How do I replace the Hard drive in my iMac?

I have a GREEN iMac (333 Mhz, 128 MB RAM, and a tray loading CD-ROM in front) and the original OS is OS 9.1 and I upgraded to OS X 10.3.5. When I installed Panther, it took up just about all of my HDD. I have a Western Digital 10 GB HDD and I want to Install it and then re-install Panther but I can not figure out how to get to the HDD to remove it. I have see posts for the RED and GREY iMacs, but they did not look like mine so I am not sure they would be revelent, or are they? I am a NEWLY converted MAC person from IBM PC's. HELP!!
Worf
iMac G3 333 mhz (Green) Mac OS 9.1.x CD-ROM Tray Loader

The firmware upgrade can only be done while booted from a writeable drive (CD-ROM is not good enough) running Mac OS 9.1 to 9.2.2.
Once the firmware update is in, it should accept up to the two SO-DIMMs I described above.
Hard drives up to just under 128 GB (which sometimes reads like 137 GB because of binary-to-decimal conversion) should be supported. There are size limits, and an older drive may throw off too much heat to be reliable and long-lived in that enclosure.
This article indicates that tray-load iMacs are on the list of "OSX must be installed on a partition completely within the first 8 GB of the drive":
106235- Mac OS X: Disk Appears Dimmed (or "Grayed Out") in the Installer

Similar Messages

How can I remove the hard drive from an iMac g4 before recycling it?

How can I remove the hard drive from an iMac g4 before recycling it?

There are take-apart guides online. For example
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html
However, you can also consider securely erasing the hard drive instead. You can do this using a Mac OS X installation disc with a version that your iMac G4 can boot from the optical drive. If this is a viable option, please post back (include Mac OS X version on installation disc).

How do I replace the hard drive in my Macbook Pro

Okay...
I need more space on my computer, so I want to replace the hard drive. I have no OSX install disk, but my computer is running Lion from the app store download. Can I just back up my data onto my new hard drive, and literally just swap them out? Also, how should I back up my drive? should I use a hard drive enclosure with my future drive, and just use time machine or something? Would time machine back up everything? Would the drive become bootable? Please help!

The best way to do this is buy your new drive. Get the largest you can buy, and don't buy anything from Western Digital, just a recommendation. The Samsung 1TB is pretty sweet. Put that drive in a external encloser (they're inexpensive). Using CarbonCopyCloner, clone your internal drive to your external one. This is the cleanest way to do it.
Then, boot to the cloned drive, just to make sure it works. It's just a test. Shut down. Replace drive (you can find the instructions for your MacBook Pro, by searching the support section of this website, the manual is there).
Start up with new drive. Make sure everything is fine. Use old drive in external enclosure as either a data drive or scratch drive for Photoshop or whatever you do.
I would set up Time Machine going forward with your new drive. You need a drive at least as large, and probably 50% larger than your internal drive.

How do I replace the hard drive?

I got a message that my internal hard drive is failing, and I need to back up the data I can and replace it.
I'm running a 27' iMac and I can open any of the users except for the main one. The unit just freezes while booting, unless powered up in safe mode.
Is it possible to do this myself, or ... what options are open to me?
Thanks.

If you have never worked on a computer before and, especially, working inside Macs, in general, and iMacs, specifically, then this is NOT a DIY project for you to undertake.
The aluminum model iMacs are an excersize in patience and tedium to get at anything inside.
Take your Mac into either an Apple Store or Apple Authorized repair service center and pay to have them replace the hard drive.
Apple uses proprietary hard drives that have a special connection for temp sensors that control the iMac's internal fans.
Try and get a backup of your data before you bring this in for the hard drive replacement.
Good Luck!

How Do I Replace the Hard Drive in my 20" Intel iMac?

Pretty sure the hard drive in my iMac is dead. When I try to start it up it makes clicking noises then i get a grey screen with a flashing ? mark folder.
I was able to boot from the software disk so i could run disk utility but when i did i doesn't even reocgnize there's a hard drive installed to test/repair. Same thing happens when I try to reinstall the operating system.
Does this sound like a failed hard drive?
I want to get this thing running again, but I don't want to spend a lot of $.
Is it as simple as popping a new HD in and reinstalling the operating system?
If so, how do I figure out what types of drives are compatible?
Thanks!
Justin

Easy after you've done a few.
Not so easy if you have not, plus it's real easy to mess up and do more harm than good.
See > iMac Intel 20" EMC 2105 and 2118 Repair Manual - iFixit
Best bet is to first call your Local Apple Authourzed Service Providers and get some estimates.
See > Apple - Store Locator

How do I upgrade the hard drive on an iMac G5 (iSight) 2.1 GHz?

