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iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace or upgrade your hard drive.

What you need

  1. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Display Assembly: step 1, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    iMac Intel 21.5" Cardboard Service Wedge
    $4.99

    • With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs are fast and easy with an iMac service wedge, but can be completed without one.

    • If you are using the iFixit cardboard service wedge, follow these assembly directions to put it together.

    • Before beginning any work on your iMac: Unplug the computer and press and hold the power button for ten seconds to discharge the power supply's capacitors.

    • Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply. Only handle the board by the edges.

    Edit

  2. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear enclosure.

    • The hub on the iMac Opening Tool will keep you from pushing the wheel in too far. If using a different tool, insert no more than 3/8" into the display. Otherwise, you risk severing antenna cables and causing serious damage.

    Edit

  3. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.

    • Be sure to always push with the handle behind the cutting wheel. If you pull, the wheel might get pulled out of the handle.

    • Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

    Edit

  4. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Continue running the tool up around the top left corner.

    Edit

  5. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

    Edit

  6. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Continue along the top of the display.

    • You may want to run the tool back and forth through what you've already cut a few times, to ensure you get as much of the adhesive separated as possible.

    Edit

  7. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

    Edit

  8. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

    Edit

  9. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.

    • At this point, you'll want to run the tool back around the entire display, to ensure you cut as much adhesive as possible.

    Edit

  10. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • While the opening tool cut most of the adhesive, the display will still be slightly adhered to the case. A plastic card will be necessary to free up the last of this adhesive.

    • Set the iMac face-up on a table.

    • Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, wedge a plastic card between the display and frame.

    • Be careful not to insert the plastic card more than 3/8", or you may damage internal components.

    Edit

  12. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Gently twist the plastic card sideways to create a gap between the display and frame.

    • Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

    Edit

  13. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the card toward the center of the display to cut any of the remaining adhesive along the top right corner of the iMac.

    • Be sure to stop before the iSight camera, or you may damage it.

    Edit

  14. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Wedge the plastic card into the top right corner once again, and leave it there to prevent the adhesive from resticking.

    Edit

  15. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a second plastic card into the gap between the display and frame near the top left corner of the iMac.

    Edit

  16. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Gently twist the card upward, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.

    • As with the other side, twist slowly to allow the adhesive time to separate, and be careful not to over-stress the display glass.

    Edit

  17. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

    Edit

  18. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Wedge the plastic card back into the top left corner.

    Edit

  19. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • With both plastic cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards sideways to increase the gap between display and case.

    • If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the remaining adhesive.

    • Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.

    • Only lift the display a few inches—the display data and power cables are still connected to the logic board.

    Edit

  20. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Display: step 19, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Display: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • While holding the display up with one hand, use the other hand to unplug the display power cable.

    • Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connector, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

    Edit

  21. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 20, image 3 of 3

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.

    • Carefully pull the display data cable from its socket on the logic board.

    • Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket.

    Edit

  22. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.

    • At this point there is still a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the display, that will hold the display to the frame like a hinge. You can loosen this adhesive by working the display up and down a few times.

    Edit

  23. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 3 of 3

    • Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply (boxed in red).

    • Grasp the small tab at the end of one of the bottom edge display adhesive strips and pull the adhesive toward the top of the iMac to remove it.

    • Repeat this step with the other adhesive strip and remove it.

    • If either adhesive strip breaks before it's removed, use a plastic card to slice through the remaining adhesive.

    Edit

  24. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 23, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.

    • It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.

    • Be very careful handling the display—it's big, heavy, and made of glass.

    • During reassembly, head over to our display adhesive guide to install the new adhesive.

    Edit

  25. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Brackets: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the hard drive bracket to the rear enclosure:

    • Two 21 mm T10 Torx screws from the left-hand hard drive bracket.

    • One 9 mm T10 Torx screw.

    • One 27 mm T10 Torx screw.

    Edit

  26. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the left and right hard drive brackets from the iMac.

    Edit

  27. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: step 26, image 1 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: step 26, image 2 of 3 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: step 26, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the hard drive from the edge nearest the logic board and pull it slightly out of its recess.

    • The hard drive is attached by a single SATA power/data cable—do not attempt to fully remove it from the iMac yet.

    Edit

  28. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Use a spudger to disconnect the single SATA power and data combo cable by gently prying its large plastic connector away from the hard drive.

    Edit

  29. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the hard drive assembly from the iMac.

    Edit

  30. iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 29, image 1 of 2 iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 29, image 2 of 2

    • Peel the rubber hard drive bumpers up off the top and bottom edges of the hard drive.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

278 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 6 other contributors

Sam Goldheart

Member since: 10/18/12

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39 Comments

Super awesome instructions, As always easy to follow, swapped out he drive pretty quick. makes me miss the magnets for sure.

Justin Weathersbee - Reply

Guide was great, didn't take long at all. I hope the adhesive proceeds to stick now that I put the glass back on!

MITG - Reply

Be sure to position the screen all the way down on reassembly. I sort of tried to hinge it back, resulting in a little space of a fraction of a millimeter. Had to push the screen down when attaching the rest of it.

Daniel JB - Reply

Great instructions, I chose to purchase the adhesive strips from Ifixit and they worked great, much easier than trying to shape your own plus they stick really well.

Alan Petten - Reply

Great instructions. Is it possible to replace HD with a SSD Samsung EVO ?

thanks

Claudio Tumeo - Reply

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