I have two identical Dell laptops and I want to swap the hard drive from one to the other.?
716024
I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems.\nSome RAM/hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in  useful. Try this site, if you can get what is required.
409877
If you still have the other harddrive then I would reccomend that you make in the Master drive and the new drive the Slave.  This way you will not need to reinstall your office programs because they will be on your primary drive.
470423
external harddrive, or change out the old one to a larger one
388629
The best thing to do would be to open up the new one and "Temporarily" install the old hard drive ... heck, you might as well keep it there.\n\nCopy your DATA files (not programs, they should be reinstalled if you want any of them) to your new drive.  You can then Reformat the old drive ... it's remarkably easy to do ... the plugs only fit one way ... just make sure the power is completely off to the computer (i.e. unplug it from the wall for sure) while you've got your hands in there.\n\nDon't be intimidated ... it's very easy ... the plugs only fit one way !
1095769
should be able to. if they're both Dells, that is. and if Dell hasn't changed their hard drive/hard drive bay since whenever 4GB drives were actually manufactured. you should call their Customer Service to be sure. but i don't see why not.
325139
It depends on the model.  A lot of laptops have DVD/CD drives that are VERY easy to change out.  First, look under the computer.  There should be one screw under the bottom of the drive.  Remove that.  Next, there should be a button of some kind under the drivers drawer.  It may look like a flat rectangle.  Some of these buttons pull out.  Some of them you push in to make them eject.  Once the button is ejected, pull it and the drive will slide out.  Now insert your new drive, push in the button, and replace the screw.  Of course make sure that the new drive is made to be compatible with your laptop and that you have the drivers if it needs them.  Sometimes they are plug-and-play, meaning that they will be automatically recognized by your computer and may only require you to restart you system for them to work properly.
626790
Your best bet would be to just reinstall the operating system onto the new computer using the original cds.  Then just copy the files you want to save onto a cd or transfer through a network.\n\nIf you dont have the original cds, you can use a program like partition magic, which allows you to completely copy one hard drive to the other, although this would require you to put both hard drives in one computer.
1186344
Most likely you can remove the actual hard drive that's contained in it and connect it directly to the inside of your computer, depending on your computer model and configuration.
710195
get this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1733195&CatId=2213\nstick your hard drive in it and plug it in the usb port and you can get all of the info from your old drive and now you have a handy, portable hard drive!
975219
If your computer has an IDE connection it should be easy enough. The first thing you'll need is an extra bay for the hard drive, or if you're willing to take the chance just take the computer case off and just let the hard drive hang loose. Next you'll also need another IDE cable to plug into the drive and another power connection. Plugging these two in are pretty self-explanatory - they only fit one way. After you get those hooked up you might need to move the jumper(the little black thing that goes over the pins) to the slave position. Some other tips: if you don't have an extra IDE cable in your computer just take the one of the DVD or CD drive and attach to the hard drive, if the hard drive is formatted with FAT, FAT32, or NTFS you should be OK if you're running Windows 2000 or XP, for the jumper usually the hard drive sticker on it will show the different jumper connections. If not it usually doesn't matter but make sure that is your last resort, and finally if you have a SATA connection that should be OK too(the SATA cable is the orange or res small cable and the IDE cable is the big, fat, grey one). Once you get all of these things done your BIOS might say 'found new hard drive press Enter to continue', after that when you're logged into Windows just transfer all the files you need off of that hard drive to the one you want to move them to.
125636
you can do this without any additional program.\n\nRight click My Computer and select Administration\nExpand Data Storage and click Data Storage Administration\nIn the right window upper half all connected drive will be shown. Right click on a Drive letter and then click Change drive letter.\nA new window open and then click on change and then select the desired drive letter.
3516
yeah...just add an additional hard drive....either internal or external...then you can keep your existing hard drive with your current configuration on it....find an honest nerd to add it for you...the computer stores charge too much
235422
Changing internal hard drives is pretty simple.\n\n>>I'd suggest you visit one of the links referenced below and read it carefully before you attempt anything. <<\n\nVisit your PC manufacturer's site for instructions on how to open your case and physically remove the hard disk\n\nIn short , to replace a hard drive,\n\nUnplug and disconnect all cables going to your CPU, ground yourself or use an antistatic wrist strap to be safe.\nOpen up your case, trace the cables going from the motherboard to your harddrive and unplug them.\nUnscrew the exisiting harddrive from its bay and remove it.\nPut the new drive into the drive bay and secure it using the mounting screws. Re connect all cables that you disconnected inside the case. Close case, then reconnect all external cables. and you are all set.\n\nMind you, identifying the C vs D is more complicated. Depends whether your disk is partitioned. \n\nIf you only have single partition on a disk, then it is usually drive C. \n\nIf you have multiple hard drives with single partitions, then the disk connected to your primary IDE controller is generally drive C.\n\nIf you have multiple internal partitions and only a single physical drive inside your PC, then your drive C , D and any others are all logical seperations inside the same disk unit.
