iMac mid 2007 20" SSD upgrade project

[bregmanr]

I own 3 identical iMac's mid-2007 4GB Ram 320GB HD. One of these iMac's has a bad HDD so I decided to upgrade to SSD. Purchased this drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ1045276 and installed it in the iMac - I believe my iMac does not recognize this drive. I reached this conclusion by switching a hard drive from my other working iMac and the defective iMac started fine. Took the SSD to the other iMac (the one that was working fine before I removed the working HDD) and again - iMac doesn't start (I have a thumb drive with bootable system plugged in to a USB port and I hold the "OPTION" button when I start the iMac).

Can someone tell me how do I find out if this Samsung SSD is causing this problem and if these is a way to "cause" the iMac to recognize this SSD?

Thank you in advance.

Ron

 

[steve2237]

This sounds really similar to an unsolved problem I'm having. I have the same SSD, but the 250gb version, and when it is installed in my iMac, nothing happens when I hit the power button. What are the symptoms when you hit your power button?

I'm going to borrow a usb-sata cable so I can plug the SSD into a running computer and try formatting it tonight. I'll keep you updated!

 

[Johnf1285]

I own 3 identical iMac's mid-2007 4GB Ram 320GB HD. One of these iMac's has a bad HDD so I decided to upgrade to SSD. Purchased this drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ1045276 and installed it in the iMac - I believe my iMac does not recognize this drive. I reached this conclusion by switching a hard drive from my other working iMac and the defective iMac started fine. Took the SSD to the other iMac (the one that was working fine before I removed the working HDD) and again - iMac doesn't start (I have a thumb drive with bootable system plugged in to a USB port and I hold the "OPTION" button when I start the iMac).

Can someone tell me how do I find out if this Samsung SSD is causing this problem and if these is a way to "cause" the iMac to recognize this SSD?

Thank you in advance.

Ron

Do you have an OS X disc that will allow you to boot into Disk Utility? You may need to initialize the drive and then format it to HFS and partition it first.

 

[bregmanr]

Do you have an OS X disc that will allow you to boot into Disk Utility? You may need to initialize the drive and then format it to HFS and partition it first.

I have an operating USB drive with the latest operating system. The iMac doesn't allow me to choose this drive - I turn the iMac ON and hold the "Options" key but it doesn't allow me to choose the USB to boot the iMac. Maybe I should look for a way to format the new SSD to HFS using another iMac by connecting it to an available USB port? How do I connect the SATA drive to a USB port? Thank you again. Ron

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This sounds really similar to an unsolved problem I'm having. I have the same SSD, but the 250gb version, and when it is installed in my iMac, nothing happens when I hit the power button. What are the symptoms when you hit your power button?

I'm going to borrow a usb-sata cable so I can plug the SSD into a running computer and try formatting it tonight. I'll keep you updated!

Hi, all I get is a white screen - nothing happens after that. I switched the SSD drive with another (working properly on the "other, donor" iMac) and the iMac that I am trying to install the SSD into came back to life. I old, PC days I would say that the BiOS doesn't recognize the SSD size/type. Any other ideas? Thank you. Ron

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Do you have an OS X disc that will allow you to boot into Disk Utility? You may need to initialize the drive and then format it to HFS and partition it first.

Can I create a cd on an a working iMac? I don't know how to create such a disk and the type (cd / dvd / what size?) and any hint will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Johnf1285]

Can I create a cd on an a working iMac? I don't know how to create such a disk and the type (cd / dvd / what size?) and any hint will be greatly appreciated.

In my past experience the OS X restore disc for that specific machine works best (it has the basic drivers to boot the machine). The other option is a more recent OS, I believe Lion will work - however this would need to be on a USB stick. Hopefully someone else can chime in with more information on this!

 

[activate]

1. What about target disk mode ?
2. Tried a OS installed USB ? Not a installer

 

[bregmanr]

In my past experience the OS X restore disc for that specific machine works best (it has the basic drivers to boot the machine). The other option is a more recent OS, I believe Lion will work - however this would need to be on a USB stick. Hopefully someone else can chime in with more information on this!

Unfortunately my operating system is OS X Mountain Lion and I this is what I have on the USB. It doesn't reach the boot-menu that is accessible by pressing the OPTION key at startup. I think the SSD maybe set for Windows operation and will be searching the forums for any help converting the SSD to Apple Operating system. Anyone?

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1. What about target disk mode ?

I don't know how to reach the "target disk mode" and if I were to enable it/reach it, will I be able to find the SSD?

2. Tried a OS installed USB ? Not a installer

Yes, the USB with the OS works and starts my other iMac's.

 

[activate]

I don't know if target disk will work because of the issues you are experiencing but you will require a firewire cable and link two iMacs together. Then start the troubleshooting mac by holding T. This mac should then show a firewire icon where as the other mac, in the ideal situation should show the drive mounted like any other drive.