Thanks for this video. I needed to remove my hard drive from my 2015 iMac in order to consign my old computer to Tech-Refuse Heaven. I had no idea how to do it. But your video saved the day. The iMac is now ruined by me taking it apart clumsily, but I got my hard drive out and now feel like I can safely dispose of the computer. A commenter asks why you remove the left speaker in the video. You have to remove that speaker in order to get at the two lefthand black screws of the hard drive container in order to open it to lift out the hard drive. It was all doable. But I'm glad I'm not trying to reassemble this computer!
I just completed this thanks to your instructions! Thank you so much dude. I'd say, the only part I felt iffy on was removing the speaker, as in mine, the power button cable was still slightly caught in it's tiny guide channel (located on the front facing bottom of the speaker) and I was worried that I strained it too much before noticing (when I was trying to remove the speaker) I found that the speaker came out much smoother when I pushed it inward (towards the back of the iMac casing) as I lifted it up. Oh! I also stacked as many books as I can between the top of the iMac aluminum base, and the bottom of the main screen housing, to keep it steady and facing upwards. Again, thank you for your clear instructions and great video quality!
Here’s a good question. RE: “Metallic Tool, and inward, I don’t have these tools. I DO have a blow dryer and I think I own tweezers. Where would you suggest buying the remaining tools AND is there some all-inclusive Tool KIT? I think I’ve got the Star screw driver. Thanks
Holy crap, that’s a lot of work just to change a hard drive. I love my iMac, but I will think twice before I ever buy another one, unless they make it easier to switch out components.
Couldn't agree more. Apple is well known for making it nearly impossible for DIY maintenance except by total nerds/geeks who are unafraid of voiding warranty or breaking something. :(
Just like taking apart a lot of laptops with have no separate compartments with the only real difference being you are taking the screen off rather than the base. I'm not sure if all imacs have been the same or the older generations had a removable back. Me personally have only ever had a G4 tower or the little crt Mac all in one(G3 or something?). The tower was easy to upgrade. The other one was too old to be any use anyways. I have recently ordered a 2014 imac which has a 500gb HDD. I've only purchased it for garageband, so should be enough, but I will upgrade to ssd if need be. I think the way apple make these devices is to make you spend even more money on a whole new device that will pretty much meet your needs rather than pay a lot less for upgrades.
One last note…sorry. My internal drive is a SSD; will install a new SSD. So, I just have to MATCH the body or Case dimensions of the old drive, right ? The holes placement should be standardized, I would guess..? And, did you say “M3” double -sided tape? Last question: as you reattach the screen, does it Sort Of SEAT into place? Like, I can’t screw that up? Thanks!!
It's insane, even replacing the hard drive on a MacBook Pro is relatively easy compared to this. Couldn't they have just put a hatch on the back you could open?!
Thanks for the video. Good information, well presented. Thumbs up. The tunes you have playing in the background made me want to grind my teeth though. They're not needed and a hope future videos don't include them.
I'm upgrading 27" late 2012 to ssd, currently attached using external usb to sata iii cable. When I open screen using $10 amazon tool + new tape kit can I avoid needing an expensive sata inline thermal sensor cable? Can I avoid a 3.5" to 2.5" adapter tray and instead just zip tie the new 2.5" ssd into place?
Great video! I was also wondering..I want to sell/give away my iMac. It won’t power on so I can’t factory reset and erase my files, can I achieve the same results if I just remove the internal hard drive?
Best security is to remove the hard drive. Even if you could delete the files, you'd have to "secure empty trash", which overwrites on deleted files so they can't be recovered with deleted file recovery software. Keep in mind that you'll want to remove permissions for Apple to find your computer from itunes, icloud and imessages or the next person to get your computer going is going to have access to your accounts.
It's scary how these things are built, I;m so scared of heating up a screen and pulling it off!!! then you stick it back on,,, the rest is normal to me!
Nice guide! But I gotta ask.. what's with the disco silk shirt, folded back cuffs, and gold bracelet/watch thing paired with this lounge music? Did you lose a bet, or are we watching some kind of ironic thing here?
How come you didn’t tape down the glass before you started? The way you did it, you could broke the glass. Rookie move sir! Show peeps the right way. Also, you should of shown people to remove all the adhesive correctly a little better too.
Thanks for this video. I needed to remove my hard drive from my 2015 iMac in order to consign my old computer to Tech-Refuse Heaven. I had no idea how to do it. But your video saved the day. The iMac is now ruined by me taking it apart clumsily, but I got my hard drive out and now feel like I can safely dispose of the computer.
A commenter asks why you remove the left speaker in the video. You have to remove that speaker in order to get at the two lefthand black screws of the hard drive container in order to open it to lift out the hard drive. It was all doable. But I'm glad I'm not trying to reassemble this computer!
Why did you remove speaker? I’ve watched other videos where the speaker is not removed during HDD upgrade to SSD. 🤷🏾
I just completed this thanks to your instructions! Thank you so much dude.
I'd say, the only part I felt iffy on was removing the speaker, as in mine, the power button cable was still slightly caught in it's tiny guide channel (located on the front facing bottom of the speaker) and I was worried that I strained it too much before noticing (when I was trying to remove the speaker)
I found that the speaker came out much smoother when I pushed it inward (towards the back of the iMac casing) as I lifted it up.
Oh! I also stacked as many books as I can between the top of the iMac aluminum base, and the bottom of the main screen housing, to keep it steady and facing upwards.
Again, thank you for your clear instructions and great video quality!
What type of tape do you need? Is it anywhere I can purchase it locally?
