# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If your computer experiences signs of hard drive failure, it's best to replace it before it completely wears out. This gives you a chance to save the data stored on it, including your operating system. While it's a more complicated repair than many consumers feel comfortable performing on their own, you can save money by doing it yourself.

In the following guide, we'll explain the basic steps for how to replace a hard drive, as well as the best way to get the operating system up and running again. This guide works for both replacing a defective hard drive and for swapping out an outdated one for something with more space and speed.

1. Back up data

Before you do any of the steps involved with physically replacing the drive, back up everything it contains that you wish to keep, including:

Programs

Documents

Photo and video files

Music files and playlists

Games and downloadable content (DLC)

You can do this by saving to the cloud via a backup service or by using an external data storage device. Take time to review what programs you want to keep, and assemble your original discs or data files for reinstallation on your new drive.

2. Create a recovery disc

To reinstall your Windows OS on your new computer, create a recovery disc that the computer can use to boot up the new, blank drive after it's installed. You can create one by visiting the Windows website for your particular operating system version and downloading it to a CD-ROM or USB device.

Make sure you have enough free space on your storage disc or drive before starting, and that it is properly formatted according to Windows directions.

3. Remove the old drive

Make sure your computer is turned off and unplugged before starting. We also advise that you use an anti-static mat and wristband. This tool grounds both the computer and you, so that you don't transfer any built-up static electricity to the computer's delicate internal parts and possibly short them out. It keeps you from getting a zap, too.

To begin the process, open the door on your computer case. This will vary by manufacturer. It is usually held in place by small screws or there may be a sliding mechanism.

After you and the computer are safely grounded, locate the hard drive and remove the power cables and data connectors from the drive itself.

Refer to the documentation for installing the new hard drive, and work backward to see how to disconnect the old hard drive from power and data connectors specifically. If you're unsure, check for your specific brand of computer online.

There will usually be a set of small screws holding the drive into the case. Remove these next, and then pull out the hard drive from the computer case or bay with a sliding motion. While it's not necessary to physically remove the disconnected old drive, many prefer to get it out of the way.

This frees up space in your computer case for other components down the road, such as a second hard drive. It also creates more air movement around the new drive. If you do choose to leave the old drive inside the computer case, make sure all of the connections remain disconnected.

4. Place the new drive

To put the new drive in, simply reverse the steps you already performed. Plug in the power connectors according to the new drive's documentation, then follow up with data connection cords.

Depending on how short the connectors are, you may have to slide the drive into the bay first. A small flashlight can be helpful for seeing into the small space of the bay as you work. Replace the screws that hold the drive into the case, replace the computer case door, and you're now ready to set up a new drive.

5. Reinstall the operating system

After you've finished with the physical portion of your hard drive replacement, and before you ever use it for the first time, you must properly format and partition the hard drive. This is a simple process for Windows users, but it must happen before anything else.

Fortunately, putting the operating system back on the computer performs these two steps automatically. Your OS will determine the exact steps, but for Windows 10 or Windows 10 Pro for HP computers and laptops, operating system installation involves the following steps:

1. Get started by plugging in your PC and powering it on. For HP computers, press the "Escape" key repeatedly after startup.

2. The startup menu will appear with an option to access the Boot Menu. Use the Boot Menu to tell the computer where to start from - either the USB or installation disk you created and inserted early on.

3. Follow the prompts to partition, format, and install Windows onto your new hard drive. Most users can use the default settings and not customize anything at this time.

4. You may be asked to restart the computer. The computer may also restart on its own several times before it's finished. Allow a few hours for the process to complete, depending on your hard drive and OS.

5. Once the computer has restarted for the final time and you see a Windows log-in screen, you're ready to begin using your new drive.

6. Reinstall your programs and files

Now that you have Windows working on a new hard drive, you can start the process of putting the things you want back on the computer. Your cloud backup or external drive should be accessed by using the software it recommends to retrieve files.

Simply pick the files you want to restore and you're good to go. You can also get just the basics at this point and continue adding things as you find them necessary over time.

