Replacing a dead hard drive of PC

The hard drive in my Windows desktop computer has died. I want to remove it and install a new one — is it as simple as unscrewing the old drive and plugging a new one into the old socket? Replacing the hard drive in a desktop computer is fairly straightforward with a compatible replacement drive; make sure to match the physical size and internal connection to the PC’s motherboard.

The computer manufacturer’s site may have a list of compatible replacement parts, along with a guide to installing it (take Hewlett-Packard, for example: bit.ly/15ptdJ9). Repair-oriented sites like iFixit. com also have illustrated tutorials that show the basic steps for hard-drive replacement.

Third-party vendors may be less expensive, and some have online help for finding compatible hard drives. Drive Solutions is one such option at www. drivesolutions.com/upgrade.

When you have the new drive, open the computer’s case and locate the old drive. (Avoid static electricity by doing the work in a non-carpeted area or by wearing an antistatic wrist strap.) Unplug the drive’s motherboard cable and remove it from any brackets, and then reverse the process to plug in the new drive.

Once the new drive is in place, format it and reinstall Windows from the original system discs. Microsoft has information on doing that at bit.ly/13l2Sb7.