Repairing & Upgrading of Laptop and Notebook Hard Disk Drives - HDDs

Do you need to solve a problem with your laptop or notebook hard disk drive - HDD? Here are links to do-it-yourself repair, recovery, modding and upgrade instructions. If you have written a free guide yourself (or if you know of a HOWTO not linked here), please submit a new entry.

Changing and Upgrading a Laptop or Notebook Hard Drive

N.N.	Troubleshooting flowchart for laptop hard disk drive problems.
Acer Extensa 502T	Chaning the hard disk drive, an illustrated replacement guide.
Acer TravelMate 513T	How to change the CD-Drive. Upgrading the hard drive (in German).
Acer TravelMate 3004WTMi	The notebook comes with an Intel 2200 b/g WiFi card, which has 100mW (20dBi) output power (nice), this card has been replaced by a Wistron NeWeb CM9 from Netgate, which is in fact a 5004 MP Atheros 4G: 802.11a/b/g miniPCI Card. Includes hard disk downgrading instructions.
Acer TravelMate C1xx	An upgrade tutorial for the Tablet PC hard drive.
Acer TravelMate C100	How to upgrade the hard drive.
Acorn A4	Hard disk replacement.
Advent 6520	Detailed instructions for the replacement of the hard drive. How to clean the fan to prevent overheating.
Apple iBook	Hard drive and CD removal tips, including helpful pictures.
Apple iBook 500	Illustrated hard drive replacement instructions [PDF].
Apple iBook (White)	Detailed hard disk upgrade with pictures.
Apple iBook Dual-USB	A hard drive replacement and overclocking guide.
Apple iBook G3 Dual-USB (White)	"Pimped-up" iBook: hard drive replacement instructions.
Apple iBook G3 Dual-USB 500MHz White	Overhaul leads to frustration as well as success. How to take the notebook to pieces, remove the 10GB hard drive and busted CD-R it came with originally, and replace them with a 40GB Samsung hard drive and a Sony CD-RW/DVD drive before putting the it back together again.
Apple iBook G3 Dual-USB 500MHz White	How to install a new and faster Seagate 40 GB hard drive; 5400 vs 4200 RPM, 2 MB vs 8 MB cache. This guide offers many detailed take apart photos.
Apple iBook G3	Take apart picture gallery showing the replacement of a 10GB hard drive with a 30GB device.
Apple iBook G3 500MHz	HDD replacement: the difficult part is to open the housing - in fact, to separate the top housing from the bottom housing. The two parts are not held together by screws (as one would appreciate it) but are clipped together.
Apple iBook Tangerine	Tearing apart instructions to install a hard disk.
Apple iBook (BlueBerry)	This page shows how to get at and possibly replace the hard drive.
Apple iBook Dual-USB	Hard disk upgrade instructions.
Apple iBook Dual-USB	Upgrading the original 10GB hard disk.
Apple iBook White	Take apart picture gallery with a useful screw handling scheme. Hard disk replacement.
Apple iBook G4 800MHz	Replacing the hard drive and recovering of the built-in mike.
Apple iBook G4 800 12''	A step-by-step hard disk replacement tutorial (in French).
Apple iBook G4 12''	How to open the case and swap the hard drive disk, illustrations, tools and tricks.
Apple MacBook	Beneath the battery bay: installation of RAM, which is a new procedure that involves two little lever arms. Upgrade of the hard drive, which actually resides in the far left corner of the battery bay! As a result, the MacBook is probably the most easily upgradeable Mac laptop ever [Video].
Apple MacBook	Memory and harddrive upgrade guide [Video].
Apple MacBook Pro [2006]	How to install a 160GB HD, illustrated tips and tricks to swap the hard drive.
Apple MacBook Pro	Replacing the hard drive in an Apple MacBook is pretty easy. You just pop out the battery, remove three little screws, and pull on a special "hard drive removal" tab to pull the drive out. The MacBook Pro is a different story. Replacing your MacBook Pro hard drive requires some minor surgery, and it will void your warranty.
Apple PowerBook G4 12''	A movile about a MCE Tech 16X Dual Layer Superdrive upgrade, new 100GB Hard Drive, and custom-made colorful rainbow logo.