You in the UK, fancy helping me 😝
Awesome! Simple instructions even I can understand. Thank you!
Good video. Those screws are T6 on my late 2012 iMac. Just saying so people might need to get the right tool for the job.
I’m faced with this project. Very scary.
Great video!
Did you get sorted?
Here’s a good question.
RE: “Metallic Tool, and inward, I don’t have these tools.
I DO have a blow dryer and I think I own tweezers. Where would you suggest buying the remaining tools AND is there some all-inclusive Tool KIT?
I think I’ve got the Star screw driver.
Thanks
That shirt should get its own video.
Holy crap, that’s a lot of work just to change a hard drive. I love my iMac, but I will think twice before I ever buy another one, unless they make it easier to switch out components.
You haven't seen the M1 iMacs. Even worse.
There are no replaceable components.
@@cgi2173 yeah the M1 really is a throw away device, almost impossible to repair for most people
@@Simon-pl2zi really not acceptable given the environmental aspect of disposal!
Couldn't agree more. Apple is well known for making it nearly impossible for DIY maintenance except by total nerds/geeks who are unafraid of voiding warranty or breaking something. :(
Just like taking apart a lot of laptops with have no separate compartments with the only real difference being you are taking the screen off rather than the base. I'm not sure if all imacs have been the same or the older generations had a removable back. Me personally have only ever had a G4 tower or the little crt Mac all in one(G3 or something?). The tower was easy to upgrade. The other one was too old to be any use anyways. I have recently ordered a 2014 imac which has a 500gb HDD. I've only purchased it for garageband, so should be enough, but I will upgrade to ssd if need be. I think the way apple make these devices is to make you spend even more money on a whole new device that will pretty much meet your needs rather than pay a lot less for upgrades.
WHY no instruction on how to get the operating system onto the new drive?
One last note…sorry.
My internal drive is a SSD; will install a new SSD. So, I just have to MATCH the body or Case dimensions of the old drive, right ?
The holes placement should be standardized, I would guess..?
And, did you say “M3” double -sided tape?
Last question: as you reattach the screen, does it Sort Of SEAT into place? Like, I can’t screw that up?
Thanks!!
Thank you, very well explained.
No one shows what to do on boot? Do you need to install bootable media or what?
I hate Apple. The hard drive on my HP laptops can be swapped in about 20 seconds with no tools.
Hear! Hear!
It's insane, even replacing the hard drive on a MacBook Pro is relatively easy compared to this. Couldn't they have just put a hatch on the back you could open?!
Well done!
Video worked perfectly!!
Wow, could they make it any easier?
Nice watch!
Can you use an Apple Bluetooth wireless keyboard to boot up the new HD in Recovery mode?
Thanks for the video. Good information, well presented. Thumbs up.
The tunes you have playing in the background made me want to grind my teeth though. They're not needed and a hope future videos don't include them.
Only one problem with mine is … after I opened it, there was no physical hard drive. Now what *smh*
Then yours has already been converted to an SSD. Or it is a later model than a 2012-15 iMac.
I'm upgrading 27" late 2012 to ssd, currently attached using external usb to sata iii cable. When I open screen using $10 amazon tool + new tape kit can I avoid needing an expensive sata inline thermal sensor cable? Can I avoid a 3.5" to 2.5" adapter tray and instead just zip tie the new 2.5" ssd into place?
yes, you can, i used double sided tape for SSD to stay in place, no rattling if good tape
Easy to replace disk, or add some ram, thank you apple!
RAM is accessed through the rear cover that simply pops off. You need a thin tool like a spludger or a sharp craft knife.
can you use any SSD drive or does it need to be a special one?
Bro there are little cables attached to the power button…
Hi there !? what kind zthe tape can I use to put the screen back? let me know ...Thanks
hi after readd the display i have got blue red lines across the display.
what can i do?
Visit an apple store and get your wallet out...
You need to remove and reseat the video cable. Hopefully you didn't pull on it or damage it in any way.
Thanks! anyone else having issues with the t10, mine took a t7
Yeah. I had to look real hard to find one. Mine is a 2012.
Will it work on a 2017 iMac
Of course not. You need to search for 2017 iMac.
When changing the ram do you need to backup iMac?
You do not. I've upgraded before, everything is still in the system.
there is no point to take speakers out, you can still take out HDD easily
Great video! I was also wondering..I want to sell/give away my iMac. It won’t power on so I can’t factory reset and erase my files, can I achieve the same results if I just remove the internal hard drive?
Best security is to remove the hard drive. Even if you could delete the files, you'd have to "secure empty trash", which overwrites on deleted files so they can't be recovered with deleted file recovery software.
Keep in mind that you'll want to remove permissions for Apple to find your computer from itunes, icloud and imessages or the next person to get your computer going is going to have access to your accounts.
Dude, the content of your video is great but maybe you need a new mic
It's scary how these things are built, I;m so scared of heating up a screen and pulling it off!!! then you stick it back on,,, the rest is normal to me!
Crazy
Already looks too complicated for me but sure like that Hermes belt buckle you have...
Nice guide! But I gotta ask.. what's with the disco silk shirt, folded back cuffs, and gold bracelet/watch thing paired with this lounge music? Did you lose a bet, or are we watching some kind of ironic thing here?
Crack baby!
Player hating on this MacDaddy ain’t on and popping.
How come you didn’t tape down the glass before you started? The way you did it, you could broke the glass. Rookie move sir! Show peeps the right way. Also, you should of shown people to remove all the adhesive correctly a little better too.
Anti consumer glued down apple rubbish
Good video, horrible music!
I hate crapple macintrash. Break so easy and pain in the ass to fix smh fml