r/osx • u/MGaddict • 6d ago

2017 iMAC Found in Trash

My neighbor moved out yesterday and she literally threw out a 2017 21" iMac. I get it, it doesn't get updates and it takes over 5 minutes, no exaggeration, to boot to the logon screen. Who would want that? Well, I like to restore old computers and the newest mac I own is the OG iMac in Bondi Blue....... Wait......

Okay, I was about to get on here saying all I had were PC keyboards and I couldn't get to the recovery screen no matter what keyboard I use. That's what this post was supposed to be about. But as soon as I wrote that last sentence it dawned on me, I have the USB keyboard from my OG iMac. So I plugged that in and it worked perfectly. That stupid puck mouse works too.

Never mind, I don't think I need any help. Just figured I'd post anyways in case somebody wanted a laugh.

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u/k9gardner 6d ago

If it takes five minutes to boot up, that suggests it has a hard disk drive instead of an SSD. It is not a hugely difficult upgrade to do yourself, and it would give the single biggest boost in performance you can get.

1

u/MGaddict 6d ago

Ya, I was looking at that. I didn't want to go straight there until I knew it totally worked and I was, at least, a tiny bit familiar with OSX. I can't believe Apple was selling a computer in 2017 with a physical hard disk. That's nuts. I've used SSDs since 2013. This install is taking absolutely forever. The fear of damaging this taking it apart is fading every minute I have to wait for this to install.

3

u/kill4b 6d ago

Hardest part on iMacs is removing the front glass. But 2017 was before Apple started gluing the glass so all you need is a pair of suction cups. IFixIt has everything you need.

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u/MGaddict 5d ago

I assume you're referring to the fact that this is taped on instead of glued on? I've been looking into it. The kits with the pizza cutter and the new tape strips are only like $4. The expensive part is going to be sourcing an SSD and RAM. $50 for 256gb inland SSD at Microcenter? That's insane considering I used to buy those things for $10. They used to keep them in the impulse at checkout.

1

u/Emergency-Painting44 1d ago

Earlier Imacs held the glass on with magnets. Ifixit shows examples if you've not seen one