Apple iBook G4	Hard disk upgrade.
Apple iBook G4	Sliced Apple: adding internal BlueTooth. Antenna modification for improved BlueTooth range. Interval hard drive replacement. Adding a SuperDrive (CDRW/DVD-ROM).
Apple iBook G4	Hard drive replacement.
Apple PowerBook Duo 2xx	Memory upgrade, keyboard exchange, hard disk upgrade, modem installation, backup battery replacement (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook Duo	Overclocking, cleaning the keyboard, changing the CAPS LOCK light to a red LED, adding a hard drive activity light, adding a ADB port in place of the modem, repairing the AC adapter port.
Apple PowerBook Duo	Duo Dock hard disk replacement guide (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 1xx	Memory upgrade, hard disk upgrade, modem installation, keyboard exchange (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 5xx	Memory and hard disk upgrade, keyboard exchange, modem installation, CPU upgrade (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 1400	Memory and hard disk upgrade, keyboard exchange (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 2400	Quick take-apart for the intrepid who want to replace the hard drive or add a G3 upgrade themselves (includes a video).
Apple PowerBook 2400C	Upgrading memory, hard disk and CPU (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 3400/G3	Memory and hard disk upgrade, keyboard exchange (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook 5300/190	Memory and hard disk upgrade, keyboard replacement (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook	On death and dying: reconciling yourself to hard drive failure.
Apple PowerBook G3 Pismo	Hard drive and memory upgrade (slot 1 and slot 2) tutorial. DVD drive installation guide. with dissection pictures.
Apple PowerBook G3 (Pismo, Lombard)	Upgrade instruction for RAM and hard drive.
Apple Powerbook G3 Wallstreet	Fix loose sound ports, display hinge and the power plug using a tongue depressor. Replacing the original hard disk with a bigger one.
Apple PowerBook/iBook	Hard Drives: The Essential Upgrade Guide - a survey of interfaces, maximum storage capacities and maximum drive heights.
Apple PowerBook G4 AlBook	Hard Drive Swap: What Not To Do.
Apple PowerBook G4 AlBook 12''	Opening instructions and pictures, hard disk replacement (in German).
Apple PowerBook G4 AlBook 12''	Hard drive swap.
Apple PowerBook G4 17'' 1.33GHz	Need for speed: Cracking open the notebook and replacing the hard disk.
ASUS M6000N	DIY: Punch up your portable. Upgrading memory and hard disk.
Averatec AV1050	Memory And Hard Drive Practically Not User Upgradeable: In its stock configuration, the laptop ships with 512 MB of RAM and an 80 GB hard drive. However, neither of the components is easily upgradeable by the user, if at all. The trouble is that the laptop doesn't sport any openings on the bottom of the case that would allow access to them.
BenQ JoyBook S73U	This guide explains how to make a noisy notebook hard drive silent.
Canon Innova Book 200LS	Hard disk drive installation guide.
CASIO Fiva MPC-101	Upgrading the hard drive.
COMPAQ Aero	Upgrading the hard drive.
COMPAQ Armada 100S (aka Mitac 5133S)	RAM upgrade, hard disk upgrade and AMD K6-2+ CPU overclocking as well as underclocking instructions (with jumper settings and voltage table). Battery replacement (in German).
COMPAQ Armada 1130T	Changing a flat CMOS battery and upgrading the hard disk.
COMPAQ Armada 1592DT	Some helpful hints about changing the hard disk.
COMPAQ Armada 4120	Disassembly and hard disk drive replacement guide with pictures.
COMPAQ (unknown model)	Pictures from the inside of a Seagate model ST9440AG 420MB harddisc from an old laptop.
COMPAQ Presario 12XL500	Ready your torx driver! This HOWTO will show you how to easily install a new hard drive and memory in your laptop.
COMPAQ Presario R3000 (and HP Pavilion Z 5000)	RAM and hard drive upgrade diagrams and photos.
