Broken 2011 iMac. How to recover hard drive?

[Tulipone]

Grateful for advice. My 2011 iMac stopped last weekend with very probably a terminal issue. I hate the idea of just taking a hammer to it to recover the hard drive and wondering how risky it is giving the complete iMac to someone for spares? I am guessing not advisable - so is there a cheap but less destructive way of getting the hard drive out without too much damage?

Thanks.

 

[Roman78]

Mostly the GPU failing on the 2011 iMac. There is a whole thread about this containing 160 Pages

You can just open the iMac: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2429+Hard+Drive+Replacement/7555

You don't need the suction cups, just use you fingernails. You only need a Torx T10 and T8

 

[Juicy Box]

Don't take a hammer to it!

What is the symptoms you have been experiencing? Maybe it isn't dead yet.

If you were using the internal HDD as the boot drive, there could be a good chance that the HDD is starting to fail. Or maybe it is as simple of a corrupt OS.

You can do an internet recovery and reinstall the OS, preferably to an external drive so not to erase your internal files if that are salvageable.

Those particular iMac models do have a higher than normal chance of GPU failure.

Have you don't an Apple HW diagnostic test? Hold "D" right at the chime during start up.

If you really don't want to fix it or troubleshoot, you could remove the HDD using the HDD replacement instructions from iFixit, it isn't that hard if you have some type of suction cups.

If you have another Mac to use, an easier way to access the drive, assuming it still works, use a Target Disk Mode, hold "T" right at the chime during start up.

Target Disk Mode turns your Mac into an external drive, allowing access to all the internal drive of the Mac by connecting another Mac to it with FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.

Depending on the symptoms, I wouldn't give up on your Nac quite yet, it could be a cheap and simple solution.

 

[Tulipone]

Thanks guys. I have already replaced it with new and thankfully recovered all the files from TimeMachine - worked perfectly. I have sought advice from Apple as I suspect that GPU has gone again and I hope that will be a repair Apple will undertake free of charge. However a 27 inch mac is big and needs to earn its real estate and I need it gone asap. Will see if they repair - else try to remove the screen and drive as above.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Take out the GPU and bake it in your oven at 200°C for 10 minutes. That should likely give it a year or two more.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I have sought advice from Apple as I suspect that GPU has gone again and I hope that will be a repair Apple will undertake free of charge."

Apple IS NOT going to repair a 2011 iMac -- either for free or for money.

 

[Tulipone]

"I have sought advice from Apple as I suspect that GPU has gone again and I hope that will be a repair Apple will undertake free of charge."

Apple IS NOT going to repair a 2011 iMac -- either for free or for money.

They repaired it a year or two ago as it was a known fault. I have spoken to support and they have booked it in again. Now whether it gets repaired or not I have I have no idea - but it has to be worth the 16 miles andf parking charge to find out.