Pet & Animal: How to Install a Hard Drive

The hard drive is the primary storage location for all of your computer’s data. If you run out of that storage, installing a new drive may be the most practical solution. If your computer is dead, you may need to replace your old failed hard drive. In either case, you can do it yourself instead of taking your computer into a repair shop. Read on after the jump to learn how.

Steps

Installing a Desktop Hard Drive

Power down the computer. Shut off the power supply in the back. If you can access the inside where it stands, you don’t need to unplug the computer. Otherwise, unplug the computer and place it somewhere that allows you to get inside.

Remove the case panels. You may need a Phillip’s head screwdriver, but most newer computers have thumbscrews. You will need to remove both sides so that you can screw the hard drive in on both sides.

Make sure you are grounded. If your computer is still plugged in (but the power supply is switched off), you can ground yourself by touching any metal part of the case. Otherwise, make sure that you are grounded before starting to work on the inside of the computer. This will prevent electrostatic shock from damaging the components of your computer.

Remove the old drive (if applicable). If you are removing an old hard drive, make sure all of the cables are disconnected from both the motherboard and the power supply. Unscrew all the screws on both sides of the hard drive, and then slide it out of the housing.
- You may need to remove more cables or cards in order to access the hard drives in a tight case.

Insert your new drive. Remove it from the antistatic packaging and slide it into an open space in the hard drive housing. The drive should slide directly in, and the holes on the side of the drive should line up to the screw guides on the housing.
- If you can, use a slot that has some space around it. This will improve airflow and lead to a cooler system, but is not a critical concern.

Secure the hard drive. Once the hard drive has been inserted, use the screws that came with it to secure the hard drive in the housing. Ideally you should use two screws on each side of the hard drive. If the hard drive is loose, it can rattle and cause more noise and lead to physical damage.
- Tighten the screws to a firm tightness, but don’t overtighten as that may cause damage as well.

Connect a SATA hard drive to the motherboard. Newer hard drives will use SATA cables, which are thin and resemble USB cables. Use a SATA cable to connect the hard drive to the motherboard. SATA cables can be connected in either direction.
- If you are connecting your primary hard drive, the SATA cable should be plugged into the first SATA channel. This may be labeled SATA0 or SATA1. Refer to your motherboard documentation for detailed information for your motherboard.
- Secondary drives should be connected to the next available SATA channel.

Connect a PATA (IDE) hard drive to the motherboard. IDE drives are older model hard drives that can be identified by the long rows of pins on the back. IDE Drives are connected via an IDE cable, which is wide and flat. The cable is usually gray in color.
- The blue end of the cable plugs into the motherboard. The black connector plugs into your primary (Master) drive, while the black connector plugs into the secondary (Slave) drive if applicable.
- Set the jumper for your primary drive to Master. The jumper diagram should be printed onto the hard drive. If you are installing a secondary drive but it is the only drive connected to the cable, it should be set to Master as well.

Connect the power supply to the hard drive. Most newer power supplies have SATA power connectors, though older power supplies typically only have Molex (4 pin) connectors. If this is the case, and you are installing a SATA drive, you will need a Molex-to-SATA adapter. IDE drives will use the Molex connector.
- Make sure that all of your connections are secure. Ensure that none of the cables can come undone by wiggling them a little bit.

Close up your computer. Replace the case sides and reconnect your cables if you had to move the case to work on the inside. Turn the power supply back on and then turn your computer on.^[1]

Finish the installation. Once you’ve got everything connected and the computer turned back on, you’ll need to finish the installation of the hard drive from your computer. If you are replacing your primary drive, you’ll have to reinstall your operating system. If you are adding a new drive, you;ll need to format the drive before you can use it.
- To reinstall Windows, follow the guide that matches your operating system:
- To reinstall OS X, follow the guide that matches your operating system:
- To format your hard drive, follow this guide for all systems.

Installing a Laptop Hard Drive

Power down your laptop. Shut your laptop down completely (don’t put it in Sleep mode). Turn it over and remove the battery from the back of the laptop. This will help prevent the possibility of electrocution.

Open the hard disk panel. This panel is located on the bottom of the laptop. You will need a small Phillip’s head screwdriver in order to remove the screws and the panel. The panel can be identified by the hard drive logo printed next to it.
- Almost every laptop can only fit one hard drive at a time. Some of the higher-end laptops may be able to support two. If you are replacing your only hard drive, you will need to reinstall your operating system after replacing it.

Unscrew the hard drive. Depending on the laptop, you may have to remove a screw or two before you can remove the hard drive. Not all laptop hard drives are secured by screws.

Pull the ribbon to release the hard drive. The hard drive will pop back about half an inch, allowing you to remove it from its housing. Place your old hard drive somewhere safe in case you need to retrieve data off of it.

Insert your new hard drive. Ensure that you insert it with the correct side facing out. Once you’ve placed the hard drive in the housing, press it firmly into the connectors. Do not force the hard drive, or you may damage the connectors. Once the hard drive is secure, reinsert any screws.

Close up the laptop. Once the hard drive is installed, close up the panel and reinsert the battery. Make sure the panel is securely closed. You will now need to prepare the new drive:
- To reinstall Windows, follow the guide that matches your operating system:
- To reinstall OS X, follow the guide that matches your operating system:
- To format your hard drive, follow this guide for all systems.

Video

Tips

Pay close attention to static electricity when working with the inner components of your computer. Use an anti-static strip or touch the screw on an active light switch cover to ground yourself before touching the components and cables inside your computer.

Hard drives emit heat when they are running. If your computer has multiple hard drive bays, consider positioning your hard drives so that there is empty space between them to help keep your computer running cooler.