Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Dual Hard Drive Kit
Install the dual hard drive kit in an iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429.
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Phillip Takahashi
Difficult
iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429
This guide will help you install the dual hard drive kit.
This guide will help you install the dual hard drive kit.
iMac Intel 27" Mid 2011 Dual Hard Drive Kit
This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.
Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 and 2374 Access Door
Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 and 2374 RAM
Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 and 2374 Glass Panel
Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Display
Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Optical Drive
Loosen the three Phillips screws securing the access door to the bottom edge of your iMac.
Loosen the three Phillips screws securing the access door to the bottom edge of your iMac.
These screws will remain captive in the access door.
These screws will remain captive in the access door.
Remove the access door from your iMac.
Remove the access door from your iMac.
During reassembly, fasten the access door loosely and align it with the pocket cut into the outer case of the iMac before fully tightening the screws.
During reassembly, fasten the access door loosely and align it with the pocket cut into the outer case of the iMac before fully tightening the screws.
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Use your fingers or the tip of a spudger to slide the black plastic RAM tray pull tab out of the RAM slot.
Use your fingers or the tip of a spudger to slide the black plastic RAM tray pull tab out of the RAM slot.
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Pull the black plastic tab away from the iMac to eject the RAM chip from its socket.
Pull the black plastic tab away from the iMac to eject the RAM chip from its socket.
The RAM modules are firmly seated and may require a fair amount of force to remove.
The RAM modules are firmly seated and may require a fair amount of force to remove.
Use your fingers to slide the RAM chip out of its socket.
Use your fingers to slide the RAM chip out of its socket.
If necessary, repeat this process for the other RAM module(s).
If necessary, repeat this process for the other RAM module(s).
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Stick a suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.
Stick a suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.
To attach the <a href="/Tools/Heavy-duty-Suction-Cups-Pair/IF145-023?utm_source=ifixit_guide&utm_medium=wiki_text&utm_term=if145-023&utm_content=product_link">suction cups</a> we sell, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as highlighted in the first and second pictures).
To attach the [product|IF145-023|suction cups] we sell, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as highlighted in the first and second pictures).
While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as highlighted by the third picture).
While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as highlighted by the third picture).
If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a mild solvent.
If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a mild solvent.
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Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.
Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.
Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.
Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.
During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.
During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.
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Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.
Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.
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Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.
Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.
Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the first picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.
Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the first picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.
Alternatively, our <a href="/Apple-Parts/iMac-Intel-27-Inch-Mid-2011-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit/IF174-002?utm_source=ifixit_guide&utm_medium=wiki_text&utm_term=if174-002&utm_content=product_link">Dual Hard Drive Kit</a> includes a pair of tweezers with an angled tip that are great for this task.
Alternatively, our [product|IF174-002|Dual Hard Drive Kit] includes a pair of tweezers with an angled tip that are great for this task.
Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.
Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.
After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.
After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.
Raise and hold the display high enough to access the cables.
Raise and hold the display high enough to access the cables.
Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.
Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.
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Disconnect the vertical sync cable in the upper left corner of the screen. Use the tip of a spudger to push on the connector's side tabs.
Disconnect the vertical sync cable in the upper left corner of the screen. Use the tip of a spudger to push on the connector's side tabs.
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Disconnect the LED back light driver cable with your hand by pressing the tab down and sliding it towards the bottom of the display.
Disconnect the LED back light driver cable with your hand by pressing the tab down and sliding it towards the bottom of the display.
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Pull the black tab straight up to disconnect the latch on the display data cable ZIF connector.
Pull the black tab straight up to disconnect the latch on the display data cable ZIF connector.
Do not pull up too hard or you will damage the connector and socket.
Do not pull up too hard or you will damage the connector and socket.
Continue to pull the black tab up toward the top of the device, to detach the display data cable.
Continue to pull the black tab up toward the top of the device, to detach the display data cable.
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Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the display power cable next to the display data cable.
Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the display power cable next to the display data cable.
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Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the iMac case.
Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the iMac case.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pull the optical drive data cable out of the optical drive.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pull the optical drive data cable out of the optical drive.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector out of its socket.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector out of its socket.
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Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the iMac case.
Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the iMac case.
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Slightly lift the left edge of the optical drive and then pull it to the side to release the centering pins.
Slightly lift the left edge of the optical drive and then pull it to the side to release the centering pins.
Be careful not to rip the thermal sensor cable as you remove the optical drive.
Be careful not to rip the thermal sensor cable as you remove the optical drive.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pull the optical drive fan connector out of its socket.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pull the optical drive fan connector out of its socket.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pull the SD board data cable connector out of its socket.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the SD board data cable connector out of its socket.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to push the I/O cable connector out of its socket.
Use the flat end of a spudger to push the I/O cable connector out of its socket.
Alternate pushing on the tabs on the side of the connector to "walk" the connector out of its socket.
Alternate pushing on the tabs on the side of the connector to "walk" the connector out of its socket.
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Use the flat end of the spudger to pull the microphone cable connector free of its socket.
Use the flat end of the spudger to pull the microphone cable connector free of its socket.
