How to Replace a Failed Hard Drive on Windows 11/10 [Laptop & Desktop]

Replacing a failed hard drive requires minimal effort but attention to detail. The guide takes you through the steps to install a new SSD/HDD on the PC if the old drive suffers a hard drive failure.

When you notice symptoms of a failed hard drive on your PC, your heart skips a beat or two. Generally, a series of events trigger the hard drive failure. But what bothers the user is losing important data on the drive. We have you if you have a dead hard drive and are wondering how to replace it. The post from EaseUS details the events leading to the drive failure and how to replace a failed hard drive.

Can a Failing Hard Drive be Replaced 

Yes, it is viable to replace a failed hard drive. Replacing or upgrading hard drives is a common practice to improve performance. With Windows, the process is streamlined to get the data and Windows OS to the new drive. But can we recover data on the failing hard drive?

Recovering data from a failed hard drive directly depends on the reason for the failure. If it is due to issues like partition mistakes, virus attacks, and file system malfunction, it's still possible to recover data to an extent. But if the drive fails due to a physical problem, you may never recover the data.

What to Prepare Before Replacing a Failed Hard Drive

Removing a hard drive from the laptop or desktop requires some tools and preparation. Below are some equipment and preparations one needs to perform before replacing the hard drive.

Cloning should be the priority when replacing or upgrading a hard drive. Cloning copies every bit of data on the old drive to a new one, including the Windows OS. EaseUS Disk Copy offers a bit-by-bit cloning process to migrate the data safely to SSD. Also, with its backup and instant recovery capability, EaseUS Disk Copy becomes an ideal tool for Windows users to ensure data protection. You can make bootable USB flash drives to boot your PC anywhere.

👣Download EaseU Disk Copy and clone your failed hard drive with the steps below.

Prior Notice:

• The "Sector by sector copy" asks the size of your destination disk to be at least equal to or larger than that of the source disk. Leave this feature unchecked if you wish to clone a larger hard disk to a smaller hard disk.
• All data on the destination disk will be completely erased, so take care.

Step 1. To start copying/cloning an entire disk to another, choose this disk as the source disk under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Choose the other disk as the destination disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source" or "Edit disk layout". 

• "Autofit the disk" makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best status.
• "Copy as the source"does not change anything on destination disk and the layout is the same as source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually resize/move partition layout on this destination disk.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to put your SSD in its best performance.

A message now appears, warning you that data will be lost. Please confirm this message by clicking "OK" and then click "Next".

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to officially execute the task.

Step Guide: How to Replace a Failed Hard Drive in Windows 11/10

After gathering all the necessary tools and transferring all accessible data to the new hard drive, let's open the PC and replace the failed hard drive with a new one.

1️⃣Replace a failed hard drive on a Laptop:

Step 1. Disconnect all the external peripherals connected to the laptop. Now, hold the Power button to drain the remaining battery.

Step 2. Remove the back panel using the Phillips and Torx screws. If you have large and small screws for various sections, please mark them; it will be helpful while putting the panel back.

Note: For some laptops, the back panel is divided into sections. You should remove the one with the hard disk.

Step 3. Find the hard drive. The hard drive will be present in the hard drive mount or screwed to the laptop. Please remove the hard drive carefully. 

Note: If the hard drive has any cables or battery connected, remove them before taking out the hard drive.

Step 4. Replace the failed hard drive with the new hard drive. If upgrading to a thin SSD, you can find the SSD slot beside the hard drive. The SSD slot is slightly thinner compared to the HDD. Place it in the mount if you are switching to a thick SSD.

Step 5. Reconnect the SATA and battery cables to the HDD/SSD. Now, screw the hard drive to the laptop with the help of screws. Do it gently to avoid any physical damage.

Step 6. Now, do the steps in reverse. Place the back panel, screw it to the laptop. 

If you have upgraded to an SSD with a different slot, invoke the BIOS and alter the boot order to launch the laptop with the new drive.

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2️⃣Replace a failed hard drive on a Desktop:

When it comes to a desktop PC, it's relatively easy. You need to open the PC case to replace the hard drive. The guide is given below:

Step 1. Ensure all power connections and external cables are disconnected before you start the process.

Step 2. To remove the side panel, get the screwdriver and carefully remove the screws. Mark the screw positions for later use.

Step 3. Locate the hard drive and disconnect the power and data cables. Now, take out the hard drive mount. If the mount is connected with the screws, remove them before trying to detach the mount.

Step 4. Remove the hard drive from the mount, and replace the new SSD/HDD in the hard drive bracket instead of the failed hard drive.

Step 5. Repeat the steps in reverse order to fix the back panel onto the desktop. Remember to attach the data and power cables.

After completing the process, you can boot the PC with the new hard drive. You can boot the desktop directly since you made the SSD/HDD clone with EaseUS Disk Copy.

What to Do If the Filaed Hard Drive is Not Accessible

If you cannot read and write on the hard drive, you must recover possible data first. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is an excellent tool for recovering data from an inaccessible hard drive. Find a USB or hard drive to store the files. The USB flash drive should be at least 16GB.

Step 1. Connect the USB to the laptop and use Windows Media Creation Tool to create Installation Media (Bootable disk).

Step 2. Get the compatible SSD/HDD and replace the inaccessible hard drive with the new one.

Step 3. Boot the PC from the USB drive, and install the Windows OS files on the new drive.

Step 4. Complete the Windows installation setup and change the Boot order to the new drive using the BIOS settings. Now, you are good to do. You can download or import your files from the backup.

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Sum Up

If you want to learn how to replace a failed hard drive, the article gives detailed procedures for laptops and desktops. It would be best if you were careful while making or removing connections. Some manufacturers will void your warranty if you remove the back panel, so keep it in mind before you proceed.

Cloning is the way to go if you are replacing or upgrading to a better drive or SSD. With EaseUS Disk Copy, you can clone the hard drive and create backups using advanced solutions. Download it now, and safely clone all the data on the failed drive to the new disk.

FAQs Related to Replacing a Failed Hard Drive

1. Can a faulty hard drive be repaired?

One can repair a faulty hard drive for reuse, but it is not recommended. The drive can be repaired if the fault is due to a logical problem like file system corruption or bad sectors. But It isn't easy to reuse a drive with physical damage, as physical damage ruins the drive structure completely.

2. Is it expensive to replace a hard drive?

A new drive (standard quality) will cost over $100 but can be replaced manually. If you are consulting a technician to replace the drive, it depends on the person. You can manage with YouTube tutorials if you have Torx or Phillips screwdrivers.

3. What are the symptoms of a failing hard disk drive?

The common symptoms of a failing hard drive are overheating, clicking or whirring noises, and file corruption. Over time, the system will become slow, and files will be inaccessible. It would be best to act quickly as soon as you see the signs.