(uplifting music)
Hi, my name is Agent Schroder,
and today, I'm going to show you how to replace
the hard drive in your computer.
You might wanna do this for a number of reasons.
Maybe your old hard drive isn't working well,
or possibly even at all, or maybe you just wanna upgrade
to a newer, faster drive.
In this video, I'll be showing you how
to replace a hard drive, but before doing that,
you want to make sure that your data
is securely backed up so it can be transferred
to the new hard drive.
I'll show you how to do that process manually,
however, there are some great software options out there
that will create an exact replica of your current drive,
so you don't need to do the process manually.
I personally prefer the manual method
because it's a great time to clear out old files,
programs, and data that might
just be slowing down the machine.
It also forces a fresh install of the latest drivers
and the operating system, so your machine
is completely up to date.
On the other hand, since you're not cloning
the drive, make sure you back up everything needed,
since the system won't do it for you.
All right, let me walk you through what I'll be using today.
Some of the items might not make sense right away,
but I promise they will later.
Here's what I have.
A Lenovo desktop PC with the Windows 10 operating system,
the hard drive we're going to be installing,
a smartphone with internet access
and that has the ability to take pictures.
That feature will come in handy throughout the process.
An antistatic wristband and mat,
a set of screwdrivers,
a 512 gigabyte USB external hard drive,
and a 16 gigabyte USB flash drive.
Again, that's what I'm using today.
The steps might be a little different
depending on what you have.
If at any point you need some help,
or would rather have an agent like me do this for you,
there's a link in the notes below
where you can schedule an appointment.
All right, let's get started.
Before you buy a replacement drive,
make sure it's compatible with your machine.
You can use the model number to figure this out.
Here's how you find that.
If your hard drive is still working,
boot up the system, type System Information
into the start menu, open it.
You'll see the system model listed.
Write it down.
If your hard drive isn't working,
you can typically find the hard drive
on the case of your computer.
Then, go to the manufacturer's website
and find the support section.
This is where you'll find specifics on your machine,
including hardware specs and internal components.
Keep this page handy.
The easiest way is by saving the URL on your phone
or another device so you can still view the content,
even when the computer's disconnected.
Make sure you get the same type of drive
to replace your current one,
or one that's compatible.
I'm replacing my drive to have one with more storage I need
to install some pretty beefy programs
that are going to require a lot more storage.
You can see here that my machine has one internal drive.
That's the one I'll be replacing today.
It contains my operating system files,
along with my personal items like photos,
videos, and documents.
Since we'll be completely removing and replacing this drive,
I wanna make sure all my personal files
are safely backed up before I go any further.
This can be done a few different ways.
You can back them up online using a cloud storage service
like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud, just to name a few.
If you have one with plenty of storage
and plenty of upload bandwidth on your network,
that's a good option.
Or, you can connect a physical drive,
like a USB flash drive or an external hard drive
to transfer the data for safekeeping.
That's what I'm going to do.
Now, if you need an exact clone of your current drive,
there are some great software options out there
that do just that.
So, if you need all the files intact
just as they are today, that might be the best solution.
I don't need that today, so I'm going to stick
to manually backing up my data.
All of my content fits on this 512 gigabyte external drive,
but if you have more content,
you can always get a larger one to hold yours.
Simply turn on the computer, then drag any critical files
to the external drive like this.
If you need a hand, the Geek Squad is here to help.
There's a link in the notes below
that you can use to set up an appointment.
Next, make a list of the programs
on your computer that you'll want to reinstall
after you replace the drive.
If any of the programs were purchased
and require a serial number or software key,
open them up, and make sure you jot down
or take a photo of that number.
Then, log out of the software, if necessary.
All right, now that we've backed up personal files
and made a list of programs,
we also need to back up those system files that I mentioned.
Because we'll be reinstalling those on the new drive.
Let me walk you through that process.
First, we'll be creating a recovery drive
that can later be used to install the operating system
on the new hard drive.
Now, insert the 16 gigabyte flash drive.
This will become my recovery drive.
Select the Create Recovery Drive option.
Then, follow the steps to complete the process.
If this doesn't work
or you're unable to complete this process,
say, for example if your drive won't boot up at all,
you can always contact the manufacturer
by visiting their website and having recovery media
shipped to you.
All right, now that the data's safely backed up,
it's time to replace the drive.
Start by turning off your computer,
make sure all the keyboard and power lights are off
and no fans are running.
Then, unplug the power cord, and as a safety measure,
press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
just to drain any lingering power.
In fact, we always recommend waiting
a full five minutes before moving on to the next step.
This is important because you'll be working inside
the computer, so you wanna make sure all of the power
is completely drained.
Waiting five minutes after the computer is unplugged
is a great way to do that.
Before you unplug the other peripherals,
like the keyboard, mouse, printer,
speakers, and monitor, snap a few pictures
so you can reconnect them later.
Now, place the antistatic mat on a flat surface
in an area that's free from clutter and carpet.
Static electricity can damage the internal components
of your computer.
Using a mat like this will help limit
the risk of damaging your hardware.
Depending on how your machine is designed,
you'll want to position it so the case side
is easy to remove.
Now, using the correct screwdriver size
so you don't strip the screws,
remove the cover.
Wrap the antistatic wristband around your wrist,
and connect the alligator clip
to something metal on the computer.
Or even better, if your mat has a place
to connect the clip, use that instead.
These straps are used to absorb the voltage difference
in your body and the computer.
It's similar to when you touch a regular item
like a doorknob and get a shock.
The problem is that the shock can be really damaging
to the internal components of a computer,
so using this mat and wearing the antistatic wristband
are great ways to help avoid that.
Now, go ahead and locate the internal drive.
Here's mine.
Every manufacturer is different.
If you're having a hard time locating yours,
refer to the documentation on the manufacturer's site
that you saved to your phone earlier.
Also, take note of the position,
along with any connected cables.
You'll have to recreate this exact placement
with the new drive.
Again, it might be helpful
to snap a couple of photos just in case.
Go ahead and disconnect any ribbons,
cables, or other connections.
Then, remove any screws holding the drive in place.
Pull the drive out, set it on the antistatic mat.
Insert the new drive, and secure it using
the screws that were attached to the old one.
Then, reconnect all the cables.
Go ahead and put the cover back on,
making sure it's flush and secure with all the screws.
Then, reconnect the power cord,
keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Nice work, you just successfully replaced a hard drive.
Now, it's time to restore your operating system
and personal content.
Start by turning it on.
During this process, you'll be asked
about reinstalling the operating system.
Insert the 16 gigabyte flash drive.
Select the appropriate option.
Since I created a Windows recovery drive,
I'll select that option.
Again, follow the prompts to install
the operating system on your new drive.
This takes time, sometimes even hours,
depending on your computer and the operating system.
When the drive is ready, install any updates.
You do this directly through Windows
and through the manufacturer's website.
Now, it's time to install any programs
and then log in to make sure they're working properly.
And there you go, your new hard drive
should be installed and running smoothly.
Again, if you'd rather have an agent like me take care
of this for you, there is a link in the notes below
where you can schedule an appointment.
Hopefully this video was helpful.
If it was, give it a like.
Or, if you have questions, let us know
in the comments and be sure to subscribe to our channel
for more tech tips from Best Buy.
Thanks for watching.
(uplifting music)