A hard drive is a device that stores data for a computer. It is usually made up of one or more spinning disks, called platters, that are coated with magnetic material. The data is read from the disk by a read/write head that moves across the platters as they spin.
Hard drives are available in a variety of sizes, speeds, and capacities. The size is the physical dimensions of the hard drive. The speed is the speed at which the disk spins and is measured in rotations per minute (RPM). The capacity is the amount of data that the hard drive can store and is measured in gigabytes (GB).
When buying a hard drive, you should consider the size, speed, and capacity that you need. You should also consider the type of hard drive. There are two main types of hard drives: hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD). HDDs are the traditional type of hard drive and are usually cheaper. SSDs are newer and faster but are more expensive.
If you’re planning on selling or giving away your laptop, you’ll want to remove the hard drive first. Here’s how to do it.
Most laptops have a hard drive that’s easy to remove. Simply unscrew a few screws on the back or bottom of the laptop, slide out the hard drive, and put the screws back in.
If you’re not sure how to remove the hard drive, consult your laptop’s manual. Or, do a search for your laptop model and “remove the hard drive.”
Once the hard drive is out, you can put it in an anti-static sleeve (available at any computer store) and then into a hard drive enclosure. This will protect the drive and make it easy to connect to another computer.
If you’re not planning on reusing the hard drive, you can just format it using a tool like DBAN. This will erase all the data on the drive so that no one can recover it.
To remove a hard drive from a laptop, you will need to open the laptop and remove the screws that hold the hard drive in place. Then, you can slide the hard drive
Also, read our latest guide about what laptop should I buy?
Step 1: Take Battery Out
Since you’ve neither the efficiency nor precision of a laptop. You’ve to be extra cautious for manual work like removing the hard drive. So, take out the battery if it is not built-in. The main reason you should do this is that even if your laptop is turned off while you are working on its inner components as long as it is still connected to a power source. However, the power might come back on due to a short or mechanical jolt.
Moreover, also disconnects all the cables attached to the laptop. Press & hold down on the power button for about 15 seconds to drain any remaining power the laptop may be harboring. Most batteries have two-release latches that you either pull or press to take the battery out of the laptop’s body.
Step 2: Safety Considerations
Warning! Do not work on your laptop while it has a power source, you’ll get shocked. Before beginning any type of work on your laptop ensure that the power cord is unplugged and the battery is easily removed. Depressing the power button for a couple of seconds after taking the battery out is also good. This reassures you that there is no more power/electricity in the laptop.
For maximum safety of your hard drive, it is a well-known fact that magnets can erase the information stored electronically. This is 100% true, however, the magnets have to be fairly powerful to do this. We recommend keeping any magnets away from your work area for added safety. Although, we won’t worry too much if a refrigerator magnet accidentally comes in contact with your laptop.
Step 3: Remove Screws
Once you make sure that all power has been drained from the laptop you can begin to take it apart. Begin by removing the screws. However, do not remove the screws that place at the ends of the laptop. Because they’re the ones that secure the hard drive.
Step 4: Remove the Keyboard
To remove the keyboard, you’ll have to depress the four tabs at the top of the keyboard. Moreover, you’ll have to use a screwdriver to reach the tabs. It is easy to depress one tab at one time, starting at one of the corners and lift-up on that piece of the keyboard.
Although, these tabs aren’t a part of the keyboard. There is part of the surrounding case that protrudes out onto the keyboard while keeping it in place. Lastly, once the keyboard is freed do not pull it with force, just see the next step.
Step 5: Remove keyboard Cable
Once your keyboard is freed from all tabs, lift up the keyboard to reveal the keyboard cable. This cable is extremely thin so be careful while pulling it out. Do not try to yank it out; unless you don’t plan on reusing the keyboard.
Step 6: Remove Strips
You will need to remove the plate screen to gain access to the hard drive. But first, unhook the strips.
Step 7: Remove More Screws
Now, remove the screws securing the plate. Then, simply lift the plate up and look for a hard drive.
Step 8: Remove Drive Mount
Then, your drive has a hard drive amount which helps to keep it in place. There will be screws holding the mount down so you’ve to unscrew them too. However, on certain laptops, it’s a button you press to release the hard drive.
Step 9: Pull-Out the Drive from the Connectors
Gently pull the hard drive away from its connectors. Although, a flat-bladed tool can come in handy here. However, be careful and try not to damage the connectors. Without them, there is no other way to insert an internal drive into your laptop.
Is it Safe To Remove Hard Drive From a Laptop?
Yes! It is completely safe. However, there may be some risk involved but it is extremely minimal if you follow the step above. Removing your laptop’s hard drive has little to do with software. You’ll be handling hardware throughout the process. Moreover, it entails a lot of screwing and unscrewing.
Removing a hard drive is simply means opening up your laptop and taking out the drive, regardless of how many of them your laptop is compatible with. Although, the process of removing the hard drive itself should be handled with a lot of care.
Never remove it while your machine is turned on and the drive is working. If, for some illogical reason, you also do decide to remove it while the power is on. However, be aware that you expose the drive static electricity which could electrode your hard drive’s contents to death. Because your body can easily transmit static electricity to the drive’s fragile electronic components.
In essence, you could fry the sectors on the drive and lose your important data without even realizing it. So, be careful.
Final Words:
We hope that this step-by-step guide helps you to remove the hard drive of your laptop. Because in the guide you provide step by step procedure to help you to understand thing easily. But if you still have some issues or some suggestions, then you can tell us in the comments. We will be pleased to answer those!