Introduction
prerequisite guide, hard drive removal
What you need
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Pull straight up on the SATA data/power cable to disconnect it from the drive.
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Remove two 7.3 mm T10 screws securing the left hard drive bracket to the rear case.
Left hard drive bracket screws are T8!! Had to remove HD first before derouting left speaker cable.
Thank you iFixit for sending a T10 with magnetic tip. You saved me!
The bracket screws are T10. The screws on the left side of the SILVER hard drive itself, are T8. If you seem to need a T8, you are actually trying to remove the wrong two screws. Look immediately to the left of the hard drive & you will see the BLACK bracket frame with two screws that use T10.
I can confirm that some models are indeed a T8 on both sides of the bracket (NOT the drive itself). I have two 2015 A1419 and one is T10, the other T8
mine were T8s
Bracket to iMac case screws,T8.
Which is fine.
Just as in the next step, T8 or T10.
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Grab the hard drive and left hard drive bracket together.
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Tilt the left side up away from the rear case, and slide the assembly to the left.
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Remove the hard drive and left hard drive bracket from the iMac.
Two notes here: If you are using OWC’s Thermal Sensor HDD Upgrade Cable, be sure to tuck the cable under the hard drive slightly. You cannot allow the connector to sit near the top edge since this will not allow the monitor to sit flush with the chassis when it is reattached. Additionally, the SATA connector does not seem to fit together as snuggly as when it was connect to the HDD, so tape or a plastic cable tie to keep the connection tight may be good insurance to prevent it from coming loose.
If you are planning on dual booting with Windows 10, the Windows 10 installed failed when the SSD and HDD were both connected at the same time. I had to disconnect the HDD until Windows 10 was installed. Note: I did a fresh install on a new SSD not configured as a fusion drive. If you are planning on doing this as well, use packing tape (or something similar) to hold the monitor in place until after installing the OSs. Then reconnect the HDD and apply the adhesive to the monitor for a permanent seal. Good Luck!
Hi Walter, i’m looking to replace the broken fusion drive with a SSD, do i have to get the OWC’s Thermal Sensor HDD Upgrade Cable?
Full removal of the speaker is unnecessary - just very carefully unplug the two-conductor power button cable, which is routed through the groove along the edge of the speaker enclosure. Next, unfasten the two large torx screws holding the speaker enclosure to the chassis. Now you can easily scoot the speaker away from the drive mount - move it over just enough to reach the drive mount’s 2 torx fasteners beneath the edge of the speaker (a CM or two). There’s now enough room to easily remove and replace the drive assembly .
Just wondering if the HDD 3.5 (3TB) in my 2015 27’ 5K iMac case are the ones with the temp control firmware onboard. Just got quote from Auhorised repair centre for 2x the normal price of a 3TB drive. They say I can drop in one i source myself if I like but I don’t want to get it back and have the fans run all the time. Thanks in advance :)
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Remove the left hard drive bracket.
This step is unnecessary. Just leave the bracket in place and set the assembly aside.
On Late 2015 27” iMac I found that after removing this speaker, and the Right side one, I could reach under the motherboard and squeeze and disconnect the SATA data connector with a needle-nose and then remove the SATA power connector and slide the cable out from under the logic board without removing the board. The new cable slid in from the hard drive side with little effort.
If switching to an SSD, the posts on the drive can be removed and used on the 2.5” to 3.5” adapter tray.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse and use our Adhesive Strips Guide to reattach the display glass.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse and use our Adhesive Strips Guide to reattach the display glass.
Is the WD hard drive an Apple Special with some internal rom or other thing? Planning to put in a Seagate Firecuda 2TB. Is there some special plug or temperature sensor requirement? Seems like there is only the SATA connector. Will I encounter fast fans? (can load the software to stop that). Think it’s a swap and is “easy”.
Carl Schultz - Reply