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Few things are more frustrating than having to pick and choose what applications to install because your notebook’s hard drive is getting full. Installing a new hard drive is a great way to increase your notebook’s storage capacity. You can also dramatically speed up your overall computing experience by replacing the mechanical hard drive with an SSD (solid-state drive). It’s easier than you may think. Read on, and I’ll show you how.

STEP 1:
Before removing the old hard drive,back up any important data to a secure location, such as a network drive or external hard drive. Format the hard drive to make it easy to re-purpose by clicking Start and Computer, right-clicking the drive you’ve just backed up, and then clicking Format.
(NOTE: You cannot format a hard drive that is running the OS, so you’ll need to connect it to a computer as a secondary
drive to format it.)

STEP 2:
Shut down the notebook, and remove the power cable. Also make sure to remove the primary and secondary battery, where applicable.

STEP 3:
Locate your notebook’s documentation and determine how to expose the hard drive bay. Every notebook is different, and you can save yourself a lot of time with a quick glance at the manual. In some instances, the hard drive bay is labeled on the bottom of the notebook, so check there first.

STEP 4:
With a screwdriver, remove the screw(s) that secures the hard drive bay cover according to your notebook’s documentation. Remove the hard drive. In some notebooks, the hard drive is secured to a sled that slides out from the side of the notebook housing.
Others require the removal of additional screws before you can slide the hard drive off its power and data connectors and
remove it from the notebook. You may need to remove one or more bumpers that prevent the hard drive from disengaging
from the power and data connectors.

STEP 5:
Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the tray or sled using a screwdriver. Although your notebook’s documentation
will tell you, the power and data ports on your old hard drive will determine whether you need an EIDE (Enhanced Integrated
Drive Electronics)-based or SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)-based hard drive. If there is a 39-pin plug on
the old hard drive, your replacement will need to be an EIDE hard drive. If there are two L-shaped connectors, then you have a
SATA hard drive.

STEP 6:
Mount the new hard drive to the tray or sled using the screws, slide or place it into your notebook’s hard drive bay, and
then secure it to the power and data connectors by sliding it all the way in. If you removed bumpers or screws during the
uninstall process, then replace those now. Finally, secure the drive bay cover or drive sled by screwing in the associated screw(s).

STEP 7:
If you replaced the primary hard drive, your next job is to reinstall Windows and restore your backed up files.
If this is a secondary hard drive, then boot the notebook and verify that the new hard drive is recognized and accessible.