User Guidance to replace hard drive on a 2009 iMac?

I just purchased 8G of SDRAM and a newer hard drive for my iMac. Since it's five years old, it's out of warranty. I downloaded the guidance on replacing the RAM, but cannot find similar guidance for hard disk replacement. When I called my local Apple store, the person I talked to said there was guidance I could refer to, somewhere. The user guide that originally came with the computer does not mention hard drive replacement.

One of these teardown guides should do the trick: Guides to opening up iMacs.
27" i7 iMac (Mid 2011) refurb, OS X Yo (10.10.1), Mavs, ML & SL, G4 450 MP w/10.5 & 9.2.2

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HT1752 I need a replacement hard drive for model a1311 iMac

I removed my old hard drive, which is an original WD 500GB from my mid 2010 iMac, to try to replace with a seagate 1T but I found out that the original hard drive (thermal sensor) has 8 pins and my new one has only 4 pins. What should I do?

Hi, only Apple has those special drives as far as I know, but there are workarounds...
Tukaine
Sep 23, 2012 10:59 PM
Since the late 2009 iMacs came out, replacing the hard drive has caused the internal Hard Drive Fan to start running at around 6000RPM.
This is due to Apple replacing the external Hard Drive temperature sensor with a proprietary firmware and using the drives internal sensor. Replacement drives do not contain the firmware to deliver temperature data on the temperature sensor cable. When the iMac does not receive a good signal from the hard drive it puts the fan at full speed to protect the drive.
If you replace your drive, your iMac will initially seem fine, but soon the fan will begin to speed up to full speed. Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) will have a temporary effect, but again the fan will speed up.
Fixes people have used in the past included:
• Using smcFanControl and the terminal to set a MAX speed for the fan and writing scripts to start this after every sleep/restart.
• Shorting the temperature sensor cable (Not a possibility on 2011 iMacs) this tricks the iMac into thinking the drives temperature is very low, hence slow fan speed.
Both these fixes are less then perfect and leave the drive in a dangerous situation with no protection from overheating.
Another option people try is other Fan Control software. These programs will not work for this particular issue as they often only control the base speed, and if they do control the fans actual speed they rely on the temperature reported by the sensor which is now incorrect.
HDD Fan Control
HDD Fan Control works to fix this issue by reading the drives internal temperature using the S.M.A.R.T protocol and set the fans actual speed to a value good to protect the drive.  It runs at startup and continually to always control the fan correctly, prevent the loud fan noise and protect the drive from overheating
Instead of HDDFan Control, get the free SSDFan Control
http://exirion.net/ssdfanctrl/

New User Account has No Hard Drive Space

I also have a different problem and started a thread here. It was that thread that lead me to start this new one.
One of the people helping me there suggested I make a new user account and see if that solved my problem. I made two new user accounts, one a 'standard' and the other an 'administrator.' In both cases the new user accounts have no hard drive space, and no download or document folder in the dock.
Logging out of either of those accounts and back as myself (administrator) I have 410 gb of free hard drive space.
Any thoughts on what could be happening or how to resolve? My hard drive recently disappeared so I took it in to a Mac Genius and under AppleCare the hard drive was replaced. I did a full restore from Time Machine and have repaired permissions countless times since then and also run DiskWarrior. Repair Permissions returns a message that Apple has posted can be ignored; no other issues. DiskWarrior found two errors related to directory structure and repaired/replaced them. Other than my original problem and this new one regarding the new user accounts having no hard drive space my system runs fine.
I am running Mac OS X 10.5.5.

Sorry I wasn't clear in the first post. On my way into work today I started thinking it may be time to start over as well. You mentioned archive and install - would a clean install be better (I know it will be longer)?
Also, just for clarification - when I did a Full Restore from Time Machine was that the same as say restoring from a program like SuperDuper (that clones the hard drive)?
My thinking on this is if I do clean install, I should not restore from Time Machine if the structure carries over. That could be what is causing these problems. Instead I should back up my iPhoto and iTunes libraries via the built in back-up (to an external hard drive or DVDs), back up any documents, etc. and then really start over. Do a clean install, then reload 3rd party software from the original disks and restore the iPhoto and iTunes libraries, etc.