Cloning your hard drive

Another option for putting your data onto a new drive is to "clone" your existing drive. Assuming that your hard drive failure is caused by a physical fault and not a software glitch or corrupted file, you can physically connect the old drive to the new drive. Use cloning software to transfer an exact copy of the data, operating system, and files to the new drive.

This is only recommended if you want a duplicate of your old drive, including the unnecessary files that can accumulate on your drive over time. Research cloning software to find a reputable option that's best for your situation. Remember, if a hard drive fails for a digital reason, such as bad files, you should just start with a fresh, new drive.

Risks of installing a new hard drive

While many people succeed with this task, there are some pitfalls you need to know before you begin:

First, if you aren't sure how to research your specific hard drive or computer type and have never done any DIY computer work before, it can take time to get to know how your computer model is configured. Be patient with yourself.

Not knowing what connection goes where and failing to secure your new drive properly can result in damage to the data you have stored as well as individual computer components. Research and follow the instructions. Don't wing it.

Remember that you should always work on an anti-static surface with the power disconnected because failing to ground your computer can cause data loss and electrical injuries.

If you can follow directions and are competent in doing basic mechanical tasks, such as using a screwdriver and reading diagrams, upgrading your hard drive shouldn't be difficult at all.

The money you can save by doing it yourself can be in the hundreds of dollars in labor costs.

It's a good idea for anyone who wants to learn more about how their computers can be maintained at home to take on this relatively simple DIY project.

Once you try your hand at this, it will probably give you the confidence to take on more complicated projects like building your own gaming computer. There's a definite satisfaction knowing you accomplished a repair like this.

Now you can start thinking about adding another hard drive down the road. Many computer users have more than one drive. They use the second as a backup that's contained safely in their computer's case for when they need it. Let's get started!
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
Popular HP Windows 10 Laptops

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Replace a Hard Drive and Reinstall an Operating System

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your computer experiences signs of hard drive failure, it's best to replace it before it completely wears out. This gives you a chance to save the data stored on it, including your operating system. While it's a more complicated repair than many consumers feel comfortable performing on their own, you can save money by doing it yourself.

# data[].attributes.headline
Clone a drive so that a perfect copy is put in place. SImplifies process for IT staff

# data[].attributes.subject
Clone a drive so that a perfect copy is put in place. SImplifies process for IT staff

# data[].attributes.headline
Can be costly to buy and manage backup software

# data[].attributes.subject
Can be costly to buy and manage backup software

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Step one to an operating system upgrade? Create a full system image backup of up your entire machine! Step one to a reinstall? The same.
// //
Simple: back up first.

And by that, I mean take a complete system image backup of your entire computer before you begin the update or reinstallation process.

I'll explain what that is and how it protects you from disaster.

System image backup

A system image is, as its name implies, an image of your system.

The image contains a copy of everything on your system:

the current operating system

all installed applications

all settings and customizations

all your data

The key words here are "all" and "everything".

By backing up everything, there's no guesswork involved. You'll capture everything you could possibly need.

Why?

Let's say the upgrade turns out to be incompatible with your system; it's not going to work, for some reason.

Perhaps the upgrade turns out to be incompatible with you. You just don't like it!

Maybe there's just something wrong, be it personal preference or fundamental system flaw, that makes you regret ever trying to apply the upgrade.

Even a clean reinstall could leave you wishing you hadn't started down this road, for various reasons.

Your image backup is your "undo". If you have a system image backup, you can simply restore it and the upgrade will be "undone". Everything will be as it was before you started.

Making a system image backup

The process is relatively simple:

Run your backup software

Tell it to create a system image backup

Tell it where to place the system image backup

Turn it loose.

Conceptually, it really is that simple. The devil - and the differences, of course - is in the details.

System image backup software

If you're running Windows 7 or later, you can use the built-in backup program to create a system image.

While I'm not a huge fan of the backup software included with Windows, it does meet the "bare minimum" required, and can do a fine job of creating a backup image. You'll find the options to make a full system image in Control Panel.

The process is relatively simple. Here's an article that outlines the process in Windows 10, and I do have a book on the topic.

My preference, however, is that you run something else entirely.

