How to Install a New Hard Drive for a Dell Desktop Computer

Install a new hard drive in your Dell computer.

Dell desktop computers are configurable when purchased and can include a variety of hardware. If you have purchased one of these computers and wish to upgrade it by installing a new hard drive, you can do so with relative ease. While the many models of desktop computers differ to some degree, in general the process for installing a new hard drive is the same.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Power off your Dell desktop computer and remove all of the cables that are attached to it.

2. Lay the computer on its side and depress the two large, oval-shaped buttons that are on the top and bottom of the machine, near the back. As you depress these buttons, lift up on the side of the computer to open the case to display the internals of the machine.

3. Locate the hard drive, near the front of the computer and attached to both the motherboard and the power supply unit by two cables. Detach these two cables from the hard drive and lay them to the side.

4. Slide the hard drive out from the metal cage where it is mounted. Unscrew the drive from the rails it is mounted on and screw the rails on to the new hard drive.

5. Slide the new hard drive into the computer case where the old drive was located. Plug in the two cables that were removed earlier and close up the computer case. Plug in the machine and turn it on.

References

• "Dell: User Manual"