Suggestions on replacement hard drive

I'm needing a replacement hard drive for a 733MHz 128MB 40G Quicksilver. Anyone with experience on certain brands?
Thanks,
Jason

Jason:
A 120GB (ATA-100 or ATA-133) drive is perhaps the optimum size... You've confirmed that Mac won't see more than the first 128GB of any drive connected to the native drive bus on the logic board. You may add a drive larger than 120GB to this bus (in case you find a larger drive for less money than a 120GB one), but only the first 128GB will be recognized after formatting. For larger drive internal use at full capacity, you'd need to add a PCI controller card to hook the drive to.
To physically install the drive, you need to correctly set the jumper pins on the drive and then connect it to the proper connector on the ribbon cable. (I assume that the current drive is working and you'll be duplicating the data on it to the new drive. If I'm wrong, please let me know.) One of the drives will be pinned as master (single master/single drive) and connected to the end of the ribbon cable; the other pinned as slave and connected to the inline connector. They get mounted one above the other in the drive stacking tray that's in the Mac. The new drive will come with the jumpers, mounting screws and a spare ribbon cable, so you'll have all that you need).
If you need help with this, let us know after you've purchased the drive (pin setting positions vary on different brands). Don't drive yourself crazy with the installation manual that comes with the drive, which is confusing and Windows-oriented. Also note that the accompanying software CD is useless for Macs. You'll instead simply use Disk Utility to initially format (initialize) the drive.
As for cloning, I think that the most user-friendly software is SuperDuper, which I'm pretty sure you'll find to be a snap to use. (I'm a long time fan of CarbonCopyCloner, but recently tried SuperDuper to familiarize myself with it and was very impressed by how friendly it is.) It walks you through the volume duplication process in a few easy steps.
Gary
1GH DP G4 Quicksilver 2002, 400MH B&W rev.2 G3, Mac SE30 Mac OS X (10.4.2) 5G iPod, Epson 2200 & R300 & LW Select 360 Printers, Epson 3200 Scanner

I work for a university and we have a legal apple vendor.Can we re-install macosx for a replacement hard drive for a old macbook?Just one example.

I work for a university and we have a legal apple vendor who we get to buy all our Apple products from.Can we (university) re-install macosx for a replacement hard drive once the hard drive gets replaced? How can we as the university IT department legally re-install macosx on a imac,macbook, macbookair etc. We would like to load customized macosx imaging software onto the mac machines(imac, macbook, etc ). The university has its own IT workshop and we would like our users to get their laptops back in the shortest turnaround time.

We're not "Apple Inc." here, just users like you.
So whatever we say is not an official statement, nor does it in any way, shape, or form represent the official or unofficial policies or opinions of Apple, Inc.
But I'll offer my quick opinion, having worked in information-systems and technology support in a wide variety of environments over many years.
Question #1. "NO!"
No tech support nor repair facility, even if "Apple-authorized", is automatically empowered to install or upgrade OS X on a replacement hard drive just because it is more convenient or time-efficient. When the repair is complete, the student should be expected to (re)install the operating system themself*!
Nurturing students (and occasionally dragging them, screaming and kicking!) as budding computer-, tablet-, smartphone-users to become digitally self-sufficient is a worthy goal that any institution of higher education must pursue.
Making students totally dependent upon "Mother Support" for every little thing about their personal digital devices is a grave disservice to both the students and the people who provide the support. Support-mothered students do become life-long digital dependents, instead of taking the required time to learn enough about the care and feeding of their digital "pets" to sustain them. Entreprenurial students may choose to become 'experts' and actually help each other with their devices, and even make money doing it. Some students may even be inspired/coerced to pursue a career in tech support!!!
*By all means, if the student requests additional help (re-installing the OS), then the University should charge the student a fair price for the service, provided that the user provides the OS on original or upgrade media, or in the case of the 'digital download' upgrades (for OS X 10.7 and 10.8) provides proof of purchase for the OS upgrade, or the original purchase receipt or other recognized documentation for the purchase of the computer showing the version of OS installed when purchased. Students need to learn about personal responsibility, economics ("What is MY time really worth"?), and proper record-keeping too!
Question #2. Regarding the customized imaging software, provide it on media or a link for students to download and install it. Make it their responsibility!
Message was edited by: kostby

C655: Physically replaced hard drive, NOW WHAT? Don't know the very next step.

Start of History: Received HDD failure message 2 weeks ago. Researched on here and discovered I would have to replace drive. Backed up computer with disks and it took 5 to get everything backed up and also made a "Repair disk Windows 7-64 bit". Purchased new drive and Upgraded memory (2ea X 4s=8) while I was in there. So, this morning I physically installed my new hard drive and memory. When I turned on the laptop, it asked for a boot disk. Couldn't remember if that was on the Repair disk, so I removed new hard drive, installed old drive and looked at Repair disk. It showed three boot "something" files. I reinstalled new drive and used the Repair disk to start computer. It did some "stuff" and then a pop up to choose "Toshiba Recovery Wizard" or "system recovery options". I have absolutely no clue which to use. Tried the SRO and it required me to select and search for "something" that lead me to believe it was just to repair the old drive. So, I cancelled and went back to the TRW. That lead to something asking me to install disks. The only disks I have are the back ups, so I tried them, but it read the 1st disk in about 3 seconds, then ejected it and asked me to "set the 1st disk". Don't even know what that means. "Set"? Whatever the case, I don't think I have the correct disks made from the old drive. End of History.
Currently have the old failing hard drive back in laptop till I get some answers. Hopefully before this thing dies for good. I purchased the laptop new and have the disks somewhere at home in Texas. I am on the air force base in Charleston and don't have immediate access to those disks and if I were home, it would take me a while to locate them. So let's assume they aren't availabe at this point. Here is what I need to know. Are there other disks that I need to create from my laptop? Which option should I be using TRWizard or SROptions? If TRWizard, what disks is it asking me to install? If someone is able and willing to educate me on each step regarding the software prior to removal of the hard drive and then the same baby steps at turning on the computer for the first time after physically installing new drive, that would be helpful. Constructive, "dumbed down", with crayola photos etc. I need step by step everything. Standing by and waiting for help...

