iMac 2007 Optical Drive

jakdublin

Hi. This is my last hope. I have this iMac and the noise from the ODD makes it unusable. The ODD doesn't work and I've no use for it but it whirrs like it's revving up after anything between 10 and 20 minutes use. After more time, it then bursts into life and the whirring becomes really loud and constant. I've tried all those fan noise reducing apps like SMC and while they help, there's no way of setting it so the ODD is effectively decommissioned. I've looked into removing the fan but it's a fairly complicated procedure. I've even removed the IODVDStorageFamily extensions for the drive to no effect. Is there anything else I can try before attempting to remove the whole drive? I've minimum experience messing around with Mac internals and am worried I'll destroy what's still a decent machine otherwise.

jakdublin

Thanks. Yeah, I figured I could get as far as opening it. It's what my clumsy fingers do when I get inside that I'm worried about! Think I'll have to get myself some suction cups and get started.

Doodah7

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel

Pick your Mac and your project. Step-by-step guide to pretty much anything!!

jakdublin

tallpaul wrote: »

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel

Pick your Mac and your project. Step-by-step guide to pretty much anything!!

Just came across that last night funny enough. Thought it looked a bit daunting but it's really detailed so I'll give it a go. Just bought all the kit needed so I'll be cracking on with it in a week or so when it arrives. One of the mistakes I usually make when doing anything like this is not having the right tools! Other mistakes I make are not being patient and panicking! :eek:

ZENER

Silly question but is there a disc in it ? If not, what happens if you put one in ? It shouldn't spin unless there's a disc in there.

Ken

jakdublin

ZENER wrote: »

Silly question but is there a disc in it ? If not, what happens if you put one in ? It shouldn't spin unless there's a disc in there.

Ken

It's a good question actually but no, there's not. It's a couple of years since I used it but I think it busted after one got stuck in and I forced it out with a screwdriver. Maybe it thinks there's still a disc in there.

jakdublin

Well, I got the job done. Thanks for the advice, it all helped. First time opening up a mac for anything other than installing RAM so chuffed with that Some of those screws were a real bitch to loosen! Only lost one in the process. Next job will be installing a SSD in the now empty optical drive space, but I'll have to wait until I have some spare cash. If anybody knows where I can get a good deal on one let me know :-)

jakdublin

I had a spare 128GB Transcend Jetdrive external and used Carbon Copy to clone the system and apps onto it so I can use it as a speedy boot drive. Then I pointed my home folder to the one on the original drive so all my documents and data don't take up space on the Jetdrive and I've effectively made a new Mac out of one that I was about to give up on for the price of a few tools. Delighted with how this worked out.