There are many good alternatives, including free ones. My favorite is Macrium Reflect. Here's an article that outlines the process using the free edition of Reflect, and there's my book, Saved! Backing Up with Macrium Reflect.

My number two choice: EaseUS Todo. Here's the article that outlines the process using EaseUS Todo Free, and my book, Saved! Backing Up with EaseUS Todo.

If you're not going to spring for the paid version of Macrium or EaseUS, that's fine - the free versions are perfect for taking complete system image backups, and that's all you need here.

When, how, and where to make a system image backup

When: create your system image backup immediately prior to upgrading or reinstalling the operating system.

How: use backup imaging software like Macrium Reflect Free or EaseUS Todo Free to create the image.

Where: I strongly recommend creating the image backup on an external hard disk and saving that image for some time - until you're confident your newly installed operating system works and is to your liking.

Using your backup image

Once you've made a system image backup, what happens if you need to use it?

The process varies depending on the backup software you're using, but it typically boils down to this:

You may need to create "rescue" or "emergency" media - a bootable CD or USB thumb drive - for the backup software you're using. You can usually do this on another machine, if you like. If you're using Windows own backup software, the original installation media is often already set up for this, or you can create a recovery disk.

Boot your computer from this rescue media.

Attach the external drive containing the backup image to your computer, if you haven't already.

Use the backup software from the rescue media to restore the backup image to your computer. This erases everything on the computer and replaces it with what was on the machine at the time the backup image was taken.

99% of the time you'll never need to do this.

But that 1% is why I so emphatically recommend creating the backup image to begin with - so you'll be able to do revert should you need to.

None of this should be news

If you're already doing what I really recommend - backing up regularly and automatically - not only should none of this be news, none of this should even be necessary.

You're already backing up.

You're already creating image backups.

Should you need to revert after an OS upgrade - or after anything else, for that matter - you can do so. Everything you need is in place.

I recommend backing up not just for major operating system upgrades, but because it's the right thing to do. You're much more likely to run into a problem from hardware failure or malware infection than you are from an operating system upgrade.

Regular backups protect you from it all.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Should I Back Up My Computer Before an Operating System Upgrade or Reinstall? - Ask Leo!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Step one to an operating system upgrade? Create a full system image backup of up your entire machine! Step one to a reinstall? The same. // // Simple: back up first. And by that, I mean take a complete system image backup of your entire computer before you begin the update or reinstallation process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This Article Will Cover:

Backups have a reputation for being cumbersome to create, maintain and manage, which sometimes results in users neglecting to perform them. While backups can be tedious without the right tools, modern hard drive backup software and methods make the process much easier and faster. In this article, we'll discuss how to back up a computer and also how to perform a hard disk recovery if your data is ever lost.

A backup is essentially just a copy of the data stored on your hard drive and it's relatively easy to create one using a variety of methods. While the definition of a backup is simple enough, this is where the simplicity ends for many consumers. Therefore, it's important to understand what a backup is, what one does and - perhaps just as important - what a backup is not.

Backup data from a computer hard drive can generally be saved to any one of a number of mediums, including:

Other hard drives (local drives or ones on a network)

External storage devices (USB flash drives or USB hard drives)

Online or cloud storage accounts

Another hard drive partition (a disk partition is a separate and distinct section on the same hard drive)

Backups - a repetitive process

As mentioned above, a backup is a copy of data created from a computer or device. Nonetheless, a backup is just a copy of data at a particular point in time. A backup must be repeated or recreated to preserve or record any changes to the data since the last copy was made. While many backups are automated processes that create copies of existing data, even automation requires effective scheduling to keep saved or backed up data current. If a manual or scheduled backup is not run, new or changed files are not saved or archived.

There are many ways to back up a hard drive. For instance, you can copy data from one drive to another, and that would be, for all intents and purposes, considered a backup. Likewise, you can store a copy of your data online or in the cloud, and that, too, is a type of backup. Finally, if you save important files to a USB drive, that would also be a backup, although on a limited scale.

About Cloud Storage

As you can see, there are many types of backups. Still, some methods or processes considered to be backups actually are not. For instance, if you use an application from a cloud storage solution, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to synchronize files in a specific folder with your cloud account, that would not be considered a true backup.