Satellite C655-S5128 - More here.
See the section Creating recovery DVDs/media, which begins on p. 68, and the section Restoring from recovery DVDs/media, which begins on p. 71, of the User's Guide.
   Satellite C640/C650 Series User’s Guide
New hard drive is a Toshiba MK5059GSXP
That drive does use advanced-format technology.
   MKxx59GSXP Hard Disk Drive
We've had mixed results restoring to such drives. See my original post here.
Give it a try. At the first opportunity, install the new Intel storage driver. (I've read reports of its being installed from a thumb drive prior to completing the restore.)
   Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Best of luck!
-Jerry

Ibook not booting, replacing hard drive doesn't help

This one's got me stymied. It's my sister's computer (ibook g4 14" 933mhz 150gb hard drive, 640mb ram). Here are the symptoms:
1. Starts up past the apple gray screen to a blue screen.
2. Won't start up from CD either (except hardware test CD)
3. Started in verbose mode, it comes up with a couple of errors (one about applers232 something or other and the other about applepmuuser). If they would be helpful, I can reboot a couple of times to get them better (it boots past the verbose stuff to a bluescreen).
Fixes attempted:
1. Replaced hard drive (reinstalled os x 10.3 via target disk mode from another ibook g4)
2. Ran Hardware test, no problems detected
3. Booted into single user mode, fsck checks out fine (several times)
4. Ran disk utility (via target disk mode) and it comes up clean (not surprisingly)
5. Reset pram
6. Reset nvram

Are you able to boot the iBook with the other Mac utilizing TDM?
If you've not tried that, then that would be my next step. Set up the other Mac for TDM then plug it into the iBook, boot the iBook while holding the option key until you get to the startup mangaer, select the TDM Mac-drive and continue. This will help you determine if the logicboard is shot. If it runs ok with the other Mac in TDM then it most likely is not the logic board, unless its the IDE controller on the board.

IPod 4th Gen Click Wheel replaced hard drive; problems

Ok, So I replaced the 20gb hard drive with a new EXACT replacement hard drive, no other problems with iPod. But iTunes will not recognize it because the hard drive is not formatted. I tried formating it with Disk Utility but keep getting error messages. Im not sure what format to use. When the 4th gen came out Intel processors werent here so Im sure I need to simply format as Mac OS Extended. There is no HFS= format in Disk Utility. Im lost as to what to do. Please help??!

hmm - curiouser and curiouser
I've now managed to get it to manually update (after iTunes took 100% of system resources and I had to force quit it...) but that still doesn't really help me with the auto-sync feature which still won't work
aaaaaaggggggghhhhh

MacBook Pro does not boot past apple screen after replacing hard drive

After replacing hard drive on MacBook Pro 13 inch early 2011 model, the screen only boots to the apple logo. Do I need to re-install the OS?

The problem is that the OS is not in any where else of the MacBook Pro than in the HD / SSD. If you replace the Hard Drive, then you will need to Re-install OSX into that hard drive, it's pretty easy.
1) Power up your Macbook Pro, as fast as you can press and hold the Option key (ALT). You'll see that it opens the bootable-devices you have, you'll see a Recovery partition, click it.
(If the Hard Drive contains data do the following)
2) In the menu select Disk Utility.
3) In Disk Utility go ahead and select the Hard Drive that is inside the MBP.
4) Erase the content.
(If the Hard Drive contains no data continue with the following jumping the last 3 steps).
5) Select Re-install OSX.
6) Select the Hard Drive in which you want to install it.
Follow the steps of everything else (it should take approximately 1 hour to do the whole thing).
Hope this helps!
Later.

