iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 74
2010-09-09
Hard Drive Noisy
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, logic board, power supply, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
Symptoms Quick Check
Hard Drive Noisy
• Noise during start up
• Noise during operation
• Noise when drive is copying or
saving data
1. Boot from Install DVD. Use Disk Utility to verify
S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drive.
2. Use Disk Utility to repair disk.
3. Determine if noise is comparable to another
machine of the same model.
4. Refer to Kbase article TS3204: Evaluating
normal noise.
Deep Dive
Check Result Action Code
1. Boot from the Install DVD and
run Disk Utility. Verify if user
hard drive is available for Disk
Utility to repair.
Yes Go to step 2.
No Go to Hard Drive Not
Recognized symptom ow.
2. Run Disk Utility ‘Repair Disk’
function and verify if it
completes successfully.
Yes Go to step 3.
No Go to step 4.
3. Restart the computer. Verify if
the noise is still present.
Yes Go to step 4.
No Issue resolved. Return system
to user.
4. Remove glass and LCD panel,
check that internal hard drive
thermal sensor cable is present,
is the correct type for the
installed drive model, is well
connected and retest (with an
external display connected).
Verify if the noise comes from
the center fan.
Yes Replace thermal sensor cable
with correct part number (see
Illustrated Views chapter to
identify the part number, and
Take Apart chapter for correct
installation)
No Go to step 5.
5. Disconnect internal hard drive
Sata cable and retest (with an
external display connected).
Verify if the noise is still present.
Yes Noise issue still present, but
does not appear to be caused
by hard drive. Go to Noise/
Hum/Vibration symptom
ow.
No Go to step 6.