Now, it is easy to think of synchronized files saved in an online storage account as a cloud backup - after all, you are storing the files off-site and on an external server. Nevertheless, there is only one version of the files. As soon as you update a file in the synchronized folder, the file on the cloud storage site changes as well.

Syncing Files Deletes Previous Versions

Because synchronization updates files both on the computer and on the cloud storage site, you may or may not have access to a previous version of a file. Some cloud storage solutions do retain a few previous versions of files after synchronization, but many do not. This is a significantly different approach from that of a true backup. File versions in backups do not change whenever you create a new backup - unless you overwrite and delete the previous backup with the new one. Hence, keeping several backups simultaneously helps you revert to previous versions of files if you need to do so.

It's fairly common knowledge that backing up a computer hard drive is important to protecting valuable data and files stored on the machine. Yet, countless people still fail to realize just how important it is to keep good backups and why. Thus, it's important to understand some of the primary reasons why backups are essential.

Lost Effort, Time, and Money

If time is money, then all the time spent creating data files on your computer is a tremendous waste of money if you ever lose them - not to mention the wasted effort and lost productivity. When you lose important documents and files, expenditures in terms of time and effort literally double because of the need to create the lost data from scratch. Unless you have a backup. A good backup strategy can save you a tremendous amount of time, effort and ultimately money.

Hard Drive Recovery is Expensive

Nothing lasts forever, and the same applies to computer hardware - especially hard drives. In many computers, the hard drive is the only mechanical device in the whole system (traditional hard drives have motors and platters). And just like any other mechanical device, a hard drive will fail eventually. Even if you've never experienced a hard drive crash, chances are you know someone who has.

If your hard drive fails, there is a chance that you can recover your data. Depending on the type of drive problem (such as a drive failure or deleted partitions), you may be able to use hard drive recovery tools and software or enlist a hard drive recovery service. It's important to note, though, that good hard drive recovery software is not cheap, and a recovery service can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Needless to say, keeping backups could save you considerably if your drive does fail.

Some Data is Just Irreplaceable

Although annoying and time consuming, recreating many types of data is possible. Still, there are certain files you may never be able to replace if you don't back up the computer. Consider all of the photos, videos, important emails, and other personal files you have that would be impossible to replace. With some file types, a lack of a backup is just an expensive inconvenience. With some files, though, data loss is much more personal and painful - and permanent.

What You Should Backup

By now, you should be convinced of how important it is to back up your data. However, you may be wondering what files on your computer hard drive you actually need to back up. In a perfect world, you would backup everything on your PC every time you create a new file or made a change to your data. In most cases, though, this is neither practical nor necessary.

Complete System Backups

Depending on the size of the hard drive in your computer, and the amount of data you have, a complete system backup can take a long time to complete. And if you're backing up to an online backup service, it could take even longer - especially if you don't have a fast internet connection.

While complete system backups can be time-consuming, you should still perform them at least occasionally. Whether you have a Windows PC or laptop, or a Mac computer or MacBook, it's a good idea to create a complete system backup as soon as you buy the machine. Creating a backup on a new machine (or operating system installation) enables you to recover your hard drive to factory default settings quickly by restoring the machine with the backup. Even if you weren't able to back up a new machine, you should create at least one full-system backup as soon as possible.

Essential Files and Folders Backup

In some cases, it may not practical, or even feasible, to create complete system backups of your computer hard drive. If you have limited storage space for your backups, or need to store backups online with a slow internet connection, creating complete system backups may not be convenient or possible.

When full-system backups are not an option, it is wise to back up important files and folders incrementally and regularly. If you get in the habit of saving important data files in a few select folders, creating quick backups of your essential files and folders should be relatively quick and painless. When determining which files to back up, make sure to select important documents, photos or any other files that would be difficult or impossible to reproduce or replace.

When it comes to creating a backup of your hard drive, a quick Google search will reveal that you have countless options and possibilities for applications, platforms, and storage media. However, not all backups are created equal, and some are definitely easier to work with than others. To help you understand some of the options you have, let's cover a few of the most popular hard drive backup methods.

