Need Tech Savvy Help-Replacing Hard Drive-UPDATE

[ColoradoMom!!]

UPDATE I am so happy I replaced the hard drive and the Optical Drive (CD/DVD drive) all by my itty bitty self. SO easy. Started up the laptop from the CD drive with my Windows CD reinstallation disk that came originally with the laptop, and presto - a fully functional laptop!

Thanks for everyone's help and encouragement. It is also so amazing what you can find just googling it. Found a video a of a guy completely taking apart my specific laptop - wow.

Our laptop died - diagnostics still worked - hard drive failure, and Optical Drive (CD-Rom DVD) failure. It is a Dell Insprion e1505 4 years old. I called twice and got someone in India. Told I would have to send it in for $199 to their center in Houston. The people I spoke with in India had fine English, but I never thought they truly understood what I was asking. I am sure they are smarter than me - I have nothing against them (so please don't flame me), I just felt they were reading from a script that didn't take into account my specific question, KWIM?

I googled replacing hard drive and saw it wasn't that hard just need to buy one. Called a third time and again, Dell/India said it was impossible. I found a replacment parts section on the Dell website and clicked the "call me now" button, and THANK GOD, I got someone who understood me. Of course I can order a new hard drive - only $41.99. I wanted to kiss the guy! Ordered a cd/DVD as well.

SO - my question to tech savvy dis'ers is, after I reinstall the new hard drive and Optical drive, will my original CD's that came with the computer reinstall windows for me? (recovering data not an issue as it is backed up), or is there something else I should know before I get my hopes up?

 

[EclecticWAHM]

Our laptop died - diagnostics still worked - hard drive failure, and Optical Drive (CD-Rom DVD) failure. It is a Dell Insprion e1505 4 years old. I called twice and got someone in India. Told I would have to send it in for $199 to their center in Houston. The people I spoke with in India had fine English, but I never thought they truly understood what I was asking. I am sure they are smarter than me - I have nothing against them (so please don't flame me), I just felt they were reading from a script that didn't take into account my specific question, KWIM?

I googled replacing hard drive and saw it wasn't that hard just need to buy one. Called a third time and again, Dell/India said it was impossible. I found a replacment parts section on the Dell website and clicked the "call me now" button, and THANK GOD, I got someone who understood me. Of course I can order a new hard drive - only $41.99. I wanted to kiss the guy! Ordered a cd/DVD as well.

SO - my question to tech savvy dis'ers is, after I reinstall the new hard drive and Optical drive, will my original CD's that came with the computer reinstall windows for me? (recovering data not an issue as it is backed up), or is there something else I should know before I get my hopes up?

You should be able to do it with the install disks that came with the computer. If you're nervous about it, I highly recommend Geek Street down on Broadway in Englewood - right by the Starbucks at Broadway & Quincy. http://www.geekst.com/index.html Good pricing and they're fast too. You might call or go down there and get a quote from them.

 

[SplashMo]

You should be able to do it with the install disks that came with the computer. If you're nervous about it, I highly recommend Geek Street down on Broadway in Englewood - right by the Starbucks at Broadway & Quincy. http://www.geekst.com/index.html Good pricing and they're fast too. You might call or go down there and get a quote from them.

As long as you are getting the proper harddrive and CD drive it should be easy to install....

WHere are you gettign the HD from?

You shoulkd be able to boot off the CD/DVD and then install the product...

You may need to hit F8 or F12 to boot from the cd Drive...

 

[mcorbo]

make sure you have a windows installation or re-installation CD. Some laptops do not come with this, instead it is stored on a partition on the exiting hard drive. If that is the case, you should be able to get a copy of the CD from Dell

 

[Purseval]

If you just do a search for "how to replace Dell laptop hard drive" you will see plenty of step-by-step instructions and videos from websites that actually specialize in that kind of stuff.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Don't be nervous. It's pretty easy to replace the actual drive. Reloading the software is the hard part - it takes forever.

 

[Linda in sunny SC]

I'd be a bit concerned that both the hard drive and optical drive died at the same time. That could indicate a problem on the motherboard.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

You should be able to do it with the install disks that came with the computer. If you're nervous about it, I highly recommend Geek Street down on Broadway in Englewood - right by the Starbucks at Broadway & Quincy. http://www.geekst.com/index.html Good pricing and they're fast too. You might call or go down there and get a quote from them.

Thank you! I should have asked first! I tried to find a repair type shop, but they all had bad reviews, and it scared me off. I will try them if I run into trouble.

Gosh - I hope it is not the mother board!

And yes - I have found lots of good instructions and even a few you tube videos on replacing the HD, and I think we can do it!

 

[SplashMo]

I'd be a bit concerned that both the hard drive and optical drive died at the same time. That could indicate a problem on the motherboard.

I would agree that it is weird they both died...

Motherboard or power...

Very strange indeed,

 

[whois figment]

I agree with previous posts. It reallyl sounds more like the controller on the motherboard than the drives.