Apple imac 21 5 inch late 2009 User Manual

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 61 2010-11-18
Optical Drive Not Recognized
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Drive Not Recognized/Mount
•  Discs inject and eject, but do 
not appear in Finder 1.
  Use System Profiler Serial-ATA section to see if 
optical drive appears.
2.  System Profiler Serial-ATA section will show any 
media inserted.
3.   Check Finder Preferences and make sure “CD’s, 
DVD’s and iPods”...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 62 2010-11-18
5.  Connect original optical drive 
to known-good SATA cable. 
Verify if both CD and DVD 
media are read reliably. Yes
SATA cable issue. Replace 
SATA cable. Go to step 6. X03
No Replace optical drive. J03
6.  Test read compatible known-
good CD and DVD media 
(Install DVD). Verify if media is 
recognized and reads reliably. Yes
Issue resolved.
No Replace optical drive. J03
Optical Drive Won’t Accept/Eject Media
Unlikely cause: LCD...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 63 2010-11-18
4. With known-good optical drive 
installed, test for media inject/
eject. Verify if drive accepts and 
ejects known-good media. Yes
Known-good optical drive 
resolved inject/eject issue. 
Replace optical drive. J03
No Go to step 7.
5.   Inspect optical drive slot during 
disc insert/eject. Verify if discs 
can be inserted easily. Yes
Go to step 6.
No Verify correct optical drive 
bezel alignment with 
enclosure. Reseat optical drive...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 64 2010-11-18
Deep Dive
CheckResultAction Code
1.   Verify if media is free to spin 
without optical drive scraping 
edge or surface of media. Yes
Go to step 2.
No Replace optical drive. J05
2.  Test both CD and DVD media. 
Verify if drive can read both CD 
and DVD media. Yes
Go to step 6.
No If both types of media fail, 
check that Finder Preferences 
are set to “show CD’s and 
DVD’s”, then go to step 3.
If only one type of media fails, 
drive...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 65 2010-11-18
Optical Drive Not Performing to Specifications
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Optical Drive Not Performing to 
Specifications
•  Read or write speeds slower 
than expected 1.
  Test optical media in another computer of the 
same type to rule out media issue.
2.  For write issues, check with known-good media 
that performs well in another computer and drive...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 66 2010-11-18
6. Media that is out of balance 
may not perform well at higher 
speeds even though higher 
speeds may be supported 
by the optical drive. Verify if 
slowing requested burn speed 
allows discs to be written 
reliably. Yes
Media issue. No repair 
necessary.
No Go to step 7.
7.   Test write data to compatible 
CD and DVD media. Verify 
burned media is recognized 
and reads reliably. Yes
Issue resolved.
No Run ODD sensor and ODD fan...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 67 2010-11-18
2. Reseat optical drive in 
enclosure. Does noise issue 
remain? Yes
Go to step 3.
No Issue resolved by reseating 
drive in enclosure.
3.   Install known-good optical 
drive in enclosure. Does noise 
issue remain? Yes
Go to step 4.
No Replace optical drive. J04
4.  Compare system with similar 
model for optical drive noise in 
operation and verify that noise 
level is similar. Yes
Noise level of optical 
drive appears to be within...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 68 2010-11-18
3.  Verify if SD card now ejects 
and inserts without issue. Yes
Issue resolved by SD card 
reader alignment.
No Replace SD card reader. M17
SD Card Not Recognized
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, logic board, optical drive, hard drive
Quick Check
Symptom Quick Check
SD Card Not Recognized
•  Card does not show up on 
desktop or in System Profiler 1.
  Insert user’s SD card into a known-good system 
and verify that it functions properly....

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 69 2010-11-18
4. Run System Profiler and verify 
if SD card reader is now listed 
in USB devices. Yes
Go to step 5.
No Reseat SD cable at SD card 
reader and logic board
If issue persists, replace 
SD cable.
If issue persists, replace 
SD card reader.
If issue persists, replace 
logic board.  
M17 
M17 
M17
5.   Verify if a known-good 
unlocked SD card can now be 
correctly read and written. Yes
Go to step 6.
No Replace SD card reader. M17
6....

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Communications 70 2010-11-18
Communications
AirPort/Bluetooth Issues
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
AirPort/Bluetooth Issues
•  Unable to join networks or pair 
devices
•  AirPort card not available
•  Intermittent device or 
connection dropouts
•  Limited wireless range
1.  Verify that AirPort or Bluetooth is turned ON, and 
for AirPort issues make sure that a network is 
selected.
2.  For AirPort, check if the wireless access point 
requires special...