Local Drive Backups

One of the easiest and quickest ways to protect your data is to back it up to another hard drive. If you have multiple drives in or attached to your system, you can back up files to a secondary drive, a USB flash or external drive or even to a drive in a computer connected to the same network. Depending on the type of local drive you use, the steps used to back up to the device may vary.But backing up to a local drive usually requires little more than moving files from your main drive to a backup hard drive or to a recovery partition.

Pros and Cons of Local Backups

Backing up to a local drive is very convenient because you always have backup data nearby and can restore it anytime, quickly and easily. A problem with local drive backups, though, is that backup data can be lost if a disaster, theft, or other event leaves the local backup drive inaccessible.

Backing Up to the Cloud

If you have a relatively fast broadband internet connection, backing up to the cloud can be an excellent option - especially if local disk drive space for backups is limited. Better online backup service platforms and services (like Acronis True Image) provide a simple way of creating full or partial backups of your computer hard drive and then transferring them to the cloud for storage on encrypted, secure servers.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Off-site and Cloud Backups

Backing up your local hard drive to an off-site or cloud location offers one obvious and important advantage. If you lose access to primary system hard drive due to hacking, theft, fire, or another type of disaster, you can always download backups from the cloud or off-site server to recover your data or reinstall on new hardware.

Conversely, the downside of off-site and cloud backups is that you must place your data in the hands of others. With the best online backup services, this should not be an issue, as they protect your data with hardened security and encryption. However, as with anything else, security protocols used by online backup services are not all created equal - and some service providers are better than others.

Drive Cloning

Although not used as commonly as local drive or cloud backups, disk cloning is another effective method of ensuring you always have access to the data on your hard drive. A clone hard drive is essentially a second drive that contains an exact, mirror image of the original (or source) drive.

Years ago, disk cloning was only possible using very expensive hard drive duplicators. However, in recent years, leading storage management companies like Acronis have developed desktop cloning software that makes creating exact duplicates of the system drive (or other local drives) as easy as a few mouse clicks. With Acronis True Image, you can create a mirror-image copy of any hard drive. With partitioning software such as Acronis Disk Director, or Windows Disk Management, you can even create a clone partition on the same hard drive (as long as you use two different drive letters and volumes).

The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy

With so many backup options and choices available, you may be wondering which one is right for you. The truth is that you should never settle on just one type of backup. A great backup strategy should include multiple backup options and storage locations. At Acronis, we like to refer to this wise, efficient backup method as the 3-2-1 rule. The 3-2-1 rule states that you should:

Create three copies of your data so that it can never be wiped out by a single event.

Use two formats to back up your hard drive (such as a local drive backup and a cloud or external media backup).

Store one copy of the backup off-site to protect against physical disasters such as fires, floods, theft, etc.

When planning a personal backup strategy, you should assume that a data loss event will occur eventually. Using the simple Acronis 3-2-1 rule and backup strategy, you can ensure your data is always protected - no matter what happens.

With some backup applications, configuring, running and managing backups can be tedious and time-consuming. But with Acronis True Image 2020, creating a backup couldn't be easier. Check out the quick tutorial below to see just how easy it is to create a backup using our backup software.

Local and Cloud Backups

Acronis True Image 2020 lets you configure and run backups quickly and efficiently. Regardless of whether you want to back up your computer hard drive locally or to the secure Acronis Cloud, you can do either with just a few mouse clicks. This quick walkthrough will show you everything you need to do create a quick backup with Acronis True Image 2020.
Step 1 - Launch Acronis True Image 2020 on your computer. After the application opens, click "Backup" on the left side of the program window.

Step 2 - Hover your mouse cursor over the monitor image labeled "Entire PC." After the text changes, click "Change Source." The Backup Source window appears.

Step 3 - Select the source of the files you want to backup. If you want to back up your whole system, click the "Entire PC" option. In this example, we will back up only a select folder, so click "Files and Folders," select the folders or files to backup, and then click "OK." The selected folder now appears in the main backup window.

Step 4 - Hover your mouse cursor over the image labeled "Acronis Cloud." After the text changes, click "Change Destination." The Backup Destination window appears. Click the destination drive you want to use to store the backup. In this example, we will use a local drive, but the process for storing to the Acronis Cloud is the same.

