Many PC users are hesitant to do their own upgrades, which is no surprise with the cost of upgrades and the ever-present fear of losing delicate components. However, there’s no reason not to install your HDD. Not only will it give you more space for storage on your computer, but it’s also a great starter project for anyone ready to upgrade their computer for the first time.

The main benefit of installing an HDD is having more space to store things on your computer. However, a few types of hard drives are available, many of which are even slower than an SSD. So why install an HDD?

Installing an HDD is well worth the time it takes to learn to do it. Just remember that you need to be sure your computer has space for one before you start.

You may or may not need a screwdriver, depending on what kind of case you have.

Some cases come with hard drive bays that hold the drive in place without screws. Usually, some kind of pressure setup keeps everything in the right spot. If your computer case doesn’t have that, you’ll need a screwdriver to secure the drive itself to the bay in the computer.

Other than that, all you need are the two cables the hard drive requires: the SATA cable for the motherboard and the power cable from the PSU. The first lets the hard drive interface with your system. The second gives it the power it needs to turn on, record data, and pass it to your other computer components. 

Two major steps to installing an HDD are getting it into the right place and plugging it in. Once you’ve done so, all that’s left is to test it and ensure it’s interfacing with the system correctly. 

Look in your computer case to see what kind of bays it has. These are the locations where you can mount the hard drive before connecting it.

Now the ports to plug things in should be accessible.

The two different plugs need to be inserted before the hard drive will work. The cables may have come with the hard drive, PSU, or motherboard. If you don’t have them available, order compatible ones for both parts.

Remember to check your motherboard manual for the input labels. When you plug in your main hard drive that holds your operating system, many models have a specific, suggested port. 

Once the hard drive is installed on the computer, you can do a few things to activate it. 

If the drive holds your operating system, you can put bootable media like a USB into the computer and start things up. Then you can follow the steps on the bootable media to install your operating system. 

However, if you want to add it as an additional drive in Windows, try a few more tweaks to get it set properly. This should only be done with a fresh new drive, not with a drive that holds the information you want to reuse. 

Now the drive is ready to use. You can start moving or downloading files onto it as needed. 

There’s nothing wrong with using screws to mount the HDD. If anything, screws may hold it in place better than models that don’t use them. If you’re going to be moving your computer regularly, consider getting a case with screws to stabilize the HDD more.

That being said, many people find models without screws more convenient and easy-to-use. It should work just fine if you aren’t planning to hoist the computer and carry it from place to place. 

Consider these tips when shopping for a standard hard drive.

Any hard drive compatible with your components that fits in your computer is a good one to choose. These are just a few things to consider to ensure you get one that’s just perfect for you. 

Most hard drives will work with most PCs. The real issue is whether your hard drive is older and uses a different cable other than a SATA. If it does, you can get an adapter, though. Just make sure you know what cables you need in advance, so you don’t have to wait on one to be delivered while you’re putting the build together. 

The number of hard drives you can install and connect to your PC depends on a few things. Check how many you can connect to your motherboard, how many you can connect to the power, and how many slots your computer tower has to know. 

Removing the HDD shouldn’t cause any problems, as long as you’re careful. People move hard drives with information regularly. However, the more you move it around, the more danger the information is in. Always have another backup, just in case. 

I'm a computer enthusiast who enjoys building new systems, troubleshooting software for my friends, and playing everything from Apex Legends to Golf with Friends. I used to work as a social media manager and love finding new ways to connect with people.

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