Replacing your laptop (or PC) HDD- This is one of the best upgrades you can make (and get more out of older laptops in particular): by upgrading to a larger drive, you'll gain much-needed storage space or, by extension, at least, significantly increase productivity faster hard drive speed. (Solid-state Drive, SSD, can really speed up your computer for very little investment.) Here's what you need to know about replacing your hard drive and easily moving programs and data to the New Drive.

Make sure you select the correct replacement drive

Not all hard disks are the same. If you have an older laptop, for example, the drive connector may not work with newer hard drives. Likewise, you want to make sure that the drive you purchase fits properly in your laptop or desktop bay. To find out which drive you should buy, do an Internet search for your current make and model to get the size and thickness, as well as the interface (eg, 2.5-inch, 12.5mm thick SATA drive. Most laptops use 2. 5" rims, but you'll want to check yours to make sure the information is on the rim label).

Once you have purchased the right drive replacement, physically replacing your old drive with a new one is very simple—a matter of removing a few screws and sliding the new drive into place of the old one.

Transfer data and OS and applications to New Drive

Of course, it's not just about exchanging physical disks. You want to transfer your files, applications and settings to New Drive. There are several ways you can transfer data and even the operating system and applications to New Disk:

If you already have an external hard drive or NAS (network attached storage):

• If you have an external hard drive lying around or a NAS (network attached storage) device, you don't need to buy anything other than a new hard drive. Using software such as Acronis True Image or free Clonezilla you can save an image of the current disk on an existing one external drive. These are copies or mirrors, the entire drive with data, applications and settings remain unchanged. Then, you can physically change the old disk into the computer using New Disk, run software to clone again to a new drive, and install the cloned image you saved, an external drive or NAS.
• Additionally, if you want to start fresh with your laptop operating system and application installation and simply transfer your data (documents, photos, videos, etc.), you can simply copy to My Documents and other data folders on the external drive . Then, replace the old disk with a new one, and install Windows and other fresh applications on the New Disk in the laptop. Finally, copy these data/folders saved on external media back to New Drive. The built-in Windows Easy Transfer tool can make this process much easier:
  • Hit the "Start" menu on your laptop, then in the search box, type "Windows Easy Transfer."
  • Select "external hard drive or USB flash drive" as the destination drive
  • "This is my new computer", select "No", then click the Install Now button to your external hard drive. Windows will copy your data and settings to the external drive.

If you want to copy directly from the old drive to the New Drive:

• The method above, as you can see, means additionally copying your drive to the external (middle) drive and then back to the New Disk. If you don't want to use an intermediate external hard drive or NAS to copy data back and forth, you can simply connect the new and old drives together either using a simple USB-to-SATA/IDE adapter or cable, the laptop hard drive enclosure (which holds old hard drive and connect it to the laptop via USB), or a laptop hard drive upgrade kit such as Acronis, which includes not only the case and cable, but software for cloning the old drive to the new one. Cabinets/sets run from $5 to $50.
• In this case you have two options:
  • Cloning an old disk: Connect New Disk to your laptop using a cable. Then using cloning, cloning the old disk to the new one. Finally, replace the old disk with the new disk.
  • Copying data only: The second option is to install new disk into the laptop, install Windows and other fresh applications on New Disk. Connect the old drive to your laptop using a cable or case and copy data folders (eg My Documents) to the New Drive. (You can use the Windows Easy Transfer Tool first, as mentioned above, to speed up this process.)

My favorite method is to swap old and new drives, then connect the old drive to the laptop via a USB adapter cable. Should I just copy the folders to the users folder (that's my name), to New Disk, then Windows installations and "my applications" are fresh. It takes longer to install operating system and the programs are new, but I like that the system is completely new, so to speak. Programs like Ninite and AllMyApps make reinstalling applications actually easy when setting up your new laptop—or re-setting up your laptop.

