Trouble Replacing iMac G3 HD

[MacChickGenius]

Hey everyone! So I recently wanted to replace the HD on my iMac G3 so I could use it to play some older games. However, I'm having some issues taking the old HD out. I followed all of the instructions on iFixit, but it will simply just not come out. The drive is loose at the top of it, where the two screws are on the outer side, but it seems as though it's stuck in the back for some reason. Anyone have any solutions for this?

 

[AL1630]

Is it a tray loader or a slot loader? Got any photos of how the drive is mounted?

 

[MacChickGenius]

Is it a tray loader or a slot loader? Got any photos of how the drive is mounted?

I think it's a tray loader, this is my first time repairing this computer.

 

[AL1630]

Here's the instructions from the official Apple service manual. Not sure if you tried the pushing method it shows here but it's probably worth a shot.

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, the drive needs to get "pushed back" to release two metal tabs from the chassis, then the drive should lift out.
The iFixit steps missed that step.

 

[MacChickGenius]

Thank you for the replies! I just tried to push back the HD, but that didn't help. It just seems as though it's stuck in the back for some reason. I tried wriggling/pulling a bit, but nothing still.

 

[DeltaMac]

It's the tabs on the back. I remember stuggling with removing those drives. (Haven't had one of the old iMacs for maybe 10 years, but did a lot of those hard drives when I used to work at a Mac service shop) You have to "urge" the back of the drive up a bit, so the tabs don't simply slide back into the slots when you release the back pressure. It also helps if you pull up a little on that spring wire.
That drive has been in place for more than 20 years, so you might even try a small pry bar. I assume that the drive is dead, so not a big deal to scratch things up a little 😀 I have a tool that I bought years ago at Sears, a "cotter-pin extractor". It works wonders in some of those tight spaces to apply extra pressure, and hopefully move something that is just being stubborn.
( or, use a second pair of eyes, maybe someone else can do the trick )

 

[MacChickGenius]

It's the tabs on the back. I remember stuggling with removing those drives. (Haven't had one of the old iMacs for maybe 10 years, but did a lot of those hard drives when I used to work at a Mac service shop) You have to "urge" the back of the drive up a bit, so the tabs don't simply slide back into the slots when you release the back pressure. It also helps if you pull up a little on that spring wire.
That drive has been in place for more than 20 years, so you might even try a small pry bar. I assume that the drive is dead, so not a big deal to scratch things up a little 😀 I have a tool that I bought years ago at Sears, a "cotter-pin extractor". It works wonders in some of those tight spaces to apply extra pressure, and hopefully move something that is just being stubborn.
( or, use a second pair of eyes, maybe someone else can do the trick )

I’ll have to look up that tool! I’ve been trying to keep a larger screwdriver under the front to try to raise it, but no luck yet. :/

 

[AL1630]

That's weird, it looks like the carrier is loose since it can move around so much. It seems like it has to be catching on something so you can't lift it out all the way, I'm not sure what though.

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, there are tabs in slots on each side near the back edge of the drive.
You can't just force up the front edge.
Apply pressure so the drive is as far back as it will go. You might use that big screwdriver to urge a little more movement from the front, then try to lift up the back of the drive as far as it will go. You have to try to get the back of the hard drive to move past the slots, so the tabs don't simply slide back into those slots. The last picture in the above post #4 shows what that tab & slot look like. There's one on each side.
Maybe as a hint: Don't try to lift up the front of the drive, until you have the tabs in the back released

It's ALSO possible that the sheet metal has become corroded over the 20 years or so that assembly has been in place, and you will need to take it apart some more.

I want to encourage you - once you get the drive OUT, you will then know what the trick is, and see that it, in reality, is pretty simple. It's just that first time - and I think it is hard to describe how to do it, except to say that the back is more important than the front, despite how it looks. The tabs have to be disengaged from the slots, and those tabs/slots are in the back.

 

[MacChickGenius]

Thank you for the reply! I think I have the right

Yes, there are tabs in slots on each side near the back edge of the drive.
You can't just force up the front edge.
Apply pressure so the drive is as far back as it will go. You might use that big screwdriver to urge a little more movement from the front, then try to lift up the back of the drive as far as it will go. You have to try to get the back of the hard drive to move past the slots, so the tabs don't simply slide back into those slots. The last picture in the above post #4 shows what that tab & slot look like. There's one on each side.
Maybe as a hint: Don't try to lift up the front of the drive, until you have the tabs in the back released

It's ALSO possible that the sheet metal has become corroded over the 20 years or so that assembly has been in place, and you will need to take it apart some more.

I want to encourage you - once you get the drive OUT, you will then know what the trick is, and see that it, in reality, is pretty simple. It's just that first time - and I think it is hard to describe how to do it, except to say that the back is more important than the front, despite how it looks. The tabs have to be disengaged from the slots, and those tabs/slots are in the back.

thank you for the reply! I think I have the right tab slipped out, but the left one is being tricky. A computer has never made me feel more weak. Lol