Power Mac G4 MDD Hard Drives Replacement

System

Last updated on Sep 18, 2016

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Easy

Introduction

Go to step 1 ↓

The Power Mac G4 MDD Supports four IDE hard drives in two separate drive cages on two different IDE channels (the computer has three IDE channels for six IDE drives total).

What you need

Tools

Phillips #0 Screwdriver Available for sale on iFixit

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1. Step 1 Power Mac G4 MDD Hard Drives Replacement
  The Power Mac G4 MDD: the last, and the fastest G4-based Mac. This computer boasted up to a Dual 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 CPU (though I have a single 1.25GHz).
  
  Six USB ports.
  
  Four FireWire ports.
  
  Assorted SCSI (SCSI50/SCSI68)
  
  Assorted Audio
  
  Video (ADC & DVI)
  
  Networking (RJ-45 Ethernet/56k Modem)
  
  Some later model MDD's (such as the dual 1.42GHz) Have a FireWire 800 Port Here:
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2. Step 2
  Pull on the side lever and lower the side of the case.
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3. Step 3
  The hard drive cages are located here.
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4. Step 4
  Cage 1
  
  Start by removing this screw.
  
  Remove the IDE ribbon cable from the motherboard.
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6. Step 5
  Now, remove the power connecton from the drives.
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7. Step 6
  Now, push this tab down, and pull the cage towared you.
  
  Now, you can set cage 1 aside.
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8. Step 7
  Cage 2:
  
  Remove this Phillips screw:
  
  Disconnect this IDE ribbon cable from the logic board.
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10. Step 8
  It's likely that there is a cable clip holding the ribbon cable to the case.
  
  To remove it, push the end, and it should pop up.
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11. Step 9
  With the clip free, pull on this tab, lift the cage up, until it clicks, and pull it away.
  
  Now, set the cage on top of the CPU, and remove the power connectors.
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12. Step 10
  Once the cables are free, set the drive cage aside.
  
  To remove the hard drives from the cages, remove the four screws on the sides of the cage that are connected to the drives, than slide the drives out.
  
  The two cages are cross compatible and can be put in either rack.
  
  The MDD does not have a 128GB drive limit like older macs, My MDD has 3 Drives (A 400GB Hitatchi Deskstar, 40GB Seagate Baracuda 7200.7, and a 30GB Quantum Fireball LCT).
  
  Note the ID jumpers on the two drive set. One is set to Master, the other to slave. A single drive can be set to Cable Select.
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