A1419 EMC 2639
Computer came in booting to question mark folder. 2TB Seagate Drive was dead. This occurred shortly after owner updated from Mojave to Catalina.
Replaced Hard drive with 6TB Western Digital. Recreated Fusion Drive with APFS. Worked fine. Used on and off for 3 days loading updates and so on. Finally decided to re-adhere screen (I had been using with it just taped on). As soon as screen was glued in place booted to question mark folder and refused to see 6TB Harddrive would only show the 128GB PCIe SSD. Disassembled and removed logic board checked SATA connectors and power connectors for 6TB Hard Drive. Everything looked normal, no signs of corrosion or wear. Basically this board is pristine. Re-assembled still wouldn't work. Ordered new cable. Installed new cable, everything working again. After testing for 3 days I glued screen back on. Test, still working. Deliver to customer, he calls back and says boots to question mark folder. Again it can't see 6TB WD SATA drive. It occured to me everytime I adhere screen i place iMac on its back, maybe something to do with that. Sure enough If I place this computer face down, it boots fine...lol. Once I place it upright its fine. But jostle it or lay it face up (like transporting it to clients house) and next time you start it, it starts with fans blazing and not seeing the SATA drive. Hoping someone else has had this before. Cheers!
Computer came in booting to question mark folder. 2TB Seagate Drive was dead. This occurred shortly after owner updated from Mojave to Catalina.
Replaced Hard drive with 6TB Western Digital. Recreated Fusion Drive with APFS. Worked fine. Used on and off for 3 days loading updates and so on. Finally decided to re-adhere screen (I had been using with it just taped on). As soon as screen was glued in place booted to question mark folder and refused to see 6TB Harddrive would only show the 128GB PCIe SSD. Disassembled and removed logic board checked SATA connectors and power connectors for 6TB Hard Drive. Everything looked normal, no signs of corrosion or wear. Basically this board is pristine. Re-assembled still wouldn't work. Ordered new cable. Installed new cable, everything working again. After testing for 3 days I glued screen back on. Test, still working. Deliver to customer, he calls back and says boots to question mark folder. Again it can't see 6TB WD SATA drive. It occured to me everytime I adhere screen i place iMac on its back, maybe something to do with that. Sure enough If I place this computer face down, it boots fine...lol. Once I place it upright its fine. But jostle it or lay it face up (like transporting it to clients house) and next time you start it, it starts with fans blazing and not seeing the SATA drive. Hoping someone else has had this before. Cheers!
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