Hard Drive Upgrade Install Guide

General Considerations For Upgrading The Hard Drive

At this point, I'm ready to begin upgrading the hard drive. I've made the two floppy disks I'll need, one with the IBM Drive Fitness Test utility on it and another which is the Norton Ghost Boot Disk. The computer is turned off and the computer case is still closed.

Although I won't mention it further, I'll be wearing the antistatic wrist strap any time I'm working inside the computer case.

When working inside the computer, it should always be powered off. Furthermore, after the computer is powered off, disconnect all of the cables and other connections into the computer, including the telephone line connection for the modem, the printer connection, the monitor connection, and everything else. Also unplug the power connector from the PC. It's important that nothing external to the computer be connected while you are working inside so that nothing can provide any kind of electrical current to the computer. It's not getting electrocuted that's the concern, it's that some tiny electrical charge might come in at the wrong time and destroy a component. It's not uncommon for a computer to draw a little bit of electrical current while it is plugged in, even when it has been powered off, so that's why it's important to unplug the power connector, too.

If you're not used to disconnecting everything then you'll want to at least carefully note where each connection was attached. For example, until I learned my way around with the connections I used a short strip of masking tape to scribble a little note for each connection and then I wrapped the tape around the cord before I disconnected it. Each connection should only connect one way, so there's no need to remember how the connection was oriented before it was disconnected. But chances are you've got a nice little collection of connections into your computer, so you don't want to be looking at a confused pile of disconnected wires when you're ready to power it back on!

Not everything has to be re-connected when the computer is powered on until you're done. But connections should only be made while the computer is powered off. The only connections needed for the hard drive upgrade procedure are the keyboard, mouse, monitor and power cord.

When powering on the computer, it's a good idea to power on the monitor first before the computer and let the monitor have five or ten seconds to warm up. That way you can see everything that is displayed on the monitor from the moment the computer is powered on.

Find a nice comfortable work space. I just use the middle of the floor.

Next: Hard Drive Upgrade - BIOS Changes

Skip Ahead

	What You Need For A Hard Drive Upgrade - Home
	Screws, Antistatic Wrist Strap, Hard Drive Fitness Test
	Norton Ghost
	Norton Ghost Boot Disk Select Type
	Norton Ghost Boot Disk Create
	Norton Ghost Finish
	Old Hard Drive Partitions
	General Considerations About Upgrading The Hard Drive
	BIOS Changes
	Add The New Hard Drive - Jumper Pins
	Mounting Holes, Drive Cage
	Hard Drive Connectors
	Mounted In Drive Cage
	Installed Inside Computer
	Recognized In BIOS
	Hard Drive Fitness Test
	Copy Old Hard Drive To New Hard Drive
	Norton Ghost Source And Destination
	Norton Ghost Destination Drive Details
	Norton Ghost Progress And Finish
	Final Steps
	Site Map

© 2001-2015, Rob Williams, all rights reserved.