The instructions for Do it Yourself hard drive replacement from Apple don't seem to apply to this computer, but to the previous two models. I have read elsewhere that my iMac is not user parts-replacement friendly. I tried to remove the back side of the case per the instructions given by Apple for the previous two models, but no go. The entire unit separates from the front bezel. Way beyond my capabilities or courage. Do I need to have Apple replace the hard drive?

Hi Dani
Select the correct DYI for your model from iMac Repair iFixit.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Browse/iMac
Dennis

My hard drive crashed! How do I replace the hard drive?

My mid 2010 MacBook Pro 13" started making a horrible skipping/clicking noise when I insterted a disk. It wouldn't eject the disk so I powered it down to restart it, but when it came back on, all that appeared was a grey screen with a flashing file folder and a question mark in the folder. I read that this means my hard drive crashed (I tried holding C upon restart and the 2 or 3 other tips they gave me with no luck.) I having been looking through the forums to see what type of hard drive I need to replace it with, and found my answer...but, I am wondering if those hard drives come with the operating system? Do I need to purchase one and put it onto the new hard drive BEFORE installing it in the computer? Sorry if these are silly ?'s I am not technologically savvy at all!

It seems your had drive has passed away too.. It means you loose all your data you haven´t backed-up.
Chaging the hard drive is very simple, all you need is a new hard drive, internet connection for download the system again, and two types of screw drivers: A very small Philips and a very small Star screw.
The how to you find in page 37 of the manual:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1528/en_US/MacBook_Pro_13inch_Mid20 10.pdf
After you install the new SSD or Hard Drive you have to install the system. To do that push the power button and hold the "OPTION" key on until a small menu to connect wireless network is shown.
Log on your wi-fi and it will start download the installer of the system. All you need is install the system again, and re-download all your apps even ones you boght in APP Store.
Hope it helps.!

I want to replace the hard drive on my IMac but want to know how to transfer from the time machine external hard drive to the replacement drive?

I have reached capacity on my IMac hard drive. It is a 250 GB drive. I have an external drive backing up using the time machine utility. My question is once I replace the HD on the IMac, how do I load the new drive with the back up from the external drive?

So many possibilities.
I am not an expert, but I have learned this much is doable:
Buy an external enclosure to re-use you old drive.
Buy a new external drive at least as large as as your intended new internal drive. Make it self-powered.
Download CarbonCopyClone (free download, relatively small).
Make a CCC clone of the original disk on the new external disk
Install the original disk in the external enclosure.
Install the new disk in the main system.
Boot from that new external drive that has the carbon copy clone. CCC will be installed on it and it will be bootable.
Use CCC on the external to directly clone back to new drive you install in the main system (the "bootable" flag will copy).
NOTE THAT AT NO TIME IS YOUR ORIGINAL DISK BEING OVERWRITTEN IN THIS PROCESS. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND REINSTALL IT.
Step 1 makes your old disk resuable as a spare copy for "anything".
Step 2 gives you something to use as CCC for after the recovery process.
Step 3 gets the software needed for cloning
Step 4 makes a bootable saved copy of your current system
Step 5 shifts your old disk to a usable place
Step 6 positions your new disk
Step 7 boots your existing install of OSX (just from a different drive)
Step 8 puts your original install on your new disk.
Now you have a bootable larger hard drive, and a bootable copy on a drive large enough to save all you can store on your new internal drive. And you have your old disk to use for "anything".
Now you have TM backup in one place, and CCC backup in another.
Two backups is better than one, and one of your backups is bootable in case of system failure.

How do I format the hard drive on my Imac without losing the applications etc?

I am fairly new to mac computers. and was wondering if there is anyone out there who could help. I have an Imac running Snow Leopard which is becoming very slow in starting up. I want to format the hard drive but still want to retain the applications etc already on the Imac. Can I just time machine the computer then insert thte OS disk which will format the hard drive? Will this give me a better start up time?
Many thanks in advance.

