws. You do not want to unscrew the torx screws, they are not holding the memory cover in place.

I hope you don't mean that all four are torx.

T I P#2 memory P#2 I T

InteliMac 2.0GHz Mac OS X (10.4.5) 2048 MB DRAM/256MB VRAM/Airport Extreme/Satellite DW7000 Pro

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Answer 2

Mar 14, 2006 10:44 AM in response to jenny42653

I used a small philips to remove the panel covering the RAM slots. The panel is on the bottom of the iMac between the two speaker grills and it should be secured with two philips screws.

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Answer 3

jenny42653 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 14, 2006 10:51 AM in response to pbeaudet

All the screws ARE the same--they appear to be small TORX screws as you said--I did a little research at Wikipedia. I also read there that these screws were used on older Apple computers to discourage users from doing their own repairs! Wishing I had sprung for the $39 installation fee when I ordered the iMac . . .

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Answer 4

pbeaudet

Level 2

369 points

Mar 14, 2006 11:24 AM in response to jenny42653

On the bottom of mine, there are three metal grills. The one on the left and right are held on by 2 TORX screws each. The center piece is the memory card cover. It should be held on by two phillips.

We are talking about the bottom of a 17" InteliMac, aren't we? If those two are not phillips........? Anyone else?

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2006 11:42 AM in response to pbeaudet

hi,
confirm the central perforated metal grille is the one to unmount to access the memory card slots. it's held by two phillips screws which, additionally, remain attached to the metal grille so you wont lose them
rgds,
tomas

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Answer 6

Mar 14, 2006 12:02 PM in response to Tomas Insausti

Hi,
My brand new iMac is on it's way for service/being replaced due to several small things, and one of the odd things with it was the screws for the memory grille. One of the screws was the wrong size, it was too small for the hole so it kept goig round and round, but it was kept attached to the grille with a small brick on the inside. The other screw on the other hand was the right size, but didn't have this locking brick on the inside.
When you say "remain attached to the metal grille", do you mean the locking brick on the inside of the grille?

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Answer 7

jenny42653 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 14, 2006 2:12 PM in response to pbeaudet

My new iMac only has TORX screws on the back--apparently some fluke at the factory since no one else seems to have heard of this. My sales rep at the place I ordered from suggested I purchase a set of screwdrivers, which I did for $9.95 at my local hardware. The problem of removing the memory card panel is now solved, but guess what? The additional 1G memory I purchased is not the right kind . . . and upon looking it up again at the seller's website, I see that I have apparently been overcharged for this item by $26.00! Of course, now I have contacted them for the second time today. In case you're wondering, it's MacMall. We've had little problems with them in the past, so I'm not too surprised, just a little exasperated with the situation and wondering if ordering direct from Apple.com would have been smarter. Thanks for all the responses I got to this question.

PowerPC G3 Blue & White Mac OS X (10.1.x)

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Answer 8

Mar 15, 2006 7:07 AM in response to jenny42653

Do you have an Intel or PowerPC iMac? I believe you have to remove the back panel to upgrade a PowerPC. The Intel memory slots are in a different position, on the bottom.

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Answer 9

Mar 15, 2006 2:08 PM in response to Jeff Hoeft

The iSight G5 memory panel is located at the bottom just like the intel iMacs.

Glor

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