How to Replace Laptop Hard Drives and Reinstall OS

Why need to replace laptop hard drives

No matter if you are using a laptop or a desktop, you might need to replace the hard drive at some point. Here are three common scenarios where you might feel the need to replace your laptop's hard drive. When your current drive is failing, when you need more storage space, or when you want to upgrade to a faster, more efficient drive, understanding these situations can help you decide when it's time for a hard drive replacement.

◈ The drive is running out of space, so you want to upgrade to a larger hard drive.
◈ The computer is working slowly and you plan to replace HDD with SSD to boost the speed.
◈ The computer is experiencing a hard drive failure and it can only be fixed by using a new drive.
◈ Older laptops may come with outdated hard drives that are slow and inefficient. That is one of the reasons to replace laptop hard drives.
◈ Persistent disk errors and corrupted files can often be a sign that your hard drive needs to be upgraded.

After replacing the old drive with the new drive, the first thing you should resolve is the operating system, or your computer can’t work at all. Learn how to replace laptop hard drives and reinstall the operating system step by step below.

How to replace laptop hard drives and reinstall Windows 10

In the following content, I’m going to show you two main stages of hard drive replacement on a laptop. Except for this step-by-step instruction on how to replace laptop hard drives, you will also get an easy clone software to help you replace hard drives without reinstalling OS. Before you start, you may backup needed files on the old hard drive. Then, follow the instructions below:

Stage 1: Remove the old drive and install the new drive

Make sure your laptop is turned off and unplugged before starting, and then follow the steps below:

1. Open the computer case.
2. Locate the hard drive and remove the power cable and data connector from the drive itself.
3. Remove the screws and pull out the old hard drive.

4. To put the new drive in, you can simply reverse the steps above.

Tips: The operations may differ by manufacturer. Please refer to your user manual or search your specific brand of computer online for detailed guidance.

Stage 2: Reinstall the operating system

After you’ve finished the physical replacement of the old hard drive, you should reinstall the operating system on the new drive. Learn how to install Windows after replacing hard drives thereinafter. In order to reinstall the Windows operating system on your laptop, you'll need to Create a Bootable USB or Disc. This will allow your laptop to boot from the external media and start the installation process.

1. Insert Windows 10 installation bootable media and boot from it.
2. Select your Language, Time, and Keyboard method and click Next.
3. Click Install now.

Tips:
◈ Windows 10 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple of times. As you are reinstalling Windows, you can click the option “I don’t have a key” and “Do this later”. Windows will be automatically activated later.
◈ Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for - Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. 

4. Wait while the setup prepares to copy files. Then, accept the license terms and click Next.
5. Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

6. Select the unallocated drive listed, click New, Apply, and then OK.

Note: If you have multiple partitions listed instead of an unallocated drive, you can select each one (starting at the bottom), and then click Delete to make them unallocated space.

7. You will get new partitions. Select the primary partition and click Next.

8. Wait while Windows installs. When it is finished, Windows will automatically restart and reboot into setup again.
9. Windows detects and installs your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time.

After the installation completes, you’ll go through the Out of Box Experience page where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, including creating a user account, configuring privacy, installing modern applications, etc. For Windows 11, it is even easier. You just need to download and install the OS image on the new hard drive and follow the instructions. However, if you want a simpler way to fix the problem of how to replace laptop hard drives, check out the following tool.

Easier way: replacing a hard drive without reinstalling Windows

In addition to reinstalling the OS, you should also reinstall the apps and games you want, and restore your personal files from the backup on the new hard drive before you can use your laptop as usual. That sounds troublesome! Is there a way of replacing the laptop hard drive without reinstalling Windows and all the applications?

Disk clone is the answer. AOMEI Backupper Professional, the best disk cloning software, can help you make it.

✡ Transfer everything from one hard drive to another. It is able to copy the operating system, applications as well as all kinds of files to the new drive. 
✡ Enjoy the high speed of SSD. If your new drive is an SSD, you are allowed to optimize the performance of the SSD using the SSD Alignment feature.
✡ Wide compatibility. All Windows PC operating systems like Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP are supported. 

Follow the steps below to upgrade the hard drive without reinstalling Windows:

Step 1. Connect the new hard drive to your laptop via a SATA-to-USB cable and make sure it is detected. Backup files on it if it contains any data.

Step 2. Download, install, and launch AOMEI Backupper. Then select Clone > Disk Clone. 

Step 3. Select the old hard drive as Source Disk and new hard drive as Destination Disk respectively.

Step 4. Confirm the operation and click Start Clone. If the new hard drive is an SSD, you may check SSD Alignment to enhance SSD performance.

Step 5. After the cloning process is complete, you can remove the old hard drive and install the new drive as mentioned above. Your laptop will be usable immediately.

Bonus Tips

1. Backup data and files Before replacing your laptop hard drives

Before replacing the hard drive on your laptop, it’s crucial to back up files you want to keep, such as documents, pictures, music files, videos, and program installation files. To do this effectively, you should use reliable backup software. AOMEI Backupper Professional is also capable of doing that. This software not only helps you back up and restore files, folders, disks, partitions, and Windows operating systems but also supports disk cloning and file synchronization.

2. Prepare an appropriate SSD

Ensure the SSD is compatible with your laptop, as some older models use a parallel ATA connector instead of SATA. Additionally, it's crucial to check the size of your current hard drive. Make sure the new SSD has enough capacity to store all your data. This way, you can avoid running out of space after the upgrade.

3. Remember to Initialize SSD

If the SSD you're about to use is brand-new, you need to initialize it to either MBR or GPT in Windows Disk Management. This step is essential, otherwise, the SSD won't be usable. Initializing the drive sets up the necessary structure for data storage. Once initialized, you can proceed to format and use the SSD for your files and operating system.

FAQs about replacing laptop hard drives

1. Do you need to reinstall Windows after replacing hard drives?

Not necessary. If you clone the old drive to the new drive, everything will be transferred to the new drive, including Windows OS, installed applications, and personal data.

Once you plug the new drive into your PC and set it as the first boot option, the device will boot right away. You do not have to reinstall Windows from scratch. 

2. Will I lose my Windows 10 license if I change hard drives?

No, you won’t lose your Windows 10 license after replacing hard drives. However, if you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you'll need to reactivate Windows to get it running.

3. Is it cheaper to replace a hard drive or buy a new computer?

Upgrading your computer can often be more cost-effective than purchasing a new one and can extend its lifespan, delaying the need for a major investment. Sometimes, installing a new hard drive and adding extra RAM is enough to meet the requirements of the latest software. This simple upgrade can enhance performance without the expense of a new device.

Verdict

Now you know how to replace laptop hard drives and reinstall the operating system exactly. To get rid of the heavy work of OS and application reinstallation, you can use AOMEI Backupper to clone the old hard drive to the new drive. Besides the clone feature, AOMEI Backupper offers a sync feature to help you sync local folders to OneDrive.

If you are looking for portable sync software to help you sync files on any computer, pick the AOMEI Backupper Technician or Technician Plus edition. Don’t hesitate to go for this tool! Share this page with your friends if you think it's helpful.