How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the eMac models?

The Apple Support Site provides instructions for installing RAM as well as replacing the AirPort card and battery in the original and ATI as well as the USB 2.0 and 2005 eMac systems. However, Apple does not consider the Ultra ATA/66 hard drive in the original and ATI models or the Ultra ATA/100 hard drive in the USB 2.0 and 2005 eMac models to be a "customer-installable part" and declines to provide replacement instructions. Consequently, EveryMac.com does not recommend that users attempt to upgrade the hard drive themselves.

The eMac isn't the easiest system to upgrade the hard drive, and as such, users with limited experience upgrading computers would be wise to instead purchase an external USB or Firewire hard drive for a quick and easy upgrade. Even those with experience upgrading systems might prefer to purchase an external drive rather than go to the trouble of disassembling the computer and the risk of dealing with an exposed CRT-display.

Nevertheless, for the adventurous, where Apple dares not tread the blogosphere boldly goes, and the Lance J. Technoweb blog provides detailed instructions and commentary regarding an individual's experience upgrading the hard drive in the eMac.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells hard drives that are compatible with every eMac model.

What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the eMac models? How do you replace or upgrade the optical drive?

The eMac models shipped with either a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive, or a single-layer DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive".

For your convenience, the optical capabilities of each model are listed below:

*Some configurations of this model shipped with a "Combo Drive".
**Some configurations of these models shipped with a "SuperDrive".

For the exact speed of each optical drive reading and writing different media, please refer to the specs page for the particular model of interest.

Just like the hard drive, Apple does not consider the optical drive to be a "customer-installable part" and declines to provide replacement instructions. Consequently, EveryMac.com does not recommend that users attempt to upgrade the optical drive themselves.

Users with limited experience upgrading computers would be wise to instead purchase an external USB or Firewire optical drive for a quick and easy upgrade. Even those with experience upgrading systems might prefer to purchase an external drive rather than go to the trouble of disassembling the computer and the risk of dealing with an exposed CRT-display.

Nevertheless, when Apple declines to provide upgrade instructions, one always can count on the blogosphere, and Paul Wilkinson has provided comprehensive instructions to upgrade the optical drive in the eMac based on his experience.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells optical drives and other upgrades for the eMac.

Does the eMac have PCI slots or expansion bays?

No. The eMac is designed to be simple and inexpensive, and consequently, there is no internal expansion other than AirPort for the original and ATI models or AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth for the USB 2.0 and 2005 models.