Step 5 - Click the "OK" button, and then click "Back up Now." Wait for Acronis True Image 2020 to back up the selected files and folders. After the backup finishes, a green check mark appears in the main backup window. The backup is now present on the selected destination drive (or in the Acronis Cloud if you selected that option.)

While being able to create accurate, thorough backups quickly is important, a backup application is only as good as its ability to let you restore your data easily. With Acronis True Image 2020, you can restore backup quickly and confidently with only a few mouse clicks.

Step 1 - Launch Acronis True Image 2020 on your computer. After the application opens, click "Backup" on the left side of the program window.

Step 2 - Select the backup name on the left side of the main backup window. Use the checkboxes to select the files or folders that you want to restore. If you want to recover all of the files and folders in the backup set, click the checkbox next to the "Name" label. Click the "Next" button.

Step 3 - Select the recovery destination folder or drive. By default, Acronis True Image 2020 selects the original source location of the backup as the recovery destination. Click the "Recover Now" button. Wait for Acronis True Image 2020 to restore the backup to the selected destination. After the recovery finishes, a green check mark appears in the main backup window.

As you can see, Acronis True Image 2020 makes it easy to back up your computer hard drive and recover your data whenever you need to. So whether you need a quick, simple way to create backups to local or network drives or you need to create and store encrypted backups in the cloud, Acronis True Image 2020 has you covered.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Back Up a Hard Drive and Restore Your Computer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This Article Will Cover: Backup Basics, What a Backup Is, What a Backup Is Not, Why Backups Are Essential, What You Should Back Up, Available Backup Options, How to Back Up Your Computer, Hard Drive, Restoring Data from a Backup, Summing Up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Choose the folders to back up

Windows 7's Backup and Restore tool asks you to either let Windows choose what to backup or select your own folders. If you let Windows choose, it will automatically save the files in your libraries, desktop, and default Windows folders, as well as create a system image for restoring your computer as a whole if it stops working. (Note that it will not back up Program Files, any files formatted in the FAT file system, deleted files in the Recycle Bin, or temp files with a size of 1GB or more.) If you choose what to back up yourself, you can select specific folders to include or exclude and can select the option to create an image of your drive.

Windows 8's File History chooses the folders for you and will automatically save files in your Desktop, Libraries (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos), Contacts, and OneDrive folders. You can exclude folders from your Libraries you don't want backed up, such as program-generated folders (e.g., that empty "Adobe PDF" folder) that will just get recreated if you have to reinstall the program.

Then simply hit the button to save your settings and run the backup and you're done. Congratulations! You've set up your first (and ongoing) backup! (Told you it was pretty easy.)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Backup Windows: Your Complete Guide to PC Backup

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Windows 7's Backup and Restore tool asks you to either let Windows choose what to backup or select your own folders. If you let Windows choose, it will automatically save the files in your libraries, desktop, and default Windows folders, as well as create a system image for restoring your computer as a whole if it stops working.

# data[].attributes.headline
Set restore points for existing system if there is some kind of system failure

# data[].attributes.subject
Set restore points for existing system if there is some kind of system failure

# data[].attributes.headline
Hard drives are mechanical devices prone to failure, loss of data can affect customers and staff may lose essential and important files

# data[].attributes.subject
Hard drives are mechanical devices prone to failure, loss of data can affect customers and staff may lose essential and important files

# data[].attributes.headline
Staff are reluctant to take the time to back up and update properly 

# data[].attributes.subject
Staff are reluctant to take the time to back up and update properly 

# data[].attributes.headline
Operating system may affect a drive if updated

# data[].attributes.subject
Operating system may affect a drive if updated

# data[].attributes.headline
Staff can use external drives to quickly backup essential files. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Staff can use external drives to quickly backup essential files. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Staff can accidentally delete or format a drive

# data[].attributes.subject
Staff can accidentally delete or format a drive

# data[].attributes.headline
Implications for Staff of Upgrading and Replacing Drives and Losing Data

# data[].attributes.subject
Implications for Staff of Upgrading and Replacing Drives and Losing Data