How to Change Hard Drives

Installing a new hard drive in your computer can revitalize your machine by giving you more storage space and giving your computer more room to work with--making your whole system run faster and more efficiently. Learn how you can give your computer a vital upgrade that won't take an expert to perform.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn your computer off and disconnect all cables connected to it. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the case screws securing the side paneling of the case to the computer's frame--the screws will be located at the back of the case. Be sure to only remove the screws securing the casing.

2. Slide the side paneling of the case of the computer to expose the computer's interior. Discharge any static that may have accumulated on your clothing before continuing. Rub your hands against any metal section of the case to discharge accumulated static.

3. Locate the hard drive in the bay adjacent to the motherboard--the hard drive should be in the same bay as the CD/DVD-ROM and floppy disk drives. Unscrew the screws securing it to the bay. Slide the drive out of the bay, but leave the cables connected.

4. 

   Examine the jumper pins on the new hard drive. Look over the jumper pin diagram printed on your hard drive and place the cap pin in the "Primary" position. Insert the new hard drive into the bay slot vacated by the old hard drive.

5. Disconnect the power and data cable from the old hard drive and plug them into the new hard drive. If your new hard drive uses a different type of data cable than the old one--there are two, IDE and SATA--find an extra data cable running from the motherboard and connect it to the new hard drive.

6. Secure the hard drive into the bay with the screws and screwdriver. Replace the case, screws and computer cable.

Resources

• SATA and IDE