Introduction
The hard drive is one of the most important parts of your computer. The hard drive holds all data and programs, so if it breaks down or fails to work properly, you may lose everything. It is not uncommon for a computer to last 7-10 years before needing a new hard drive, but it is recommended that you change the hard drive every three years or sooner if there are any signs of failure (i.e., clicking noises).
Open your computer case.
You can install a hard drive in your computer if your computer is currently running Windows 10, 8 or 7 and the same way you can also install an SSD. To do this, you must first open your computer case. This will allow you to access the motherboard and the drives located there.
To open the case:
- Unscrew all screws on the back of your computer case by turning them counterclockwise with a screwdriver. You should see two or four screws on top of each side panel, depending on how many panels are covering the outside of your computer’s body (you may have an external hard drive as well). Some cases have more than one set; make sure not to remove too many!
- Remove any other covers for cooling fans that might be covering the motherboard area of your machine next (if applicable). Then lift up gently on all sides until it comes off completely and place it aside where it won’t get damaged by falling onto anything sharp or heavy; put cushions down under where it might land so nothing gets scratched or knocked over while being uncovered during these steps! If any screws are holding down certain components inside then make sure they’re still secure before removing anything else from inside because they could fall out when doing so—this would cause damage both inside as well as outside when replacing things later if not secured again properly beforehand!
Find Sata connection on the motherboard.
Once you’ve figured out what kind of hard drive you’re using and how many drives you want to install, it’s time to get started.
First, find the Sata connection on your motherboard. If it isn’t labeled, or if there aren’t enough connectors for all of the drives in your system (or if they’re labeled differently), don’t worry: most motherboards have an Sata header that allows you to connect multiple drives by daisy-chaining them together. This is a common method used when building home servers or small businesses with multiple servers as well as media servers like Plex.[/END_SECTION]
Connect power supply with hard drive.
Connect the power supply to the hard drive.
- This is pretty basic, but you should make sure that your power supply is connected properly to your motherboard. The motherboard supplies electricity to all of the other components in your computer, so it’s very important that it be plugged in before anything else. You can tell if a part is connected correctly based on whether or not it has pins and they are touching the correct slots on both sides (the motherboard and whatever else).
- Connecting a power supply with a hard drive can be done by plugging them into each other with cords; however, this may cause some trouble if they aren’t compatible with each other because they aren’t designed for one another specifically yet still work together somehow anyway due to fate or luck (or maybe just because).
Connect SATA connector
Connect the SATA connector to your motherboard.
- Connect the SATA connector to your hard drive.
- Connect the SATA connector to the power supply’s SATA port.
- Connect one end of each data cable to a drive and then connect its other end to an open data port on your motherboard (see Figure 2).
Place the hard drive in the case.
- Place the hard drive on the tray.
- Connect the SATA cable to the hard drive and then tighten it with a screwdriver.
- Connect a power supply cable to the back of your hard drive and then connect it to your motherboard by plugging it into one of its 4 pins, depending on what kind of connection your motherboard has (if it’s not included in a hardware manual for your motherboard). If you don’t know which pin is meant for this purpose.
Secure the hard drive with screw or metal clip.
The hard drive is now securely in your computer. You should be careful to make sure it doesn’t move around when you close the case.
Close the case
Now that your hard drive has been installed, it’s time to close the case. Make sure everything is connected and secure before proceeding!
- Make sure all cables are plugged in firmly.
- Make sure the front panel is tightly closed.
- Make sure all screws were removed from their appropriate locations, as they will be needed later on when installing other hardware components such as a power supply unit (PSU) or optical drive(s). If any of these parts are not installed yet, make sure that there aren’t any loose screws inside your case—there should only be one screw holding down each side panel of the case when everything is finished being built!
Hard Drive installation
Now that you have the hard drive, it’s time to install it.
To begin, open your computer case and find the hard drive bay where your new drive will go. Most cases have at least 2 bays available for placing drives. You may need to remove an existing drive before installing a new one. If so, first turn off your computer and unplug its power cable (if it’s connected). Next, screw off the old hard drive’s screws with a screwdriver then pull out its cables from their ports on the motherboard or backplane of the computer case. The next step is to get your hands dirty! If this doesn’t sound like fun and games yet then keep reading!
Conclusion
The most important thing is to make sure that your hard drive is fully secure. You want it to be as stable as possible, so that it doesn’t move around or accidentally get bumped out of place. The best way to do this is by using screws or clips that hold down the sides with enough force that they don’t slip out during use. Make sure not to overtighten them though, otherwise they may break the casing!
