How to Remove the Hard Drive From a Tower Computer

Removing a hard drive from a tower computer is not difficult.

Even with regular maintenance, many tower computer hard drives won’t last more than a few years. If you’ve recently noticed a loud noise coming from your computer, if you are unable to boot up the computer or if you’d simply like to upgrade to a larger hard drive, then it may be time to remove the hard drive from your computer. Luckily, removing a hard drive from a tower computer is straightforward, so even a less experienced PC user can do it.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or flat head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Shut down your computer by clicking “Start." Select "Shut Down," then “Shut Down” again.

2. Unplug all of the cables from the back of the computer, including the power and network cables.

3. Place the computer on a flat surface. Touch a metal surface to ground yourself against static electricity. (Static electricity can damage the computer, so it’s important to make sure you’re grounded.)

4. Remove the screws securing the side of the case using either a Phillips or flat head screwdriver, depending on the type of screws used on your computer.

5. 

   A standard 3.5 inch hard drive

   Remove the case and locate the hard drive, which is typically located underneath the CD/DVD drive in the front of the computer.

6. Remove all of the cables from the hard drive. Remove the screws that are securing the hard drive in place. Gently remove the hard drive from the hard drive bay.

7. Place the removed hard drive on a flat surface that is free of dust and hair.

References

• Essortment: How to Remove a Hard Drive From a Gateway Desktop Computer