Floppy drives for using good old optical disks can still be used in laptops. And sometimes problems arise with them, for example, how to open the disk drive on a laptop without a button or if the button does not work. The solution to the problem can be either software or with a physical effect on the drive itself.
Typically, the optical drive is located on the side of the laptop and has a button to open it. If you don’t find any buttons on the side panels or even a DVD sign, maybe there’s no disk drive on your laptop? It happens that the equipment is not what is stated in the store, and you simply did not notice it when purchasing. Then you will have a plug where the drive is installed; sometimes it is confused with the drive itself. And you will have to install the disk drive yourself, having first purchased it.
It happens that the laptop still has a disk drive, but the open button is located in a different place on the case, and it is designated as follows:
It is also possible that the button to open the drive is located among the function keys of the laptop and works in combination with the Fn key. Such a function key should also be indicated by the sign:
How to eject a disk from the drive using the keyboard?
To remove a disc from an external optical drive, you will need to press the “F12” button. The “Command+E” button combination makes it possible to open the drive when the “Eject” key does not work and the optical drive is not damaged.
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Software opening methods
- Go to “My Computer” and find the sign for your DVD drive. Right-click on it and select “Extract” from the drop-down menu.
- If that doesn't work, log out and turn off your laptop to reset all software and hardware control commands. Then turn it on again.
- If it does not open, then look at which application does not tell you what the drive is doing at the moment. This can be viewed in the task manager. In the task manager, you clear all tasks that use the DVD drive and try to open it again.
- If some processes do not want to close or maybe you did not see what is blocking the drive, then install the Unlocker program. The program will insert its shortcut into the context menu, so when you right-click on the drive you will see the Unlocker icon. By clicking on this sign you will see what is blocking the drive and use the program to close it all.
If you don’t see the “DVD drive” icon in the “My Computer” menu, although you know for sure that it is there, then the reason may be that the display of optical drives is disabled on the system. This is especially true in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
They believe that such drives are already obsolete and there is no need to display them. The situation can be corrected by making an entry in the operating system registry. How to do this is described on the Microsoft.com page.
Removing the Hard Drive
After the battery has been removed, you need to unscrew the cover at the base of the laptop. A Phillips screwdriver is used for this. The screws holding the cover must be loosened. After this, the cover should be moved to the edge of the case, lifted and the protrusions removed. This way it will be disconnected.
Here is a hard drive connected by a cable to the board. This cable must be disconnected by pulling the black loop. After this, you can remove the hard drive from the bay. Then you should remove the hard drive cable and remove the rubber stops from its edges. Here you need to remember that these rubber stops are different, and you need to remember in what position to insert them back.
The next step is to unscrew the four screws from the hard drive
and save them so as not to lose them.
Now you need to remove
the transparent panel from the hard drive. The hard drive must be placed in antistatic packaging.
How to prepare for repair
The undoubted advantage of netbooks and laptops compared to a computer is that any components can be easily obtained, this does not require professional skills.
Note! The same applies to replacing the disk itself. It is important to remember that if the user independently decides to remove the motherboard, cover, etc., he will immediately lose the warranty on his laptop.
Mechanical ways to open a laptop drive
- Press the button on the drive cover.
- If the button does not work, try turning off the laptop for a few minutes, or turning off the power completely. After turning on, repeat the operation again. You can try while turning on, before the system boots, as soon as the power supply is turned on, press the open button on the drive itself.
- Use any thin object to open it, preferably a paperclip. We insert the paperclip into the special hole until it stops and press a little (the latch inside should work) and the lid will open a little. Then you open it all the way with your hands.
Just don’t confuse this hole with the LED on the drive, they are located next to each other. - A very extreme case: by pressing the open button, you help the lid to open with any sharp object, for example, a knife. Insert the knife blade into the slots around the lid and apply a little pressure. Be very careful not to damage the drive. This method will help if the lid is slightly wedged or the disk inside is skewed. If you are not sure, it is better not to use this method at all.
Check for DVD drive in Device Manager
The presence of a DVD drive in a laptop can be checked through the device manager. You can access Device Manager either through the control panel or through the “my computer” context menu.
To enter the control panel on both 7 and 10, press the “start” button and there we find the “control panel” item. There we select large or small icons to view. Find the device manager and look for your DVD drive in it.
For Windows 7:
For Windows 10:
How much does it cost to replace the hard drive on a laptop?
If the replacement is made by a master, then the price will depend on the list of services that he will perform. You need to immediately decide what kind of hard drive you will need (with a large amount of memory or not), what speed of the hard drive is optimal, and also understand how much you want to spend. On average, the price of a hard drive starts at 2,000 rubles and can reach 20,000 or more. The cost of replacing it in Russia is 300-500 rubles. Thus, you can replace the hard drive on a laptop inexpensively. However, everything depends on financial capabilities. Is it possible to change the hard drive on a laptop, and are there such services in the city? It is not difficult to find out about this, since now this information is available to everyone, and you can find a specialist in almost any locality.
