I can remember, my first computer was with only 4GB hard disk. Now 250 GB is normal for a general computer and it can go up to 1.5 TB depending upon your requirements. My computer has 2, 250 GB hard drives + my laptop as 320 GB hard disk. So If you are thinking to upgrade your hard drive with a larger one then always keep few points in you mind.

• First of all make multiple backup of your important data on removable media such as CD/ DVD, USB Drive etc.
• Now there are 3 options for you.

1. You can make an exact copy of all your data, operating system and settings on the new hard drive.
2. Reinstall a clean copy of OS and other applications on the new hard disk.
3. Using the new hard disk as a second hard drive.

• So, if you are going 2nd or 3rd option as mentioned above then backup is not quite essential, but still you can make data backup on USB drives or DVD.
• For the first option, you need to make an exact image of your old hard drive, basically the C:\ where the OS and applications are loaded. You can use software like Acronis TrueImage in order to make the OS and data backup. You can learn more about this on Acronis website.
• Now you need to know the interface of your old hard disk, SATA or PATA.
• Modern motherboards support both SATA and PATA interface.
• Now simply de-touch all external cables from the CPU cabinet and uncover it.
• You can see your existing hard disk like the image below.

• For SATA interface the data cable will look like the following image.

• If you like to replace the new old one with the new hard disk then simply remove the data and power cable from and screw the new one and plug all cables as before.

• Now, if you want the new hard disk to act as a 2nd hard disk, then you have to use the new one as primary slave. Because the primary master is already engaged by the existing hard disk.

• In this case, you need to check the jumper setting according to the manual as it differs models to models. I’ll suggest you to go for jumper less cable selection.
• After you are done, plug all cables and turn your computer on and go to BIOS by pressing F1/ F2 or DEL depending on your motherboard. Here check the new hard disk installed successfully or not.

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