DELL Inspiron 3200	How to install 128MB SO-DIMM memory and a bigger hard drive.
DELL Inspiron 6000	How to install RAM and hard drive in a notebook.
DELL Inspiron 8100	Upgrading a laptop: RAM and hard disk change explained.
DELL Inspiron N.N.	Cracking open a laptop hard drive: here is a complete disassembly of the Hitachi Travelstar mobile hard disk. This model sported a 5400rpm motor, ATA interface and 40GB of data storage.
eMachines M6811	The easiest and most efficient upgrades you can make to a notebook PC are to the memory and hard drive. Learn how and see the results in this guide.
Fujitsu FMV Biblo Loox-T	Hard disk upgrade (in Japanese).
Fujitsu P-2120	Hard disk upgrade.
Fujitsu P series	Hard disk upgrade step by step with pictures.
Fujitsu P-5000	How to upgrade the RAM, the hard disk and access WiFi [video].
Fujitsu LifeBook T4010	A forum thread with some pictures about hard disk drive upgrading.
GateWay 2000 HandBook	Extending the EDO-RAM to 16MB, replacing the hard drive with a 1GB CF card connected to a CF-mini-IDE adapter, changing the CMOS battery, extending the battery capacity six times and building an on/off switch for the internal speaker.
GateWay 2000 HandBook 486	How to open the machine, upgrade the RAM, replace the hard drive with an 800MB flash drive, replace the CMOS RAM backup battery and build a 4 AA NiMH battery pack.
GateWay 2000 HandBook 486	Pictures of a hard disk replacement.
Hitachi Traveler	Hard Drive Upgrade: the laptop comes with a Toshiba 1GB 2.5"x8mm 0.7A drive it has been upgraded with a IBM 3.2GB 2.5"x9.5mm 0.5A drive.
HP/COMPAQ TC1000	Memory and hard disk drive upgrades.
HP/COMPAQ TC1100	Memory, hard disk drive and wireless network upgrade instructions with pictures.
HP Pavilion N5190	Shared knowledge: a take apart picture gallery and disassembly guide. Cleaning the fan from dirt and remounting the CPU using thermal conductive paste. Upgrading the hard drive. Replacement of CD/DVD, LCD video driver board and BIOS battery. Fixing a broken power adapter jack.
HP Pavilion ZD 7140US	This upgrade is all about getting more performance out of your existing laptop. Going from a 4,200 rpm to a 7,200 rpm HDD will result in a tremendous increase in disk access. The operating system will load faster, and programs will open quicker. Also, upgrading from 512MB of memory to 2GBs will greatly help when using memory hungry programs [Video].
IBM PS/2 L40SX	hard disk removal and reinstallation.
IBM ThinkPad 560	How to install a 3,5'' 15GB IBM harddisk and a 8x CD-ROM drive inside.
IBM ThinkPad 600	These instructions explain how to install a new CD, DVD, CD-RW, DVD-RW, Combo, etc drive in the caddy for your existing drive. While the description has plenty of pictures, this is for clarity, not because its a complicated process. In many laptops this process could involve removing and replacing as few as 8 screws. These instructions should apply for essentially any CD/DVD/etc drive which is designed to be removable and exchangeable from your laptop (so any drive that can be swapped with a floppy drive, battery, etc). Some laptops have their CD drives permanently built-in, in which case changing the drive will mean dismantling your laptop.
IBM ThinkPad T61	Both a technology urban legend, as well as a fact of physics -- putting your hard drive in a freezer can work to "repair" your hard drive long enough to pull your information off of the drive.
JVC MiniNote MP-XP741	How to take the notebook completely apart to get the hard disk drive changed. This guide shows how to make a custom safety Torx screwdriver as well all the other tricks to get the job done.
JVC MiniNote MP-XP 7210 (aka InterLink/Victor)	Hard disk change (in Japanese).
JVC MiniNote MP-XV841GB	One of the more memorable things you can do with a Mini-Note is to install a new 160GB hard disk drive. Because of the tight design, there are no access panels therefore it is required to completely stripdown the notebook.
