Need help where to send laptop to be opened to put new hard drive in under $40.

Dear members:

does any one know please where do isend my laptop to be opened to take out the old hd and put a new hd in? (checked bestbuy, circui tcity, staples, and my nearest toshiba laptop providers: all do it for at least 70 dollars just for taking out hd and installing a new one!)?
Also, can you tell me how to open up a laptop or articles that do show you how step by step and other things? please let me know as soon as u can! thank you very much

 

the physical part of taking the laptop hard drive out and putting a new one in is a lot easier than you'd expect. It simply slides out, and slides back in. There may be a screw or something holding it in place depending on the laptop.

the 'hard' part comes once the new hard drive is plugged in. Since it is empty, it needs to be partitioned and formatted, and the operating system needs to be installed (probably Windows XP).

If your laptop came with 'system recovery disks', even this part could be simple, as it would all be pretty automated and requre little input from you.

My recommendation if you don't feel up to exploring a bit and tackling this yourself-- ask around for a friend or kid who can do this for $30.

where are you located if you dont mind me asking... maybe I can help direct you somewhere?

here is a pseudo-guide on installing a new laptop drive. formatting it is the next step. http://www.memorysuppliers.com/laphardrivgu.html

 

^Great post. It's posts like those that make me wish we still had the reputation thing going.

 

well i unscrewed everything but i still couldn't get the hd out like its stuck or something. i have a toshiba satellite 1400-s151 laptop and it does't give any instruction for opening up the hd in the user guide. I am located in staten island, new york.
about installing the new hd don't worry about that because i have the window xp and the recovery cd (thats all i need right to format the hd right)?

 

I have a toshiba 1625 laptop...in order to acces the hard drive...take the keyboard out!! The screws for the keyboard are under the plastic cover that runs along the underside of where the monitor hinges up and down!! If you are looking at the laptop as though you are using it...above the keyboard is a plastic piece about 1 inch wide that runs all the way from one side to the other...it should pop off!! I use a thin butterknife to pop mine off so it doesn't booger up the plastic like a flathead screwdriver might do!! If yours is anything like mine...this piece covers the indicator lights (Hard drive activity, power, battery charge, etc!! Then there are a half a dozen screws accross the top of the keyboard, then the bottom of the keyboard has tabs that just slide in under the case to secure the bottom!! So once you remove the screws in the keyboard...pull forward and up and it should pop out!! Be careful though and don't go crazy when you pull the keyboard out...there are ribbons underneath that connect the keyboard to the motherboard!!

If you need more help...let me know, but this should really be carried on in the "Hardware" forum!!

Roger

 

okay i will try ur method if it works i will let uknow (btw is ur laptop just toshiba 1625 or toshiba satellite 1625?). if that doesn't work, i believe, i really have to dismantle the laptop or open in half in order toget the hd out. therefore, can you tell me please how do u do that (any information will help) thank u very much

 

Mine is a Satellite 1625cdt, to be exact...sorry if i wasn't clear on that before!!

Mine is about 6 years old, and it was made to access the hard drive with minimal effort...so I can't imagine Toshiba or any other popular brand making theirs tooooo hard!! Especially if you are somewhat mechanically inclined!!

I'm one of those people that likes to take things apart and put them back together just for the sake of seeing how it works/built...which is what I did with my laptop (while watching a movie) and it was a piece of cake!! In Fact...I had it down to nothing but the case and back in working condition in about 2 hrs...keep in mind that I was watching a movie!! LOL

But like I said...let me know if you want further direction!! I'll be popping in and out tonite, and all weekend!!

Roger

 

okay thaks for letting me know. and just to let u now, when i open the one screw where the hd is, i see the tray and the hd is covered in silver shiny paper, so i can't really see the hd just the wrapped up shinny paper covering it. therefore, can youtell me what is the purpose of doing that and what is it for (the shinny silver paper thing?)

 

I think it is to buffer the vibration and noise so the keyboard doesn't vibrate!!??

Not really sure but that is the only logical thing that I could come up with!! Maybe someone else could chime in on that one!!??

But i'm guessing that since you are asking me about that...you got into it ok!!??

Roger