Things You'll Need:
- New hard drive with proper connection type (IDE or SATA)
- Backup disk
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Step 1
Determine whether your laptop is compatible with an IDE or SATA drive. A typical laptop drive follows the 2.5-inch form factor.
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Step 2
Back up all of your previous drive's data so you can access it later, whether it's to transfer to the new drive or otherwise.
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Step 3
Consult your user's manual on how to remove your laptop hard drive and follow those instructions. If you cannot find the manual there is typically a straightforward way of removing the back panel or battery of the laptop. Usually, you'll need jeweler's screwdrivers to remove this panel. Slide out the old hard drive--sometimes this requires unscrewing a few screws if the hard drive is attached to rails.
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Step 4
Replace the old drive with your new one and slide it into the laptop's drive bay. The pins must align and connect so that the hard drive will function properly.
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Step 5
Boot the machine back up. The BIOS, the firmware that recognizes and boots your system hardware, should instantly recognize the new drive. Follow setup procedures on whether you need to install an operating system or just transfer all of the data from your old drive.
