Exactly two months ago, we wanted to open the cover of our iMac 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo to see the motherboard. We found out that reaching a hard disk drive was way tougher than we had imagined. This time, we really have to reach the existing hard disk drive behind the LCD panel. We’ve purchased a new 1-TB hard disk drive as a replacement. We want to have more space on a Windows partition. We want to have more space on a Mac partition as well. We have so many dreams… with little disk space.

Tools that you need in reaching the hard disk drive on this iMac model are the same as before. Actually, if you have a smaller torque driver than Size 8, that will help a bit. There are a lot of small torque screws used on the motherboard. I don’t know the exact size. But don’t worry about it.

Screenshot 01 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 01 shows our new 3.5-inch SATA hard disk drive manufactured by Hitachi Global Strategy Technology. The capacity is 1 TB (931.51 MB). The interface speed is 3 GB/s. The exact part name is Deskstar HDT721075SLA360. The price was 7,480 yen or about US$78.  

Screenshot 02 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 03 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 04 – Source: MacHouse

Just as before, we need to remove the front panel. First, let’s pull the transparent panel up with a sucker. (See Screenshot 02.) Next, we need to remove the RAM access door, right? (See Screenshot 03.) Then? Using a Size 8 torque driver, let’s loosen a dozen screws off the face of the computer. (See Screenshot 04.)

Now, I can see the fan to the left. Let’s take a close look at Screenshot 05. Its close-up shot is shown in Screenshot 06. We want to open up the LCD panel. There’s a cable leading to Part 1. In order to remove this part, you need a different torque driver smaller than Size 8. Or you can move on without detaching this part. We also have to detach a tiny connector shown as 2. Don’t pull the cable. Use the thumb nail to find something to grab.

Screenshot 05 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 06 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 07 – Source: MacHouse

Okay. Now, let’s work on the LCD panel. There are eight Size 8 torque screws. (See Screenshot 07.) Let’s loosen them out. Screenshot 08 shows the scene where I lifted the LCD panel. A black ribbon cable sticks to Part 1. We leave Part 1 as it is. There’s another ribbon cable attached to the back of the LCD panel. This cable goes to a blue chip shown in Screenshot 09. The connector attached to the back of the LCD panel goes to Part 3. (See Screenshot 10.)

Screenshot 08 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 09 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 10 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 11 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 12 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 13 – Source: MacHouse

As shown in Screenshot 11, the internal hard disk drive is located right next to the blue card and below the iSight thing. Finally… Whew! Well, actually… We need to be very cautious at this stage. Screenshot 12 is a close-up shot of the hard disk drive. We face a little problem. The area around the hard disk drive sinks lower than the motherboard. There are four Size 8 torque screws around the hard disk drive. Unless you have a very short toque driver (an inch or two), you cannot loosen the bottom two screws. You will only ruin the heads. So don’t try it. We have a better chance with the top two torque screws because the top part sinks a little bit lower than the motherboard. Screenshot 13 shows that I’ve managed to loosen one of the top screws with the same torque driver. After removing the top screws, I can lift up and take the hard disk drive off the black plastic frame. (See Screenshot 14.)

Screenshot 14 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 15 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 16 – Source: MacHouse

Finally, I have succeeded in removing the existing hard disk drive. As shown in Screenshot 15, I have it in my hand. There are two metal pins, which I need to remove and put into a new hard disk drive. I’m not finished with the old hard disk drive yet. I need to remove the dark gray sponge. There’s a heat sensor or something under it. (See Screenshot 16.) This sponge is lightly glued onto the top of the hard disk drive. Screenshot 17 shows that I’ve attached the sensor + the dark sponge to the top of the new drive.

Screenshot 17 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 18 – Source: MacHouse

The toughest stage is yet to come. We need to put the black ribbon cable back into the left socket of the blue card. I let the whole computer stand with the DVD drive at the bottom so that I could look down. I curled the end of the cable and put it into the socket. Screenshot 18 is a terrible shot, but that’s the best shot I could take with one hand. I put a Flat Slot screw driver under the cable and push the connector forward by levering the screw driver up.






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