How to Remove the Hard Drive

Many of us use computers on a daily basis to get personal chores and business done but are unaware of what components are responsible for making each function operational. Your hard drive is the hardware in every computer that is responsible for storing all the permanent data on your computer. A hard drive allows us to save, edit and adjust all or most of our information which we input in the computer. You may have a reason to either transport your hard drive to another system or completely remove the hard drive. This article will show you how you can remove the hard drive.

How to Remove the Hard Drive

1. If you intend to move the hard drive, you may want to backup the information onto another hard drive or onto a disc. Then shut down your computer and plug out all the cables including the power cable, keyboard mouse or any other peripheral devices that may be connected to the System Unit.
2. Use the Philips screwdriver to pull away the screws that connect both side pieces of the system unit so you can pull it away to get inside.
3. Once you get inside the computer you should see the motherboard and then you need to identify where the hard drive is. It should be just below the floppy disk drive “” if there is any “” in a metal cage. Then use the screwdriver to pull out the screws on both sides.
4. Now disconnect the power cable and the cable that attaches the hard drive to the motherboard. There are two different types of hard drives that use different kinds of connections. There are what is known as IDE and SATA hard drives. The IDE hard drive is connected to a flat, ribbon like connection that has a broad flat end with multiple pins and the power cable has four large pins. While a SATA hard drive uses a much smaller connection that is thin, the SATA power connection is also thin but the end connection is slightly bigger.
5. Once you have gotten off all the connections then gently take your time and slide out the hard drive. Be gentle because hard drives are very sensitive and can go bad if you drop or mess with its circuitry. If you decide to get a new hard drive or put the current one back into the system then follow the same procedure to get it back in.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever you pull down a computer, ensure that you place the screws in one location or onto a piece of tape so that the screws are not easily misplaced.
• In order to maintain a healthy hard drive, you need to make sure you defrag the computer regularly. You also need to ensure that you don’t continuously fill the hard drive over its capacity.
• The connections that connect a hard drive to a motherboard can sometimes be very rigid, especially those that use an IDE connection so take your time and shift the pieces out so that they don’t break or bend.
• Exercise caution and secure your computer by making sure there is no form of liquid around that can spill into the computer and cause the computer to malfunction.

Author Bio

Charlie is a free lancer writer and content builder of many Technology sites and he loves to write article regarding computer problems like how to format hard drive.