How hard to install a hard drive on laptop?

[HappyHappy]

If I should be posting elsewhere, I can't find where. In case it is okay to post here:
I am NOT tech savvy.
My laptop won't work, can't get past the "imminent hard drive failure" message. My DGS took my laptop to school and his computer teacher said all I have to do is get a new hard drive. I called Staples and they said I must bring my recovery disc. I don't have one. Best Buy said I have to buy a "plan" first. Looked at other tech forums with conflicting results. Is this something I can do myself, at home? Any advice? I have an HP G60 if that matters.

 

[Lisa71]

I would not try this yourself. Go to a private computer repair person in your area. We love ours in So Cal. No big box..someone local. Look on yelp or ask Alice for reviews.

 

[Grumpy4196]

Actually this can be a pretty simple job, just depends on the make/model of laptop. Also unless you have a copy of an Operating System lying around you would be out of luck. When my sons laptop crashed I called Dell and they sent me the disks free of charge even though it was out of warranty, saved the day for me. Good luck

 

[wiigirl]

I would not try this yourself. Go to a private computer repair person in your area. We love ours in So Cal. No big box..someone local. Look on yelp or ask Alice for reviews.

 

[HappyHappy]

Thanks all. I have the Windows 7 disc that came with the laptop. Any recommendation on where to buy the hard drive?

 

[jedijill]

I totally agree with going someplace private. Laptops are a whole different beast. The repair place may be able to pull your data off the old hard drive too. Much cheaper and better than the big box stores.

Jill in CO

 

[HappyHappy]

The only good news is that I have nothing on the laptop worth retrieving

 

[HappyHappy]

IF I can find someone local (major rural area) and chicken out on trying myself, should I buy the hard drive or leave up to them?

 

[dawnhaze]

Looking at the maintenance and service manual for the G60 (found on Google), it says the hard drive is "customer accessible" and that it "Supports all 9.5-mm, 6.35-cm (2.50-in) SATA hard drives." It looks pretty simple in the manual, you don't have to dig around underneath other components or anything.

I don't know if I can copy and paste the link to the manual, but I'll try doing it with the link function on the board.

The hard drive stuff is on page 4-10. If the link doesn't work, Google "HP G60 laptop manual" (no quotes), click the first link that reads "Manuals for HP G60-100 Notebook PC Series - HP IT Resource Center", then click "Service and maintenance information".

 

[supersnoop]

If there's noting worth retrieving on the old drive, this is pretty simple. It's probably 8 screws or less. Then you just boot with the Windows 7 disk and follow the instructions on the screen. The only hiccups will be if there are drivers required that aren't on the disk, but you should have a second disk if that's the case.

 

[HappyHappy]

Thanks everyone so much. I will let you know how I make out. Wish I could repay some of the great advice I've gotten on the boards

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

If there's noting worth retrieving on the old drive, this is pretty simple. It's probably 8 screws or less. Then you just boot with the Windows 7 disk and follow the instructions on the screen. The only hiccups will be if there are drivers required that aren't on the disk, but you should have a second disk if that's the case.

^^this, if you have more than one disk, they are probably numbered so you know what order to use them. Amazon is a good place to look for hard drives, oh and mine(old IBM think pad) only has one screw for changing the hard drive, so it is super easy. As far as drivers, most can be found online if needed.

 

[Grumpy4196]

Youtube has some excellent reference videos for this, just search for "how to replace harddrive in HP G60"

 

[lucyem]

I'd do exactly what others have suggested. Find a local repair place to help. I am semi tech savvy and have replaced hard drives among other things before. But sometimes you can get in there and find surprises. We have a good family friend who has a small computer repair business. I recently had to change a trackpad. Simple according to the youtube videos. I just needed one special tool. Lets just say it took an hour, using an online walk thru, with my friends help and his tools in his workshop. Not exactly as easy as they made out online.

 

[buzz5985]

It's really easy to do. I have had to replace a couple in some Dell computers. The newer models are a little harder, but still can be done. Usually its just a couple of screws and you pull the hard drive out, take it off the adapter and click the new one on, put it back in, the hardest/longest part is reloading all the software.

Janis

 

[DisMN]

I guess I go with the try it yourself thought.

Heck if my 8 yr old grandson can do it anyone should be able to right?
Yup. I said he's 8. LOL

Good luck OP!

 

[HappyHappy]

OP here. Major pixie dust. Friend of a friend repaired

 

[HappyHappy]

OOPS! Meant to thank everyone again.