iMac Intel 20" EMC 2105/2118 HDD upgrade now won't switch on??

Question

iMac Intel 20" EMC 2105/2118 HDD upgrade now won't switch on??

Hi guys,

So I have just upgraded a HDD in a late 2006 Intel based G5 iMac (the last model with the plastic bezel). Stright forward, apart from getting the **** front bezel loose!

Having checked all cables (apart from the HDD heat sensor, which came apart - but reports say this isn't essential), and re-assembled, I now get NO signs of life. I have tried new RAM, and re-checked over and over again, diassembling, chekcing cables etc, but each time results in the same - press the power button - nadda.

So, I put the old HDD back in (which is fine) - nadda. I am assuming that, even though I poroperly gronded myself etc, something else may have shorted? Is there some secret 'reset' button that needs to be pressed?!

Any help/advice greatrly appreciated. Looking around online there are other with this predicament, but no solution forthcoming...

Posted on Dec 20, 2013 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Dec 20, 2013 11:40 AM in response to BrettJamesLive

Did you check to find out if the SSD will even work in a PPC model? Or that it may require a later version of OS X than Leopard?

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Answer 2

Dec 20, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Kappy

Its a 250GB SATA drive in the first Intel range of Intel CPU's as specified here: http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_20%22_EMC_2105_and_2118

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Answer 3

Dec 20, 2013 11:43 AM in response to Kappy

Although I did think that the 1TB SATA III 6GB/s drive may be too much to handle (suggested elsewhere) but installing the original drive once again yeilds nothing....

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Dec 20, 2013 11:47 AM in response to BrettJamesLive

But you don't have an Intel CPU in a G5 iMac. There were Intel iMacs in 2006 that were released in January, but Apple did not stop production of G5 models until March of 2006. I suggest you double-check what you have.

Open System Profile in the Utilities folder and see what it shows in the opening display or see what it says in the About This Mac dialog.

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Answer 5

Dec 20, 2013 11:54 AM in response to Kappy

Well that would be a great luxury if I could switch it on, but as I say, I can't! 😕

However, maybe my terminoligy is incorrect. Maybe it's not a G5, it IS, however, the same model that is on the iFixit page I linked to, and the specs i took from it (before disassembly) are:

iMac (late 2006) (MA589LL) 20" 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB RAM.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Dec 20, 2013 11:58 AM in response to BrettJamesLive

OK. What version of OS X are you running on it? If it is Leopard or earlier, then I would upgrade it at least to Snow Leopard.

Contact iFixit and see if they can help given they have tested the drive bought in your model. They may have some helpful solutions.

I suppose I should ask if you partitioned and formatted the drive after booting from your installer DVD, then installed OS X on it?

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Answer 7

Dec 20, 2013 12:24 PM in response to Kappy

Just to reitterate, I installed a new HDD, phyiscally, and the iMac won't power on at all. NO fans, no signs of life at all.

I physically reinstalled the old HDD, and the same happens, no fans, no signs of life at all, so I'm not even getting to be able to see ANYTHING on the screen etc.

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Answer 8

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Dec 20, 2013 12:33 PM in response to BrettJamesLive

That almost sounds like something isn't connected properly.

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Answer 9

Dec 21, 2013 8:26 AM in response to Kappy

Okay, so I have a work around, but not a solution.

I have the front bezel off at the moment, with access through the front to the logic board. If I unplug the iMac, then remove the 'watch' type 2302 battery that I believe resets the PRAM, leave 15 seconds, replace the battery and plug back in, it boots fine.

I then shut the iMac down (via OSX) and press the power button to restart - nadda. Only way I can get it to boot is to repeat.

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Answer 10

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Dec 21, 2013 10:19 AM in response to BrettJamesLive

Have you ever replaced the PRAM battery? If not give that a try. After you boot up open Startup Disk preferences and set the startup drive.

Try Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM and Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC).

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