The hard drive on my 2009 midyear 13" MBP died. I found this on Amazon and want to know if it is a good replacement choice: Western Digital WD Scorpio Black 750 GB SATA 3 GB/s 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Internal Bulk/OEM 2.5-Inch Mobile Hard Drive

The hard drive on my 2009 midyear 13" MBP died. I found this on Amazon and want to know if it is a good replacement choice: Western Digital WD Scorpio Black 750 GB SATA 3 GB/s 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Internal Bulk/OEM 2.5-Inch Mobile Hard Drive

If you are going to upgrade your harddisk, why not upgrade to SSD harddisk. You macbook pro supports SATA II SSD drives acccording to these Specs. SATA III is backward compatible with SATA II, so you can buy SATA III drive if you can't find SATA II drives.
Upgrading to SATA II SSD drive you give you super fast performence.
These are a few Segate SSD drives from amazon, that are not that expensive, I guess.
As for Western Digital vs Segate comparison, I second clintonfrombirmingham's suggestion. Western Digital never works for me.
*** After the harddisk upgrade
Install latest OS if possible
Update your EFI firmware
and clean NVRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

I went to Mac Store and had replaced hard drive because I encountered 4HDD ERROR(hard drive failure). I had backed up my old hard drive by TIME MACHINE regularly. Now how can I restore everything I had?

I went to Mac Store and had replaced hard drive because I encountered 4HDD ERROR(hard drive failure). I had backed up my old hard drive by TIME MACHINE regularly. Now how can I restore everything I had?

Thanks for your response.
I had tried COMMAND+ALT+R which led me to directly to INTERNET RECOVERY via wifi. After 1 hour or so it dropped me at the same point.
I've tried MIGRANT ASSISTANCE as well, it kept on LOOKING FOR OTHER COMPUTERS even though I clicked on TIME MACHINE BACK UP USING EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
so what to do now?
P.S. Guys at MacStore were so careless to even listen to me when I asked them about retrieving back up :(
Please help

I have an iMac 21.5 inch purchased in 2011 with a failing 1TB Seagate hard drive. Can I get a replacement hard drive?

I have an iMac 21.5 inch purchased in 2011 with a failing 1TB Seagate hard drive. Can I get a replacement hard drive thru the Apple Replacement Program? I did purchase the Applecare Plan but it expired in Dec. 2013.

FWIW, if you purchased the iMac in 2011 and purchased Applecare, you are covered for a total of 3 years. You mentioned yours expired in December 2013 - that cannot be unless you bought yours in 2010. If you bought it in December 2011, you should still be covered until December 2014 - if so, contact Apple/make a Genius Bar appointment quickly so the replacement is covered by the warranty. The hard drive replacement program might have expired, but as long as you're covered by Applecare, a drive replacement is covered.

Can anyone help me with advice for a replacement hard drive

Hi there,
Can anyone help me with advice for a replacement hard drive and RAM upgrade for my Mac Book Pro 5,3
Its 3 years old & running Snow Leopard 10.6.8
I do a lot of audio & movie work so performance is important.
The logic board was replaced last summer & I was advised to replace the hard drive then...oops
Anyway it has limped on until now but is giving me cause for concern...
I have found a couple of possibilities below...so if anyone does have a moment to take a look & help me out I would be most grateful
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Scorpio-7200rpm-Internal/dp/B004I9J5OG/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356787585&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-Technology-Apple-8GB-Kit/dp/B001PS9UKW/ref=pd_s im_computers_5
Kind regards
Nick

Thanks guys that is so helpful :-)
I will follow your advice Ogelthorpe & see how I get on with the job!!! Virgin territory for me so I may well shout for help once my MBP is in bits!! Is there a guide for duffers for this job anywhere??
& yes in an ideal world I would be replacing my old MBP but I'm just not in a position to do that at the moment....let's hope things pick up in 2013
All the very best
Nick

My 2010 imac does not recognise my time machine since I had the Seagate replacement hard drive. Any thought from anyone? The External hard drive is a 1 TB seagate

My iMac (2010 intel model) does not recognise or communicate with my external seagate drive as a time machine for back ups since I had the 1TB Seagate replacement hard drive as part of the replacement prgram with OSX LION 10.5.8 installed.
Is this because I need to update the time machine drive itself?

This excellent Support article may help you solve that TM problem:
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Replacement hard drive not shown in Disk Utility

So I just finished installing a replacement hard drive for my PB 12". I got a Seagate 2.5" ATA Momentus 5400 etc as per my previous thread. But after firing it up from the install disk, the new volume fails to show up. Anyone else had this problem? And fixed it? Opening up the case again now...

Don't know if your problem solved. Had the same thing happen to me. Was told that new HD was bad (unlikely), Logic board was bad (disaster). Then finally was tole by another tech (OWC) that it sounded like a bad cable connection. Took it apart again and reseated both ends of HD cable a couple of times. Started up and the HD recognized by disk utility. Works great since. Hope your problem as simple as mine.

User Guidance to replace hard drive on a 2009 iMac?

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