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Release the right and left speaker connectors from their sockets using the flat end of a spudger.
Release the right and left speaker connectors from their sockets using the flat end of a spudger.
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Locate the AirPort card at the top center of the logic board and just below the hard drive.
Locate the AirPort card at the top center of the logic board and just below the hard drive.
Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry each of the antenna cables off their sockets.
Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry each of the antenna cables off their sockets.
Do not disconnect the antennas by pulling on the cables as this may damage the cables, connectors, or sockets.
Do not disconnect the antennas by pulling on the cables as this may damage the cables, connectors, or sockets.
The antennas have markings to help you identify their order. The antenna with no marks goes to "CH0", the antenna with one mark goes to "CH1", and the antenna with two marks goes to "CH2".
The antennas have markings to help you identify their order. The antenna with no marks goes to "CH0", the antenna with one mark goes to "CH1", and the antenna with two marks goes to "CH2".
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Use the flat edge of a spudger to push the camera/Bluetooth/ambient light sensor connector out of its socket.
Use the flat edge of a spudger to push the camera/Bluetooth/ambient light sensor connector out of its socket.
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Release the hard drive fan connector from its socket by pushing on its tabs using the flat end of a spudger.
Release the hard drive fan connector from its socket by pushing on its tabs using the flat end of a spudger.
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Push the thermal sensor connector out of its socket with the flat end of a spudger.
Push the thermal sensor connector out of its socket with the flat end of a spudger.
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Use the flat edge of a spudger to release the CPU fan cable
Use the flat edge of a spudger to release the CPU fan cable
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Use the flat end of the spudger to push the ambient temperature sensor connector out of its socket.
Use the flat end of the spudger to push the ambient temperature sensor connector out of its socket.
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Use the flat edge of a spudger to pull the power button connector free of its socket.
Use the flat edge of a spudger to pull the power button connector free of its socket.
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Locate the IR sensor located behind the black apple logo.
Locate the IR sensor located behind the black apple logo.
Remove the IR sensor by pulling it straight up and out of the case.
Remove the IR sensor by pulling it straight up and out of the case.
Do not attempt to completely remove the IR sensor from the case as it is still attached to the logic board.
Do not attempt to completely remove the IR sensor from the case as it is still attached to the logic board.
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Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the logic board and heat sink assembly to the iMac case.
Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the logic board and heat sink assembly to the iMac case.
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Simultaneously lift and rotate the logic board and heat sink assembly away from the iMac case until you can easily access the back side of the logic board.
Simultaneously lift and rotate the logic board and heat sink assembly away from the iMac case until you can easily access the back side of the logic board.
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Locate the secondary SATA socket, next to the primary SATA socket.
Locate the secondary SATA socket, next to the primary SATA socket.
Plug in the included SATA data/power cable.
Plug in the included SATA data/power cable.
The hard drive cable side with only one connector goes into the logic board connector.
The hard drive cable side with only one connector goes into the logic board connector.
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Route the new SATA cable through the indentation that the primary SATA cable goes through and into the optical drive bay.
Route the new SATA cable through the indentation that the primary SATA cable goes through and into the optical drive bay.
Set the logic board back into place, being careful not to catch, cover, or pinch any cables.
Set the logic board back into place, being careful not to catch, cover, or pinch any cables.
Be sure that the SATA cable has as much slack as possible and that it is not tangled with any other cables.
Be sure that the SATA cable has as much slack as possible and that it is not tangled with any other cables.
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To secure your new drive in your iMac, you will need to place high strength double-sided tape at the four corners on the side of the drive with the SATA connectors.
To secure your new drive in your iMac, you will need to place high strength double-sided tape at the four corners on the side of the drive with the SATA connectors.
Peel the backing off one side of the double sided tape.
Peel the backing off one side of the double sided tape.
Press the exposed adhesive side of the double sided tape to the corner of the SSD.
Press the exposed adhesive side of the double sided tape to the corner of the SSD.
Be sure not to cover the SATA connectors with the double sided tape.
Be sure not to cover the SATA connectors with the double sided tape.
Repeat the above process for the remaining 3 corners.
Repeat the above process for the remaining 3 corners.
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Connect both the SATA data and SATA power connectors to their respective sockets on the SSD.
Connect both the SATA data and SATA power connectors to their respective sockets on the SSD.
Peel the backing off of the double sided tape.
Peel the backing off of the double sided tape.
Carefully set the SSD into the iMac optical bay as close to the lower left corner as possible.
Carefully set the SSD into the iMac optical bay as close to the lower left corner as possible.
Do not to repeatedly stick and un-stick the tape, as the adhesive will become weaker.
Do not to repeatedly stick and un-stick the tape, as the adhesive will become weaker.
Once you are happy with the SSD's placement, firmly press down along its edges to ensure full adhesion.
Once you are happy with the SSD's placement, firmly press down along its edges to ensure full adhesion.
When re-installing the optical drive, the SATA cable will be sandwiched between the foam padding and the optical drive.
When re-installing the optical drive, the SATA cable will be sandwiched between the foam padding and the optical drive.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order from Step 27.