If you format the hard drive, you'll lose all your data. You can make a Time Machine backup, format the disk and restore from the backup only what you need

How do I authorise my Imac for Itunes after replacing the hard drive?

Dear All,
Apologies, but I am new to forums and understand that the issue of "Authorisation" of Itunes purchases and rentals has been done to death! However, I have tried everything and have exhausted normal research on the Net, there doesnt seem to be standard sollution to my problem. I have replaced the Hard Drive in my Imac 2008 with an SSD which makes the Imac very fast and effcient and completely clean of the usual trash in an old computer. So before renting my first movie, I did the following:..................................
Formatted the hard drive and downloaded and upgraded to OSX to 10.5.8 (the latest I can go on this Imac (I think) Intel 3.06Ghz 2 core and 4GB SSDRAM)
Upgraded Itunes to the latest available
Upgraded Quicktime to the latest available.
I rented a film which will not play and initially I got the "not authorised on this computer" message which kept repeating despite saying it was "waiting"
So I did the usual apple support search and tried the following:..................................
I checked that my apple User ID and password where up to date and that I was purchasing on the right ID
Tried the standard.....Itunes/Store/Authorise this computer - tried unauthorising and then re-authorising No luck
I tried deleting the (/Users/Shared/SC info) file No luck
I tried the Terminal based solution "sumo chmod -R 777 /Shared/Users" fix It didnt work either
I don't get the authorisation warning any more but just get a black screen with a grey horizontal stripe across the middle
I would be very grateful if somene could give me another sollution to try............................
Thank you very much,
Sfithy

Double & triple check that you installed the hard drive correctly.

Time capsule will not back up my iMac since I replaced the hard drive

I replaced the hard drive in my iMac, now time machine won't back up to time capsule because there is not enough space. I believe time machine/time capsule thinks the new hard drive is a new computer and therefore must perform a new complete backup even though the data on the new hard drive came directly off the old hard drive (the was backed up on time capsule. Our time capsule is currently backing up two computers (both Macs). How do I get time capsule to start backing up the new hard drive?

You'll have to be more specific -- that's like emailing an auto mechanic saying only "My car won't start."
Has it ever worked?
Does your Mac recognize your Time Capsule?
Do backups start?
If so, do they hang, or fail? If they fail, with what message?
Start with Time Machine - Troubleshooting. It will show you how to locate the message(s) that describe the problem, then help you fix it. If that doesn't help, post back with details, including all the messages, your setup, what you've done, and the results.

I had to replace my hard drive in my iMac iSight and now I need to load an os all I have is my windows laptop any help?

I just had to replace the hard drive on my iMac iSight G5 and now I have no os and have no idea where my restore discs are i was wondering if I purchased an os from apple if there is a way I can load it onto dvd then load my iMac

You can contact Apple at 800-767-2775, give them your serial number (under the foot of your iMac) and they will, for a small fee, send you the install disc. Then buy a black retail OS from Apple or eBay.

My hard drive on my MacBook Pro stopped working and I had to replace the hard drive. I cannot get my playlists and photos to appear in my iTunes and iPhoto. Does anyone know how to resolve this?

My hard drive on my MacBook Pro stopped working and I had to replace the hard drive. I cannot get my playlists and photos to appear in my iTunes and iPhoto. Does anyone know how to resolve this?

Peace Lilly wrote:
... Will I loose everything if I connect the iphone to the itunes as a new device?
To avoid that...
See these 2 Links...
Syncing to a New Computer...
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991

My mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

MY mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

You can do it yourself. I did on my 2009 Mini
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini
Also, this place sells HSDs and has install videos.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/

My HP computer's hard drive crashed. I have replaced the hard drive and reinstalled all of the software. I have copied my I tunes library from my backup hard drive to the new one. How do I restore the permissions? This is the 3 rd time I have had to d

My HP computer's hard drive crashed. I have replaced the hard drive and reinstalled all of the software. I have copied my I tunes library from my backup hard drive to the new one. How do I restore the permissions? This is the 3 rd time I have had to do this. THe share screen says you are limited to 5 ??

No backup is not good.
You can transfer itunes purchases from an ipod. File>Transfer Purchases

How do I replace the Hard drive in my iMac?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for