Imac Intel 27 Emc 2390 Optical Drive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

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Sections

Glass Panel
2 steps
Display
7 steps
Optical Drive
4 steps
Optical Drive
4 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Glass Panel

Stick a heavy-duty suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.
To attach the suction cups, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as indicated in the second picture).
While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as indicated by the third picture).
If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. (Dampen with distilled water, and if needed, an equal ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for best results.)
Do not use the suction cups to carry the display glass because if one of them fails to stick, you could drop the screen and break it.
The original iMac box makes a good place to store the glass panel. Otherwise, a padded horizontal surface, like a towel on a desk, will do nicely.

Stick a heavy-duty suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.

To attach the suction cups, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as indicated in the second picture).

While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as indicated by the third picture).

If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. (Dampen with distilled water, and if needed, an equal ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for best results.)

Do not use the suction cups to carry the display glass because if one of them fails to stick, you could drop the screen and break it.

The original iMac box makes a good place to store the glass panel. Otherwise, a padded horizontal surface, like a towel on a desk, will do nicely.

1024

Step 2

Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD, enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.
Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.
Don’t use the suction cups to carry the glass panel—if either one loses its grip, the panel could fall and break.
After setting the glass panel down safely, be sure to release the suction cups, as the suction force over time can crack the glass.
During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.

Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD, enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.

Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.

Don’t use the suction cups to carry the glass panel—if either one loses its grip, the panel could fall and break.

After setting the glass panel down safely, be sure to release the suction cups, as the suction force over time can crack the glass.

During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.

Step 3

              Display

Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.

Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.

Step 4

Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.
Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the third picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.
Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.
After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.
Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.

Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.

Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the third picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.

Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.

After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.

Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.

Step 5

Using your fingers, carefully pull the vertical sync cable out of its socket on the LED driver board near the top left corner of your iMac.
Be sure to pull the connector parallel to the LED driver board, straight out of its socket.

Using your fingers, carefully pull the vertical sync cable out of its socket on the LED driver board near the top left corner of your iMac.

Be sure to pull the connector parallel to the LED driver board, straight out of its socket.

Step 6

Squeeze the two display data cable connector arms together to unlock it from its socket on the logic board.
Pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.

Squeeze the two display data cable connector arms together to unlock it from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.

Step 7

Rotate the display out of the outer case enough to disconnect the LED backlight power cable from the LED driver board.

Rotate the display out of the outer case enough to disconnect the LED backlight power cable from the LED driver board.

Step 8

Lift the display for enough clearance to disconnect the LCD thermal sensor cable connector from its socket on the logic board.
If your fan is spinning full speed after completion, check this connection or the hard drive’s thermal sensor cable.

Lift the display for enough clearance to disconnect the LCD thermal sensor cable connector from its socket on the logic board.

If your fan is spinning full speed after completion, check this connection or the hard drive’s thermal sensor cable.

Step 9

Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the outer case.

Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the outer case.

Step 10

              Optical Drive

Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the outer case.

Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the outer case.

Step 11

Pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector straight away from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector straight away from its socket on the logic board.

Step 12

Insert a spudger between the optical drive connector and the optical drive.
Twist the spudger to slightly separate the optical drive connector from the optical drive, then use your fingers to pull the connector away from the drive.

Insert a spudger between the optical drive connector and the optical drive.

Twist the spudger to slightly separate the optical drive connector from the optical drive, then use your fingers to pull the connector away from the drive.

Step 13

Lift the left edge of the optical drive slightly and pull it away from the right side of the outer case.
During reassembly, note that there are two holes in the optical drive face plate into which two stubby plastic posts must engage for proper positioning.

Lift the left edge of the optical drive slightly and pull it away from the right side of the outer case.

During reassembly, note that there are two holes in the optical drive face plate into which two stubby plastic posts must engage for proper positioning.

Step 14

              Optical Drive

Peel back the portion of aluminum tape highlighted in red, leaving the rest attached to the black plastic optical drive bracket.
It is not necessary to peel all of the EMI tape off the optical drive bracket.

Peel back the portion of aluminum tape highlighted in red, leaving the rest attached to the black plastic optical drive bracket.

It is not necessary to peel all of the EMI tape off the optical drive bracket.

Step 15

Remove the two T10 Torx screws from each side of the optical drive (four screws total).

Remove the two T10 Torx screws from each side of the optical drive (four screws total).

Step 16

Use the tip of a spudger to press each of the optical drive bracket tabs out of their slots on the bottom of the optical drive.
Rotate the optical drive bracket slightly away from the optical drive.
Pull the optical drive bracket away from the open end of the optical drive, minding any tabs that may get caught.

Use the tip of a spudger to press each of the optical drive bracket tabs out of their slots on the bottom of the optical drive.

Rotate the optical drive bracket slightly away from the optical drive.

Pull the optical drive bracket away from the open end of the optical drive, minding any tabs that may get caught.

Step 17

Use the tip of a spudger to peel back the piece of foam tape covering the optical drive thermal sensor.
Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the thermal sensor up off the adhesive securing it to the optical drive.
If you have a disc or anything else stuck inside your optical drive, we have a guide to fix it.

Use the tip of a spudger to peel back the piece of foam tape covering the optical drive thermal sensor.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the thermal sensor up off the adhesive securing it to the optical drive.

If you have a disc or anything else stuck inside your optical drive, we have a guide to fix it.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      23 other people completed this guide.

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                    Brett Hartt

Member since: 04/12/2010

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Travis Reeves - Feb 26, 2016

Great Guide!, Worked for me, I didn’t need the hook tool, or suction cups.

Don - Nov 18, 2016

My optical drive is dead… do I have to replace it with an identical model? Ifixit doesn’t seem to have the part for a mid 2010 iMac?

Roberto Blandino - Jan 1, 2017

Thank you Brett!!

Simon Young - Feb 18, 2017

Great guide. I did this at same time as replacing my failed internal 1Tb Seagate hard drive (second disc factory fitted). All running great now.

I replaced my failed Sony AD-5680 superdrive with a compatible Hitach GA32N, only problem I had was that it was quite tricky to get the new drive in the caddy with the mounting srew holes lined up, needed a fair bit of pressure whilst lining up screws. Good gide - Thanks!

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team