How to Change a Hard Drive

With today's new software programs and advanced technology, you might find your hard drive is too small for your needs. Instead of buying a new computer, you can change your hard drive. Changing a hard drive on a personal computer is not difficult to do. It is easy task to change your hard drive Follow these operating system support instructions to change a hard drive with ease.

Removing a Hard Drive

• Determine if you are adding a main hard drive or a back up hard drive. Disconnect the computer from the power source.
• Remove the screws on the back left of the tower when you are looking at the front of the computer.
• Remove the left-side panel carefully.
• Locate the hard drive which is located near the front of the computer.

Follow the ribbon to make sure it is the primary hard drive. The primary hard drive ribbon connector is usually blue.

• Remove the screws from the sides of the hard drive and remove the hard drive from the bracket.

• Disconnect the hard drive from the ribbon and unplug the power plug from the hard drive and remove.

Installing a New Hard Drive

• Determine if you are adding a main hard drive or a back-up hard drive.
• Check the hard drive connectors for the jumper setting. Make sure the plastic pin on the end of the hard drive is set to "Master" or "CS (cable select)" if you are installing a main hard drive. Make sure the plastic pin on the end of the hard drive is set to "Slave" if you are installing a back up hard drive. The setting of the new hard drive should be the same as the old hard drive.

• Attach the ribbon to the matching plug on the hard drive.

• Place the hard drive in the slot at the front top of the case or screw it into the bracket at the front of the tower.

• Screw the side back on the tower.

• Format your hard drive if it is blank. Your new hard drive is now ready to use.