Kapok NetWork 1100AT (aka Umax, Clevo, Gericom)	A complete step-by-step upgrade tutorial: processor (Intel-Tillamook to AMD K6-II 400 Mhz or better to K6-III), memory (128MB 66Mhz SODIMM), hard disk (30GB), optical drive (TEAC CD-ROM to DVD-ROM Torisan DRD-U424 and TFT display replacement (in German).
Medion MD9580F (Aldi Nord Oct. 2001)	An illustrated hard disk replacement guide (in German).
Medion MD9703	Hard drive replacement guide with pictures.
Olivetti Quaderno (PT-XT-20)	Detailed disassembly instructions to get the hard disk replaced, but no pictures.
Palmax PD-1000/1100	It is very simple to install larger hard disks and more RAM.
Panasonic CF-L1A	Hard disk change (in Japanese).
Panasonic CF-M32	Hard disk upgrade and overclocking manual.
Panasonic CF-R1/R2 (Let's Note)	Hard drive upgrade instructions (in Japanese).
Panasonic CF-R3 (Let's Note)	1.8inch 3.3V HDD to 2.5inch 5.0V hard disk conversion, including pinout schematics (in Japanese).
Panasonic Let's Note CF-R4	This document presents instructions on how to take apart the Panasonic CF-R3, CF-R4 and CF-R5 laptops to upgrade the hard drive. The instructions are based on the upgrade of a CF-R4, these laptops share a common case design therefore the instructions should apply to the R3 and R5.
Panasonic CF-W2	Most Panasonic Toughbooks use a low voltage 3.3V hard disk drive. You can't readily buy them in retail shops, so you need to mod a 5V notebook HDD by clipping the pins 41 and 44.
Panasonic ToughBook CF-Y2	How to exchange the harddisk, an llustrated step-by-step manual. This machine is a 3.3Volt notebook and as such NOT compatible with standard 5 Volt notebook harddrives. 3.3Volt version of HDDs are only available via OEM suppliers. BUT most modern drives seem to be internally compatible with 3.3Volt usage and can be made to run on 3.3Volt by clipping two power supply pins.
Samsung Q1	Under the knife again: more RAM is the diagnosis. Step-by-step disassembly and upgrade tutorial from 512 MB to 1 GB of DDR2 RAM.
Samsung X10+ XTM1700	RAM, hard disk and keyboard upgrade, with disassembly pictures.
Sharp Actius PC-A280	Hard drive upgrade instructions with pictures.
Sharp Actius PC-MM20	How to disassemble the laptop, replace the hard drive, and void your warranty.
SonicBlue ProGear	A disassembly and hard drive replacement guide.
Sony VAIO PCG-505F	Changing a broken hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-505G/X	Hard drive upgrade instructions.
Sony VAIO PCG-6C2L	Disassembling your S and upgrading the hard drive/CPU.
Sony VAIO PCG-5426	How to take a laptop apart to replace the hard disk.
Sony VAIO PCG-C1VE (PictureBook)	Upgrading the memory, upgrading the HDD, exchanging the motherboard.
Sony VAIO PCG-C1VJ	Hard disk replacement.
Sony VAIO PCG-C1VN PictureBook	Hard Drive Install.
Sony VAIO PCG-C1XN PictureBook	Upgrading the hard drive from 6GB to 40GB, illustrated take apart instructions.
Sony VAIO PCG-F280	Upgrading memory and hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-F630	Hard disk upgrade explained with pictures.
Sony VAIO PCG-F807K	Changing the hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-FX190	A hard disk upgrade tutorial with pictures.
Sony VAIO PCG-FX501	An illustrated step-by-step guide explaining how to disassemble the laptop, open the hard drive caddy and upgrade the hard disk.
Sony VAIO PCG-N505X	Hard disk replacement.
Sony VAIO PCG-R600MX	Opening to change the hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-S360S	Three upgrade guides: hard drive replacement, CPU change and CD/DVD drive enhancement.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z505	Disassembly, installation of new hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z505	Hard drive upgrade and memory upgrade.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z505	Hard drive exchange explained.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z505JSK	Here are photos of the process of opening the laptop and upgrading the hard drive.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z505SX	A dissection and hard drive replacement tutorial.
