A Simple Computer Repair Is your hard drive dead? Do you simply want more storage space for your computer? Go ahead and replace your hard drive. You m...
Is your hard drive dead? Do you simply want more storage space for your computer? Go ahead and replace your hard drive. You might think that replacing a hard drive is a difficult task, one that you couldn't do on your own. In reality you only need a screwdriver and an OS disk.
The Process
To begin, save any information from your old hard drive that you want to hold on to. You can transfer it to an external drive, put it on a usb, or burn it to a cd or dvd. Of course , if your hard drive is dead this will not be possible, but if you call a computer repair service there is a chance that they will be able to save information from your hard drive.
When you are done backing up your data you will need to turn off your computer and remove the power cord. Once you do this it is time to remove the case from your computer and locate the hard drive. When you have found the hard drive remove the screws that hold the drive in place. Be sure to discharge any static electricity you may have built up before reaching inside your computer. A static shock may cause damage to your computer. Before you can remove the hard drive you have to remove the cables connecting the hard drive to your motherboard.
Some desktop computers have drive bays that are 5-1/4 inches wide. However, most hard drives today are only 3-1/2 inches wide. If you have 5-1/4 inch drive bays, be sure that the new hard drive you purchase comes with a 5-1/4 inch carrier - a metal frame into which the 3-1/2 inch drive can be secured. If your current hard drive is 3-1/2 inches wide you may be able to reuse the carrier.
After you have secured your hard drive into the carrier, plug the cables into your new hard drive. Replacement cables should come with the new drive if your cables do not fit. You simply have to remove the old cables from the motherboard and connect the new ones. Now it's time to return the hard drive to it's place inside your computer. Then secure the drive with all of the screws you had previously removed. You can then replace the cover and plug your computer back in.
All you need to do now is reboot your system, install your Operating System, and copy any data that you backed up from your old hard drive. There you go, you have a new hard drive. A simple installation that you can do by yourself. But if it's too intimidating you could always contact a computer repair specialist and let them take care of it for you.
