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Unscrewing Those Stupid Screws

Cuba46

Cuba46

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 15, 2011
18
0
LA
I just recently got the White Polycarbonate Intel iMac. I have looked at some sites describing how to get into this iMac's internal components. They say that I have to unscrew some screws on the bottom first starting with the memory cover, and then unscrewing the other screws. I got the memory cover off fine, but the other screws seem to have different shape, they're not Phillips or Flathead, they have more of a starry shape. Has anyone gotten inside this iMac and if so what screwdrivers did you use?

Thanks for your help!
 
They are Torx screws. You can get a Torx driver from many hardware stores. I got mine at Sears, a Craftsman multi-bit driver, so I have the small Phillips and Straight Slots for working on the machines, and the Torx you will need.

TEG
 
wow...thanks, i didn't think of that...its probably torx but if torx doesn't work ill now know why

thanks for the tip!:)
 
Cuba46 said:
wow...thanks, i didn't think of that...its probably torx but if torx doesn't work ill now know why

thanks for the tip!:)
Click to expand...

They're definitely Torx, mostly likely Torx T8. Those pentalobe screws have only appeared on more recent macs and iphones.

Which guides are you using? I've always used ifixit when I've needed to open up my macs. Their guides tell you exactly which screw driver to use and when. Here's the guide for the 20" White Intel iMac: http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_20"_EMC_2105_and_2118
 
panoz7 said:
I'd be very careful. If you end up stripping the screw by using the wrong driver you're going to have a much more difficult time getting it out. Torx screw drivers are cheap and easy enough to find.
Click to expand...

Ok it didn't work anyway.
 
Cuba46 said:
Ok it didn't work anyway.
Click to expand...

When I started repairing comps I had to get a torx set. I found that some of them will work with small flat head drivers but not always. I have a wide variety of small flatheads for whenever I come across a new screw head that they don't want us in. As long as you are careful you won't mess up the heads but the best thing to do if you're looking at iMac tinkering is to get a torx set. They have those things all on the inside too and of varying sizes. Go for a good set that is also magnetized.
 
Cuba46 said:
Why does it have to be magnetized?
Click to expand...

you don't want those little screws to fall behind the mbd or into the power supply or any of the many other crevices that are in the iMac. If it's magnetized it will hold the screw not only when you are taking them out but when you are reinserting them.
 
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