Sony VAIO PCG-Z600LEK	Disassembly and hard disk replacement.
Sony VAIO VGN-AR61ZU	Instructions for HDDs, RAM and optical drive replacement.
Sony VAIO VGN-FS-70B	An illustrated hard disk and CPU upgrade guide.
Sony VAIO VGN-S360s	This Upgrade guide for the Sony VAIO S series of notebooks explains how to upgrade the following components: Hard Drive upgrade, CPU Upgrade using Arctic Silver gel coolant, CD/DVD Drive upgrade guide.
Tandy 1110HD	Taking the Screwdriver to replace the Conner CP2024 IDE Hard Drive.
Toshiba Libretto	How to insert a bigger hard disk.
Toshiba Libretto L1	Hard disk change (in Japanese).
Toshiba Libretto 50	How to upgrade the 9.5 mm hard drive.
Toshiba Libretto 50	A hard disk upgrade to 2.1GB tutorial.
Toshiba Libretto	Upgrading with a bigger hard drive, includes a survey of compatible 6.0mm HDDs.
Toshiba Libretto	2.1GB hard drive upgrade.
Toshiba Libretto L30	Taking apart pictures, overclocking instructions and hard disk upgrade (in Japanese).
Toshiba Portege 3010/3020	Easy repair, replacement and customisation of parts: memory upgrade, hard disk upgrade and lid painting.
Toshiba Portege 3010CT	Disassembly to get the hard disk replaced.
Toshiba Portege 3110	Hard disk replacement guide.
Toshiba Portege 3400	Hard drive upgrade.
Toshiba Portege 4000	Hard drive replacement and RAM upgrade.
Toshiba Satellite 1115-S103	How to replace a hard disk.
Toshiba Satellite 1670CDS	This How-To describes how to replace your hard drive.
Toshiba Satellite 2800-500	Upgrading memory, hard disk and exchanging the motherboard.
Toshiba Satellite 4010CDT	Replacing Laptop Hard Drives: Illustrated how to replace a laptop hard drive.
Toshiba Satellite 4020CDT	Instructions and pictures on how to upgrade the hard drive.
Toshiba Satellite Pro 6000	Hard drive replacement guide.
Toshiba Satellite P10/15	How to access and remove the laptop hard drive.
Toshiba Tecra S1	This guide explains how to remove the system board from the notebook. It will also illustrate how you can disassemble the notebook and remove, replace or clean the following parts: battery, hard drive, modem card, memory module, Wi-Fi card, CPU, heatsink, fan, keyboard, touchpad, dvd-rom, top cover, display assembly, speakers.
Toshiba T3200SXC	Pictures showing how to open the case. Replacing the hard disk, adding more memory, a 16bit ISA network interface and a 8bit ISA soundcard (proposed).
Toshiba (misc. models)	Hard drive installation guides for (almost any) Toshiba notebook.
Voodoo Envy M:855	A view under the hood and some tips and tricks to get memory upgraded and the hard disk drive changed.
Voodoo Envy M:860	Upgrading and maintenance of memory and hard disk.
Zenith Z-Note MX	Removing the keyboard to get the hard disk changed. Pinout of the strange external power connector.

External Hard Drives

Alcor Miro Corp. AU6390	Teardown report and disassembly photos of a mini USB-HardDisk.
i-rocks	How to put a 2.5" laptop hard drive into a portable case.
LaCie External 3.5'' HDD Enclosure	Troubleshooting tips for an external FireWire hard disk drive enclosure (with and internal parallel drive). This HOWTO explains in detail how to free your hard drive from its firewire enclosure and then either swap cases or install your drive into a G4 or G5.
N.N.	Recycle a laptop hard drive using it in an external USB enclosure.
The Geekster Moleskine	Modding an external HDD into a Moleskine notebook.
N.N.	Recovering laptop hard drive files with a USB shell: how to swap a HDD from a laptop into an external shell.

How to Take Apart a Laptop or Notebook Hard Disk

IBM TravelStar	Some pictures from a hard drive autopsy.
IBM TravelStar	Inside 2.5-Inch laptop hard drives - drive mounts and internal components.

Laptop or Notebook Hard Disk Moddings

IBM	Laptop harddrive plexiglass window mod.

HOWTOs and FAQs

• Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade
• An Easy-Upgrade for Notebook Hard Drives
• laptop harddrive buyers guide