My laptops hard drive has now failed and i need to replace it. Is this a relatively easy process? also how can i clone my existing hard drive to the new one?
2007-09-25 03:42:01 · 4 answers · asked by wildcard_wu 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
is pretty easy depending on the brand
Generally u will have to flip the laptop over make sure u do it on a soft surface like maybe ur bed.Make sure its switched off first and unplugged from main.
there should be marking to show that the compartment has a HDD in it on mine it says strike zone ull know its a pretty big cover compared to others around it unscrew it and getly lift it up it will prolly have hinges so dont force it open.
Ull see the hard drive in there all u will have to do is slide it away from the contacts and then gently lift it up holding the side that dont have the contacts.
then put in the new HDD and slide it towards the contact pins.pull it back to make sure its locked in place.
put the cover back and screw it in place
2007-09-25 03:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With most modern laptops (anything in the last five years) physically replacing the hard drive. Usually there are a couple screws on the bottom of the laptop that hold a tray that contains the drive. With the laptop off (of course), remove the screws and slide out the tray. Remove the old drive from the tray (usually four screws) and replace it with the new one.
It is possible to clone the old drive to the new with a program like Norton Ghost or Drive Image. But too often it means that you copy all the problems and bad sectors of the old drive to the new one. It is usually best when dealing with a failing drive to not clone it. Rather do a fresh install of Windows on to the new drive.
You can back up any data (pictures, music, videos, documents) that you have on the old drive and then transfer them to the new one. Or you can invest in a USB enclosure for the old drive. You put the old drive into a "box" and then it attaches to the computer by a USB cable. It will show up on the new hard drive as an additional drive (E drive or something). You can then drag and drop any files you want from the old drive to the new.
If you trust the old drive for reuse, then format it, and use it as a "backup" drive. Once a month copy any data from the new drive over to it as a backup "just in case"....
2007-09-25 03:52:25 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it has physically "failed" (no longer spins), then you may not be able to clone it. If it is about to fail, then you can clone it.
I recently bought a new HD and a neat little kit that's produced by a company called Apricorn. It consists of an HD enclosure, USB cable, and software on CD. The instructions are very simple to follow and the only tools you need are a screwdriver. I cloned my old HD onto the new HD and then installed the new HD in my laptop in less than an hour. I had never changed out a laptop HD before this.
I then installed the old HD in the enclosure and and have been using it as a back up device.
2007-09-25 04:05:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get some cloning software off the internet, there is some good free ones, or microsoft probably has one, it is easy to replace, just remove the old one, and replace, this is done by removing the screws on the laptop and pulling the hd out, it is easy and you cant really break anything unluss your really rough. or you can just pay to get it done, but thats expensive
2007-09-25 03:50:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