Upgrade iMac Hardrive for $100-$150

[Carpetfizz]

Hi,

I have an Aluminum Intel iMac and it has only 250GB of Hard Disk space. I want to upgrade to it to 500GB. Is there anyone I can take it to, that will upgrade for me for around $100-$150? This should include data transfer and installation. Thanks!

 

[iBmx]

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[Intell]

If you buy the replacement hard drive, you can take it to an Apple store and they'll swap it out for you. I'm not sure if they'll clone the drive or not. But it is around $100 to swap the drives.

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[yzc717]

They have their own specific drive to install? So they know how to deal with the temperature cable, right?

 

[Intell]

They have their own specific drive to install? So they know how to deal with the temperature cable, right?

Any SATA drive will do. The temperature is obtained by a little thermal sensor that's taped to the hard drive.

 

[LPZ]

The hard drive just failed (epically, if that's a word) on my Early 2006 Core Duo iMac. I took the iMac to my local Apple Store, to have my diagnosis confirmed and to rule out other problems. The Genius for helped me was very good, and the free testing showed a failed hard drive and no other problems. He then checked and informed me that it would cost $284 dollars for a replacement 250 GB hard drive (not in stock, either), and that the work would cost an additional $85. When I mentioned that I could get a new 500 GB drive for about $50 and that I was tempted to do the job myself, he suggested that was a good idea. He then spent some time recommending where I might purchase a drive, and gave me some tips for opening and working inside my model iMac.

Anyway, I ordered a Seagate 500 GB drive for $40 at newegg.com, and spent several hours opening the iMac, moving the lcd and then removing the (fried) hard drive. Cleaned out a lot of dust and put in a new 3V battery too. Once my new drive arrives I'll reverse my steps and pray that everything works.

Unless you like working inside computers, I'd follow the earlier advice and have an Apple Store install a drive that you have already purchased.

 

[ViolentA79]

Intell, I called 2 of my local apple stores and they said they do not do the hard drive upgrades in store. I'm thinking of taking it to a place called TEKserve who said they do it for $160.

What brand is the stock internal 1TB HD and what should I get as an upgrade to 2TB?

 

[Intell]

Weird, my local Apple store swapped two iMac drives for me and upgraded another. I have no experience with 2Tb drives, so I cannot offer any ideas.

 

[ViolentA79]

I'm strongly considering doing it myself as well. I have most recent completely taken apart a macbook and put it back together. This giant 27" screen scares me... but I suppose i can give it a shot. I think I have the yellow screen issue though, so I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get that fixed before i go and do the upgrade