When replacing HDD with SSD, what increase in performance speed can you expect? This article tests the Plextor M6V 256GB model as an example. Also provided in the article detailed instructions how to replace hdd with ssd.

Relatively good performance in reading tests, compatible with laptops and Ultrabookami (6.8 mm thick), PlexTurbo 3 technology, 3 years warranty with unlimited data recording.

Minuses

• poor performance in recording tests;
• low performance under prolonged load;
• the price could have been a little lower.

Once upon a time replacing hdd with ssd was monstrously expensive, and only a few could afford such computer optimizations. These days are fortunately over, because prices for storage media have fallen to such low levels that they are now not something unusual, even less wealthy clients can afford them, in particular this applies to models with a capacity of 120 - 128 GB . Models 240 - 256 GB are also very popular.

Why should you replace your hard drive with an SSD?

Okay, but why is it worth replacing your HDD with an SSD? Replacing hdd with ssd on computer comes down to the operating principle of SSDs; magnetic disks are replaced here by semiconductor drives, which provide much higher efficiency and significantly shorter data access time. As a result, you can count on greater comfort while using your computer, as well as faster loading of the OS and applications (including games).

SSDs, by the way, offer lower power consumption and are shock-resistant, and an additional advantage is often smaller size and weight. These features provide a certain advantage in mobile devices, where in addition to efficiency, mobility is important, and as a consequence maximum time work on the built-in battery. Based on this, roughly speaking, you already know the answer to the question: which is better hdd or ssd for laptop?

SSD media is not yet suitable for everyone...

Currently, the big disadvantage of SSDs is the price-to-capacity ratio compared to HDDs, which use traditional magnetic disk drives (HDDs) - which have higher capacity and lower cost per GB. Also the number of entries and erases is the which is better hdd vs ssd it's a little smaller. But the industry is constantly evolving, so in the future, in a few years, you can expect SSDs to be as large, or even larger, than HDDs. Prices are also becoming lower from year to year and are even predicted to equal HDD drives.

At least that’s what the theory looks like, so it was decided to test it in practice using the example of the inexpensive 256 GB Plextor M6V model.

Below is shown how to replace the HDD in your computer with an SSD; you will also see what increase in performance speed you can expect, also thanks to the use of the author’s PlexTurbo 3.0 technology. This information is intended for less experienced readers, not everyone is a great expert, so if you are an experienced user, don’t blame me because you probably already know what disk better ssd or hdd.

Test platform

Video on how to replace hdd with ssd in PC

Step-by-step instructions on how to replace a hdd with an ssd in a PC and also transfer Windows from a hdd to an ssd.

Hard drive space is not infinite. The development of technology has made it possible to create disks larger than 1 TB, and everyone feels an illusory feeling that space will never run out. However, as disks evolve, so do technologies that take up disk space. For example, HD video eats up gigabytes of space for breakfast.

This was the dark side of the issue. The bright side is that learning how to replace a hard drive is a piece of cake! Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about a hard drive that is almost full. Read on, and all the secrets of this procedure will be revealed to you.

Finding a Good Replacement

Before purchasing a new HDD, you will need to know the connection type of the old one. Today, the most used type of data transfer cable is SATA.

However, computers that are already 5-6 years old may use a connection known as IDE. The difference between them is easy to recognize: an IDE cable really looks like a cable with countless wires, and a SATA connection is a small wire ending in an “L” shaped adapter. In the picture below you can easily see the difference - on the left is a SATA drive, and on the right is an IDE connection. Laptop hard drives are often smaller, but the connections are the same.

By the way, about the sizes. Consider when purchasing physical dimensions disk. There are currently two popular sizes on the market – 3.5″ and 2.5″. The larger one is for desktop PCs, the smaller one is for small systems and laptops. However, many “heavy” hard drives are 2.5″ in size, regardless of the computer that is equipped with them. There is another exception to the rule: some factory all-in-one computers use the 2.5″ size.

