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This article was co-written by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the owner and operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, CA. He has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, antivirus and upgrade.
This article has been viewed 37,302 times.
Your computer’s hard drive stores everything from pictures to music to files. In short, they contain everything that you store on your computer. If something goes wrong with your computer’s hard drive, you don’t need to buy a new computer. Removing the hard drive from your personal computer (PC) yourself and replacing it with a newly purchased hard drive will save you a lot of money. Use the following steps to learn how to properly remove your computer’s hard drive.
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Back up your data. We’ll try our best not to lose any data, but as Murphy’s Law, as you probably know, anything can happen . It’s better to be prepared with a little caution than risk losing all your data.
- Copy your data onto an external hard drive or use an alternative such as backing up your data online before removing the old hard drive from your computer. If your hard drive has been damaged and your data is lost, skip this step.
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Turn off your computer and unplug all cords from it. You’ll need to touch the computer’s internals, and it’s a lot easier if it doesn’t get tangled in wires or suddenly pops up and shocks you. Unplug from the power source as well as the monitor and other devices.
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Open the computer case cover. Each computer model is manufactured differently. Opening the lid of your computer case can be opening the side cover with a screwdriver or pressing a button to open the case in a clamshell style. The instruction manual that came with your computer will show you in detail how to open the lid of your computer’s case.
- If your manual is lost or you do not receive it, do not despair. Look closely at your computer case and you’ll probably find a way to remove it. Most older computer cases are covered with a Phillips head screw (+ sign) on the back.
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Locate the hard drive inside the case. Inside a computer case, the hard drive can be placed inside a chassis that is permanently attached to the case or removable, or it can be placed on a set of rails. A computer hard drive is a rectangular iron box the size and width of a book.
- By convention, most computers place the computer’s hard drive near the front of the case, next to other types of drives (such as optical drives). If you look closer, you’ll see the hard drive is clearly labeled – don’t randomly remove the device from your computer if you’re not sure what it is!
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Determines how the hard drive is connected to the computer. Now that you have located the hard drive, you need to find a way to remove it.
- You will need a screwdriver to open the chassis and handle the drive if the hard drive is in a fixed or removable chassis.
- Newer, more modern PC cases will be “toolless” capable, meaning you’ll only have to push a simple lever or button to remove the hard drive.
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Lift the hard drive from where it is in the computer case. Hard drives are usually located on a set of rails towards the front of the computer case. Using both hands, carefully slide it out.
- Pull carefully – if you notice it’s stuck, stop now! There’s nothing inside the computer case that requires a great deal of force to remove – If you have to pull or push too hard, you’re probably doing it wrong.
- The hard drive will have two or more cables connected to it. If they prevent you from removing the hard drive, unplug these cables first.
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Remove the IDE ribbon. This is a wide, flat, usually gray ribbon that runs from the computer’s motherboard (or hard drive controller circuit if attached) to the computer’s hard drive.
- This cable can connect to the hard drive with glue, but you should be able to remove it easily without much effort. Carefully peel off as much glue as you can and move the plug back and forth gently to remove the glue.
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Remove the power connector. This will be a rectangular, plastic connector with one or two latches (depending on how much power the computer motherboard provides to the hard drive).
- This connector will attach a lot tighter than the IDE ribbon. Make sure you remove the pins on the plug and pull it tight when grasping the connector. Be careful not to bend the steel tubes inside the plug.
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Remove the hard drive from the computer case and put it in an antistatic case. “Nude” hard drives that have been removed from computers are very susceptible to damage caused by moisture, dust, and electrical shock. Antistatic covers are an inexpensive way to protect your hard drive.
- Antistatic bags can be purchased very cheaply at most computer or stationery stores. If you’re going to dispose of the hard drive or take it in for recycling, you can skip this step.
Advice
- If at any point you are concerned that you are disconnecting the correct cable or device, consult the user manual to make sure you are doing it right.
Warning
- This article is for cased desktops only and NOT for laptops or all-in-ones.
- Take precautions against electrostatic shock. Ground yourself by touching a metal part of the case before touching the hard drive. Do not wear any metal on your body while removing the hard drive. If static electricity is released between you and the hard drive or any other electrically sensitive component, this momentary discharge can cause permanent damage.
- Do not tug on the cable connecting the hard drive. If you bend or damage the steel pipe or the connection area inside the connector, the hard drive cable may be damaged. These cables will usually connect directly to the hard drive and cannot be replaced without much effort.
- Do not move the computer while it is on, it may cause serious damage to the hard drive. Always turn off the computer and unplug the cord before removing devices.
Things you need
- Computer
- User manual of computer or computer case (optional)
- Screwdriver
- Anti-static sheath (optional, but recommended)
- Lots of patience.
X
This article was co-written by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the owner and operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, CA. He has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, antivirus and upgrade.
This article has been viewed 37,302 times.
Your computer’s hard drive stores everything from pictures to music to files. In short, they contain everything that you store on your computer. If something goes wrong with your computer’s hard drive, you don’t need to buy a new computer. Removing the hard drive from your personal computer (PC) yourself and replacing it with a newly purchased hard drive will save you a lot of money. Use the following steps to learn how to properly remove your computer’s hard drive.
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