How to Install a Desktop Tower Hard Drive

Your hard drive needs to be replaced, but you're not sure what to do. While each brand of hard drive has its own specific properties, there is a basic process that can be followed to replace or install a hard drive in your desktop or tower computer.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Avoid a shocking experience. Turn off your computer's power and remove all cables and connections from the back of the system.

2. Take it off. To remove the cover after you have followed the all-important step of powering off and disconnecting the cables, remove the case screws and slide the cover off.

3. Sit on the dock of the bay. If you haven't already done so, remove your old hard drive. Now carefully secure your new hard drive into the computer's mounting bay using the hard drive screws. This is important. Don't use those case screws!

4. Review the configuration. You will need to review your computer's configuration. If, for example, there are two IDE devices, but only IDE cable, you will need to purchase another IDE cable. Once you have determined the number of IDE cable/devices available, plug new IDE cable into the secondary IDE channel on the motherboard. Make sure you match the red line on the IDE ribbon cable with Pin 1 of IDE channel.

5. Plug it in. Once you have secured the hard drive, plug in the new IDE port to the new hard drive.

6. Make a power play. Now plug the P4 power cable in the new hard drive and carefully put the case cover back on, securing the cover with the four case screws.

7. Get plugged in. Now, plug cables back into the computer, power it up and follow the on-screen instructions for final setup and formatting options.

Tips & Warnings

• The steps outlined are for the installation of an IDE hard drive. Always be sure to consult the owner's manual and instructions of your new hard drive.
• Be sure to reset the jumper settings on both drivers if installing two hard drives or two IDE devices. To do this you will need to set one to Master and set the other one to Slave.