If the surface is faulty
The user must understand that one of the most vulnerable places is the surface of the hard drive itself. This is due to the fact that it is constantly in contact with the head, which is in motion. If the head itself was faulty or other types of damage occurred, then scratches will appear on the disk itself.
When working at a computer, you may hear an unpleasant sound, which indicates a damaged surface. This may also lead to some information being irretrievably lost. In most cases, just replacing the head is sufficient.
If there is dust, the disc must be carefully wiped.
Replacing a disk using Acer as an example
There is nothing complicated in this process, since the laptop does not require complete disassembly. You will need to do the following:
- First, the user will need to disconnect the charger, and then resort to removing the battery. In this case, a small screwdriver will help, with which you need to move the lock of the corresponding color to the right side. As soon as the user is able to hold it, the battery will rise with it, which needs to be removed. These steps are necessary to avoid further damage.
To assemble an Acer laptop, you will need to do the same steps, only in reverse order.
How to change the hard drive on an Acer laptop
We disconnect the laptop from the network, move the orange latch on the bottom of the laptop to the side, while simultaneously removing the battery.
On the opposite side, unscrew the two screws that hold the cover in place.
Under the cover we will find RAM, a Wi-Fi module and a hard drive.
We unscrew the case from the connector that stores our disk and carefully pull the tab.
Unscrew two screws on both sides of the case.
We take out the old hard drive, insert the new one and screw it back in.
Pay attention to the location of the connectors on the hard drive.
So that they fit neatly with the corresponding connectors on the laptop.
Don't forget to screw the case back with two screws.
Replace the lid and screw it on.
And finally, put the battery in place.
With these movements, the hard drive on the Acer 5750g laptop is replaced.
How to change the hard drive on a laptop: a practical guide
Many laptop owners encounter a problem when the operating system stops loading or freezes. Advanced users begin to reinstall Windows, but they fail, and the message about the absence of a hard drive makes them panic. What to do and how? Change the hard drive on a laptop? But what happens to the data that remains on it?
Don't despair! If you do not have enough knowledge and skills to repair the breakdown yourself, you can take the device to specialists. to change the hard in a short time . The price will be significantly higher, because you will have to pay not only the cost of the hard drive, but also the service to replace it. It is quite possible that the technician will charge a fee for diagnosing and finding problems. And if it is necessary to restore information, this will also lead to costs.
Hard drives differ in capacity, speed, cache size, form factor and interface. The main parameter is capacity, that is, the amount of stored information that can fit on it. An interface is a type of connector for connecting a hard drive to the motherboard. Form factor is size (for 2.5-inch laptops). Cache volume is a place to store temporary information. And an important parameter is the disk rotation speed, which determines the speed of operation.
Table of Contents
Installing a new hard drive
First you need to screw the hard drive to the panel with four screws that held the removed disk. In this case, the hard drive should be installed with the label facing down. Next, you should attach the rubber stops to it and connect the cable to the corresponding connector. Then you need to place the hard drive in the compartment on the laptop case and connect the cable to the board. Next, close the lid, tighten all the screws and put the battery in place.
If you follow these instructions, even the most uncomprehending user will not wonder how to change the hard drive on a laptop.
If the hard drive was removed in order to repair it, then after fixing the problem, you can put it back in the same order. Please remember that information on a faulty hard drive can be restored. But it is not recommended to do this yourself, as you can accidentally destroy all the necessary data. This should be done by a professional.
If the disk head is faulty
The note! As already mentioned, a constant buzzing sound should alert the user. It is also worth paying attention to crackling noises, which are an indicator of a problem with the reading head. The user will not be able to somehow repair it, since it can no longer be repaired, but it can be replaced with a new one.
It is very important to buy a head of the same brand as the previous one, otherwise the hard drive will not work properly. All actions must be done exclusively with gloves so that dust does not settle on the head.
Disassembling a laptop
How to change a hard drive
on a laptop without the necessary knowledge? Everything is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. The whole procedure takes a maximum of 15-20 minutes. The first thing to do is turn the laptop over and unscrew the screws holding the back cover. Depending on the model of the device, there may be several caps on the bottom. In this case, you need to know which one to unscrew and where the hard drive is located. Before unscrewing, the laptop must be unplugged and the battery removed. Then wait until all the elements have cooled down. Next we will look at an example of how to change the hard drive on an HP laptop.
How to repair it yourself
First of all, it is necessary to consider the oxidation of contacts, which is the most common problem that causes a hard drive to stop working correctly. However, eliminating it will not require much time and effort.
- You need to remove the hard drive from your laptop, as already shown in the instructions above, and then unscrew the disk board.
- On it you will need to find the contacts of the data transfer interface. Manufacturers almost always place them on the side.
How to put a disk in a MacBook?
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click CD & DVD. If your Mac doesn't have a built-in or connected optical drive, the CD & DVD settings section isn't available. Use the pop-up menu to select an action for the specific type of disc you insert.
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