55270
did u install an operating system or not yet ?\n\nif yes, then open "My Computer" if u use windows operating system and right click on each drive and chose properties.\n\nif no, then the easiest way is to plug ur hard drive to another pc which has an operating system and do the same\n\n\ngood luck mate.. ;)
713694
Connect your old hard disk to the IDE slot that your CD-ROM drive is using. You can even leave it connected together with your CD-ROM drive if you want. \n\nYou just have to plug the IDE cable into both the CD-ROM and the hard disk. Set your CD-ROM as master and the hard disk as slave.\n\nGo to BIOS and see if your hard disk has been recognised. Once it is done, reboot your PC and transfer the files from the old disk to teh new one. \nUSB to IDE cables are also available which can be made use of in case you want donot want to open up your PC and play around with the peripherals and the cables.
8519
This is quite easy.  We'll configure your existing hard drive to be a master drive and your new one to be a slave drive.  Here's how:\n\n0. Print out this guide and any other reference material you have.\n\n1. Turn off your computer.\n\n2. Pull all of the cables out of the back, including the power chord.\n\n3. Get a screwdriver and open the case.\n\n4. Have a look around inside and look for a flat (thin) but wide grey cable going from your motherboard (the big circuit board at the bottom of your case where everything plugs in to) to your existing hard drive.\n\n5. Make sure there is a spare plug on the cable.  One of the plugs will be going into your existing hard drive.  Also make sure that there is space in the metal rack where the hard drives go, and that there are screw holes in the rack.\n\n6. Unscrew the hard drive and unplug the IDE cable (the flat grey cable) and the power cable, and remove your existing hard drive.  \n\n7. At the same end where the cable went in there will be a series of pins.  These are called 'jumper' pins and they're used to determine whether or not the device is master or slave.  Two of the pins should be covered with a thin bit of plastic that joins them together - this is called a jumper.  (see the URL in the sources section below).\n\n8. Look on the case of the hard drive for a picture of which pins to cover to make the hard drive a 'master' drive.  Remove the jumper and put it back on the appropriate pins.  Use a pair of tweazers if it helps.\n\n9. Look at your new hard drive and configure it as slave (using the jumper pins, just like in step 8).\n\n\n10. Place both hard drives back into the computer in the metal racks, and remember which is which (maybe use some sticky tape temporarily to mark one of them).  Screw them both into the racks.\n\n11. Attach the master hard drive, your old hard drive, to the very end of the IDE cable (the flat grey cable).\n\n12. Attach the new hard drive to the middle plug in the cable. (see the URL in the sources section).\n\n13. Attach power cables to both hard drives.\n\n14. Put your computer case back on, but don't screw it in yet.\n\n15. Plug in your power, monitor and keyboard and turn the computer on.  Hold down the 'delete' key on your keyboard immediately.  This will take you to your computer 'bios' screen.\n\n16. Select the first option in the menu.  This should list the hard drives that have been detected.  If both hard drives are in the list then you're done.  Screw the case on properly.  If not, double check the jumper settings, the IDE cable and the power cable.  If you can't get it to work, DONT PANIC! Just take your computer to your local computer store and ask for help.
161198
The connector on the hard drive from your laptop can be converted to a "normal" drive (desktop hdd connector)  They sell these converter's for 10 or 15 bucks at most computer stores.  Some laptop hard disk drives have little converters on them which pull right off to reveal the normal laptop hdd connection.\n\nI'm assuming you have a desktop near by and a little bit of knowledge and/or courage :P\n\nTake the old laptop hard drive out and using a converter connect it to the desktop.  Format the laptop hdd and create a folder on the drive called /Win98 also make the laptop hdd bootable.  While on the desktop copy all the files over from the Windows 98 CD that you have to the /Win98 folder.\n\nPlace the laptop harddrive in the laptop and it should boot to dos.  From the dos prompt C:/ type "cd win98"  Then type "setup"  From there you should be able to install windows 98.