How to Replace A Bad Hard Drive In A Computer

In this detailed tutorial, we are going to explain to you how to remove a bad hard drive from a computer from inside to out. Please be aware when working around electrical items and always think safety first!!

Things You'll Need

• New hard drive(identical if applicable) New cable to connect the device(identical if applicable) Hand tools for removing parts needed to get to the parts inside of your computer. Instructions fr

Instructions

1. The first thing we must do is to open the tower itself so that we are able to remove the hardware that is bad. Although we did mention that not all computers come apart the same way. Please check your manufacturers manual for further instructions.

2. We prefer to open our tower with the bolts already used to hold the cover over the internal parts that make the computer operatonal. Usually cross head screws are holding a cover that is removable on your computer. In the back of the tower, you might find 3 or 4 screws holding this piece on. Removing them gives you access to the inside and that's what we want.

3. Once we have removed the screws and placed them out of the way, we can remove the cover so that we are able to see inside. The hard drive is usually the square or rectangle like shape looking box that you can not insert anything into except for the cables that make it operational.

4. Once you have removed the cables connecting the hard drive, there should be a couple of screws holding the hard drive to a chassis with alot of holes. You want to locate the screws that holding the hard drive into place. Remove these screws so that we may be able to remove the bad hard drive.

5. Once we have removed the hard drive we should use the cables that come with a new hard drive. That's what I wold suggest personally. Personally I think most companies have certain way of pin placement int a certain type of device.

6. So now we need to remove the cables that the bad hard drive was connected to. When we first started we were told to just put them aside or mark them for an understanding of where the location for the connection is. The cable most commonly used today is the ATA cable which is pretty universal in today's late model market.This cable also should lead straight to the mother board which is attached the wall of the tower. A big green circuit board with a plethra of connectors and resistors.

7. Remove the cable and replace it with the new one that came with the new hard drive.

8. After replacing the bad hard drive with the new one we must repeat the steps that we needed to detach the piece of hardware from the chassis. This method is recommended from me personally unless you have a custom made computer.

9. Once securing our hard drive, and connecting the device to the proper placements. We can now close the computer case by replacing the cover of the computer back on.

10. After replacing the screws in the back of the screws of the computer that hold the cover in place. You must now load Windows and your new hard drive will be formatted by Windows from within.