Transferring Information from Old to New

The process of actually replacing a hard drive is one of the simplest, judging by the physical effort required. However, the hard drive is one of the most important components of the system; all your information is stored on it, from the operating system to your mail, movies and favorite songs. Hence, easy replacement will deprive you of all this information.

If your computer supports multiple hard drives, then this problem can be easily fixed. You simply connect a second hard drive to the system and clone the old drive to the new one using one of thousands free utilities. You can then put the old drive away on the shelf or format it to use as a spare (check that the cloning was successful before you do this!).

It's more difficult if your computer only supports one hard drive, so you won't be able to transfer data directly. In this case, copying is only possible using a separately purchased USB-SATA adapter or external HDD. Cloning this way may take longer due to the limitations of the USB connection, but it will eventually be done.

Replacing an Old Hard Drive

Desktop PCs are usually designed with the hard drive located in the front middle, between the CD/DVD and bottom, with diodes and additional connectors. The process is not that complicated and only requires hands, eyes and a screwdriver.

Open both panels of the case. If you have a SATA drive, then unhook the cable and additional power, if any. If IDE, first disconnect the additional power, then the cable. Make a note of where you put them and remove the screws. Try to keep the case level to prevent it from falling and causing damage to the disc and surroundings.

Then, to connect the new hard drive, you can use the same screws - most often the connectors are universal. But if the drive comes with separate screws, use them. After that, connect - to IDE: first the cable, then the power, to SATA: first the power (if connected), then the cable.

With laptops it's a little different. For the most part, the hard drive in them is hidden behind a plastic cover at the bottom of the device, secured with a pair of screws. Having removed it, you will see, in fact, the disk, also secured with several screws. You just need to pull it out and insert a new one. All connections are built directly into the device, so you don't have to worry about cables. Please note that not every laptop can be modified in this way, so read the instructions to avoid difficulties.

Divide And Conquer Download

After the replacement, you will no doubt want to check that everything is working well. If you cloned the disk, then everything should be fine. Cloning programs offer to adjust the sizes of new partitions, trying to match the sizes of old ones as much as possible, and your PC will understand everything on its own. To make sure, go to Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management, here you will see which disks the system recognizes and which partitions are in use. If not all the space is used, you can increase the partition size or create a new one. Please note that some of the disk space will not be displayed as it is used for storage deleted files, information and data provided by the manufacturer.

If you were unable to copy the old disk, this step is not necessary, since you will have to create and format a new partition during the OS installation process.

Conclusion

I hope this article has provided comprehensive information about installing a new hard drive. May you always have free space!

Back up your data on your current hard drive. If the drive you want to replace is working and you want to save some of the data on it, run backup before removing it. If you don't have external USB drive to copy data, check out this article to learn how to create backups files online using OneDrive.

Get a full bootable copy of the operating system. If you are replacing your primary hard drive and are not using cloning software, you will need to install the operating system on the new drive. Buy the OS on disk, boot it to a flash drive, or create your own system recovery media.

• If you are using Windows 10, please refer to this guide.

Choose between HDD (hard disk drive) or SSD (solid state drive). Solid State Drives much faster than hard drives and have a longer lifespan due to fewer moving parts. Because of these benefits, SSD drives are more expensive and smaller. If cost and disk capacity are a sore point for you, install a hard drive. However, keep in mind that after working on a computer with an SSD drive, it will be very difficult for you to return to your previous performance.

Select the correct drive for your computer. Laptops typically use 2.5-inch hard drives, while desktop computers also support 3.5-inch drives. Special adapters are available for 2.5-inch drives, so they are also suitable for desktop computers. Most SSD drives are 2.5 inches in size, so many modern manufacturers have begun adding drive bays to new models smaller size. If you're installing a smaller drive in a desktop computer that doesn't have a 2.5-inch bay, you'll need an adapter. Hard drives can be purchased in both sizes.

