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iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 (Late 2009, Core 2 Duo 3.06 or 3.33 GHz) ID iMac10,1, EMC 2374 (Late 2009, Core i5 2.66 GHz or Core i7 2.8 GHz) ID iMac11,1

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SSD drive replace failed. Startup tone happens but no display.

My 3.5" drive in my iMac recently died so I attempted a replacement with an SSD drive.

I followed online tutorials with no issues or problems until I tried to power back on.

Now the computer turns on but the display does not. If I put a flashlight up to the screen I do not see anything so my understanding is it isn't the backlight.

If I attach an external monitor I see an image no problem. I also think I see 3 LEDs near the RAM but I can't tell if there should be a 4th.

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Can you give us your systems serial number so we can correctly identify your system.

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Serial is QP01815M5RU

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From what you described here your internal displays ribbon cable did not get put back on correctly.

Also, depending on your model you may need to address the thermal management system (SMC) as your old HD had a sensor which you removed when you removed the HD and put in the SSD. Unless you were able to transfer it you'll need a special adapter cable to put back the needed sensor. If you don't the system will ramp up the fans as it thinks the system is over heating.

Update (02/24/2016)

OK we have a few different problems here. First you need to order a new thermal sensor which you'll find in the comment above.

In addition your SSD may not work in this system. The problem here is many SSD's today are fixed SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) and will only work in SATA III systems. In your case the system is SATA II (3.0 Gb/s). You'll need to review the drives spec sheet to see if it runs in a SATA II system if not you'll need to find a different SSD. As an example here is the Samsung 850 EVO SSD spec sheet look at the Interface line this drive has auto sense technology so it is able to work across all three SATA speeds.

I would get these issues fixed first before moving forward.

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8 Comments:

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the response. Here are pictures and a video:

https://lucasfilm.box.com/s/frilo82wpunz...

In the video I unplug the display data connector by squeezing the sides, plug it back in, and then tug on it to make sure it is in place.

Very confusing!

The 4 cables I unplugged were the vertical sync cable, LED backlight power, Display Data Cable Connector, and LCD Thermal sensor cable. I have powered on the Mac with each of the other cables besides the Display Data Cable Connector plugged in and I get the same result.

And to your last note, I installed the special adaptor for the SSD drive. However I am now realizing that it is probably the wrong cable since I get this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J42A...

for a 2011 iMac and I have a 2009 iMac so the old thermal cable is dangling and the ssd doesn't even appear to mount on my secondary display.

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Yes, you did get the wrong sensor adapter. Try to return the wrong one and here's the correct unit: OWC In-line Digital Thermal Sensor for iMac 2009-2010 Hard Drive Upgrade.

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Hey Dan,

Very useful info, when I started on this trek I though I was set up for the late 2009 model but it looks like I got off track and went the 2011 route when I bought the supplies. I am moving forward and returning the drive and thermal sensor cable, but I don't want to buy the 2009 parts just to find my display is dead. Is it possible to provide assistance on that portion (assuming the drive has nothing to do with the display). In the meantime, the secondary display is working fine and the computer is booting off of a bootable thumb drive so I can still troubleshoot. This is the HD I purchased :http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBRE...

it is the Samsung EVO 850 so it should work for my system right?

Thanks!

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If you have the Samsung EVO 850 SSD it will work in your system without any problems! Just send back the cable and get the correct one.

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