How Do I Remove the Hard Drive From an HP Computer?
Removing a hard drive from a Hewlett Packard computer is a fairly easy operation. The hard drive is easy to access and has only two cords attached to it. Finding the drive is not difficult, as it will be located around the bay that the CD or DVD-ROM is located in. This can be easily viewed on the outside of the computer. Once removed, a new hard drive can be installed in the same bay, as they are constructed to be the same size.
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Instructions
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Turn the computer off if it is on. Let it sit a few moments if it has been running for any length of time as the hard drive will be hot to the touch.
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Disconnect the power cord from the back of the computer. To increase accessibility, it may be necessary to disconnect other cords, such as the keyboard and monitor, as well.
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Pull the computer tower from its normal location and place it on a level working area. Hewlett Packard computers usually have one large screw that holds the case in place. Locate this and unscrew it. Place the screw somewhere secure until you are finished.
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4
Slide the side panel of the computer case out, revealing the motherboard and drives.
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Locate the hard drive at the top of the computer as it would be sitting up. It should be just under the CD or DVD-ROM drive.
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Unscrew the mounting screws that hold the hard drive to the chassis. There are typically four mounting screws.
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Disconnect the cords from the back of the hard drive. There will be two. One is the power cord. The other is the IDE cable that allows it to communicate with the motherboard. The cords can be left hanging for the moment.
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Slide the hard drive out of the chassis.
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If desired, install a new hard drive by placing it in the chassis just as the old one was and replacing the mounting screws. Then reconnect the power and IDE cables to the hard drive.
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Slide the cover panel back into place. Make sure that it enters the grooves correctly and fits snugly into place. Replace the large screw in the appropriate hole to secure the cover.
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References
- Photo Credit hard drive interior image by Curtis Sorrentino from Fotolia.com