• SSDs, like HDDs, are usually connected to the motherboard using SATA connectors. In old hard drives An IDE cable can be used, but they are rarely seen anywhere anymore. SATA usually has three different versions(SATA, SATA II and SATA III), so you need to find out which one your motherboard supports.
• Take enough big disk to store all your data.

Turn off your computer and unplug it from the electrical outlet. Even if you are using a laptop, still make sure it is turned off and not plugged in.

Open the computer case. The exact sequence of steps depends on whether you are replacing the drive in a desktop computer or a laptop. If it's a computer, you'll most likely need to remove the screws on the back of the system unit and then slide off the side panel.

• Some laptops have special doors on the case that allow you to easily insert and remove hard drives. To get to the hard drive in other models, you will have to remove the battery and unscrew some parts of the case. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the correct method for your computer.
• In some system units no screws are used. If there are no screws on the cabinet, look for a latch or button that allows you to open the side doors or panels. Remove doors or panels if they get in the way.

Locate the hard drive. In desktop computers hard The drive is inserted into a bay inside the computer case and screwed to it. Locate the communication interface and power cable and disconnect them.

Unscrew all screws and disconnect the drive. Most likely, the drive will be held in place by screws on both sides of the bay. Remove the screws. If the drive is not secured in the chassis or bay, hold it with your hand. Once you have removed all the screws, remove the hard drive from the bay or case.

Set jumpers on the IDE drive. If you are using SATA drive, you can skip this step. After you remove the hard drive, look at the jumper locations on the drive itself. If you don't know where they are, look at the sticker on your hard drive for a diagram illustrating the jumper locations. The role of the drive on the channel depends on the position of the jumpers: it can be a master (Mater), a slave (Slave) or automatically detected (Cable Select). Duplicate the position of the jumpers on the new disk.

Insert the new drive into the same bay where the old one was. Carefully screw the drive and connect the data interface and power cable.

• Put the old disk in a safe place in case you need it again.

Insert the system recovery media into your computer and turn it on. Skip this step if you cloned the drive using cloning software. If the recovery media is on a DVD, turn on the computer to remove the disc tray. If it is on a USB flash drive, just insert it into the computer before turning it on. If your computer is configured to boot from a USB drive or DVD, it will automatically download the Windows Installer.

• If your computer won't boot from the recovery media, you will have to make certain changes to the BIOS. The method of entering the BIOS depends on the model motherboard, but usually, to enter the boot menu, you just need to restart your computer and immediately press F12, F10 or Del. A login button should appear under the manufacturer's logo. If you miss the point, you will have to restart your computer and try again.

Replacing a hard drive (HDD) is another stage of hardware repair or upgrade, which is necessary not only to increase free memory, but also performance. Replacing a hard drive is necessary if the speed of reading data from the drive has become too slow, or it simply refuses to work. The main parameters of this device are the spindle speed and cache volume. These days, the most popular interfaces for connecting hard drives are SATA and SATA II.

There are also legacy IDE connectors.

SSD drives are intended for personal PCs

or regular HDDs.

SSD drives consist of memory chips similar to a flash card, unlike conventional ones, which physically contain a set of disks, a reading head, and a motor that rotates them. Actually, because of this difference, SSD drives work much faster, quieter, and do not heat up as much. It also works faster than a flash drive due to the fact that it is connected not to USB, but directly to the HDD connector inside the computer. Its disadvantage is that it is much more expensive and smaller in volume. The speed of reading information from these media is a primary parameter that should not be ignored. Regardless of how much RAM is used on board the computer, SSD performance or a regular HDD will be strictly fixed. If the data is not read quickly enough, then the hard drive is faulty or clogged with unnecessary information.

HDD replacement is one of the categories computer help The release of new video cards, processors, and motherboards requires improvements for the HDD, which is why you should periodically produce your own hardware.

Below you can see how to install a hard drive correctly.

How to properly connect a hard drive to system board you can watch the video below.

Attention! The video above only discusses connecting the hard drive to the motherboard! You also need to connect power to it from the power supply. You can find out how to do this