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iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement

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  1. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Glass Panel: step 1, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Glass Panel: step 1, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Heavy-Duty Suction Cups (Pair)
    $14.95
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    • Before beginning, unplug your iMac and lay it on a soft surface as shown.

    • Stick a suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.

    • To attach the suction cups we sell, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel. While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle.

    • If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a mild solvent.

  2. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

    • 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.

  3. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Display: step 3, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Display: step 3, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Display: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Remove the eight 8 mm T10 Torx screws securing the display to the outer case.

    • The last two pictures are detail shots of each side of the display.

  4. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Slightly lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case.

    • Do not lift it too much. There are several cables attaching the display to the logic board.

  5. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the vertical sync cable connector out of its socket on the LED driver board near the top left corner of your iMac.

  6. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Rotate the display out of the outer case enough to disconnect the LED backlight power cable from the LED driver board.

    • Disconnect the LED backlight power cable by depressing the locking mechanism while pulling the connector away from its socket (toward the bottom edge of the iMac).

  7. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • The display data cable plug has a wire lock. Disengage the plug's lock by rotating the plastic tab so that it points upward. (It is not a pull tab.)

    • Pull the display data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Do not lift up on the display data cable, as its socket is very fragile. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

  8. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the LCD thermal sensor cable connector from its socket on the logic board.

    • If your fan is spinning full speed after completion, check this connection or the hard drive's thermal sensor cable.

  9. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the outer case, minding any cables that may get caught.

  10. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 10, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the hard drive temperature sensor connector toward the top edge of the iMac to disconnect it from its socket on the logic board.

  11. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 9 mm T10 Torx screws securing the upper hard drive bracket to the outer case.

  12. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Slightly rotate the hard drive out of the outer case and lift it up off its mounting pins toward the top edge of the iMac.

    • Be careful not to contact the AirPort card as you lift the hard drive out of its recess.

  13. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the SATA data cable and SATA power connector from their respective sockets by pulling each connector away from the hard drive.

  14. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 14, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Before disconnecting the thermal sensor cable, take note of its orientation. It is extremely important to reinstall the connector in the current orientation so the fans will not run at full speed. If you have multiple pins on your replacement hard drive, put the connector closest to the SATA connections and closest to the PCB board.

    • Disconnect the hard drive thermal sensor cable from the hard drive.

  15. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two T8 Torx screws securing the upper bracket to the hard drive.

    • Remove the upper bracket from the hard drive.

  16. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two T8 Torx pins from the other side of the hard drive.

  17. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully peel off the piece of EMI foam attached to the front of the hard drive.

    • Don't forget to transfer this to your new hard drive.

  18. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Replace the hard drive with an SSD: step 18, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Replace the hard drive with an SSD: step 18, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement, Replace the hard drive with an SSD: step 18, image 3 of 3
    • Follow the next steps if you are replacing your hard drive with an SSD kit.

    • If your SSD enclosure looks like the first image, follow this guide instead.

    • Line up the SSD connectors with the metal enclosure's sockets.

    • Press the drive against the enclosure sockets until the SSD is firmly seated.

    • The SSD connects with the enclosure in only one direction. If the connectors don't line up, rotate the SSD and try again.

  19. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 19, image 3 of 3
    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the four silver screws (two on each side) along the edges of the SSD to secure it to the enclosure.

  20. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Plug the included sensor-enabled SATA power cable into the enclosure's port.

    • The cable is keyed to connect in only one orientation. If you can't connect the cable, rotate it 180° and try again.

  21. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3
    • Peel the white liner off the back of the small temperature sensor board in order to expose the adhesive.

    • Adhere the temperature sensor board to an exposed, metal surface of the SSD, close to the SATA connector.

    • Fold the excess temperature sensor wires so that they are out of the way while you install the enclosure.

  22. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2
    • Use a T8 driver to install the mounting pins from the old hard drive onto the sides of the enclosure.

  23. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • Attach any mounting brackets removed from the old hard drive onto the enclosure.

  24. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2
    • Connect the iMac's SATA power cable to the other end of the new sensor-enabled SATA cable.

  25. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 2
    • Connect the iMac's SATA data cable to the enclosure's socket.

  26. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 26, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 26, image 3 of 3
    • The images used in this step come from a 2017 iMac. Your cables may look slightly different, but the procedure remains the same.

    • Slide the SSD enclosure into the space previously occupied by the hard drive.

    • Route the SATA cables so that they will not interfere with any other components.

    • Try to keep the cables free from any sharp bends, and route them such that they are not pinched.

  27. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement: step 27, image 3 of 3
    • If your motherboard has a socket for a hard drive temperature sensor, follow this step to plug the sensor wires in.

    • Find the connector on the motherboard labeled HD TMP or HDD TEMP.

    • If you have trouble locating it, trace the two-wire temperature cable you disconnected from the old hard drive.

    • If the previous temperature cable is still connected to the board here, disconnect and remove it. You will no longer need it.

    • Connect the temperature sensor's two-wire red-black cable to the motherboard plug labeled HD TMP or HDD TEMP.

    • The connector is keyed to fit in only one orientation. If it doesn't fit one way, rotate it 180° and try again.

    • Route the excess wire so it does not interfere with any other components.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

251 other people completed this guide.

44 Comments

I went through all the steps and now when I attempt to boot, I hear the apple chime, but I get nothing on screen.

I thought this might have to do with a loose cord, but when I reattached the suspect cord (the display data cable) it did not resolve the problem.

Anyone have any ideas as to what could be causing the display to malfunction?

Monty - Reply

I had this problem as well, caused by a small cable coming from the display. It is a Sync Cable with a small 2 Pin Molex connector, and it popped up and got hidden when I removed the display, which caused me to forget to re-attach it during reassembly.

capone99 -

Question for capone99: where did this cable come from? Was it one of the five specified for unplugging in this guide? Or are you saying it came loose by itself during installation?

lewisthegreat -

Did anyone ever solve this? Having the same issue.

rowanevan -

In step 14, the Apple connector for the hard drive has a locking mechanise that doesn't fit most replacement hard drives. I got an identical hard drive that doesn't have a provision for the connector. A little bit of shaving or filing of the plastic connector did the trick.

mercadoamiel - Reply

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