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Adding or Replacing a Hard Drive in HP Pavilion Elite Desktop PCs

This document pertains only to HP desktop computers with the following types of computer case:

Before you begin

You need a flathead screwdriver.
Remove the Pocket Media Drive, if it is present.
Turn off the computer. Disconnect the Ethernet or modem cable. Then disconnect the power cord.
Move the computer to a clear, flat, stable work surface over a non-carpeted floor.
HP strongly recommends the use of an anti-static wrist strap and a conductive foam pad when working on the computer.
To add an additional SATA hard disk drive, an additional SATA data cable is required .
Do not remove a component from its protective packaging until you are ready to install it.

warning:
The edges of metal panels can cut skin. Be careful not to slide skin along any interior metal edge of the computer.

caution:
This product contains components that can be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a non-carpeted floor, use a static dissipative work surface (such as a conductive foam pad), and wear an ESD wrist strap connected to a grounded surface.

If you are adding an additional hard drive

When adding a hard drive, it important to identify the connectors on the motherboard.

The hard drive connectors on the motherboard must match the type of hard drive you wish to connect. If your motherboard has SATA data connectors and one is not in use, you can attach an additional SATA hard drive. If your motherboard has an IDE connector available, you can attach an IDE hard drive.

note:
If you want to install a IDE hard drive to a motherboard that has only SATA data connectors, a third-party adapter is necessary.

Figure : Motherboard with IDE and SATA data connectors

IDE connectors

SATA data connectors

Figure : Example of SATA connections

Power cable

SATA data cable

Figure : Example of an IDE connection

IDE data cable

Power cable

Removing a drive

Use the steps in this section to remove a hard disk drive or to prepare to install a new second drive.

warning:
Make sure the computer is disconnected from power before starting.

Step 1 Remove the side panel. For more information about removing the side panel, refer to the HP support document Opening the PC Case.
Step 2 Remove the front panel. For more information about removing the front panel, refer to the HP support document Removing the Front Cover.
Step 3 Lay the computer on its side.
Step 4 The drive cage is a removable cage inside the computer and houses the Personal Media Drive cage (top) and the hard disk drive cage (bottom).
Step 5 Remove the two screws that secure the drive cage to the computer.
Step 6 Find the latch for the hard disk drive cage inside the computer.
Step 7 Press the cage latch (1), and slide the hard disk drive cage toward the top of the computer (2) to release it.
Step 8 Lift the cage partially out of the computer.
Step 9 Find the power and data cables at the back of the drive. Plugs on the drive cables are keyed and can be inserted only when aligned properly to the connector on the drive. In addition, some plugs have a latch that must be pressed or squeezed to release the plug while pulling it from the connector.	Figure : Plugs with a latch (power and SATA data)
Step 10 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the hard drive: For plugs without a latch, pull the plug straight out from the connector. For plugs with a latch, press the latch in the center of each plug (1 or 3), and then pull the plug from the connector (2 or 4).
Step 11 If you are adding a new second drive, skip this step and continue with Installing a drive. Remove the four screws (two on each side) that secure the drive in the cage. For a second drive, remove the upper four screws.
Step 12 Slide the drive out of the cage.

Installing a drive

Use the steps in this section to replace the existing primary or secondary hard disk drive, or to add a new second drive.

Step 1 When installing a PATA hard drive, set the new drive you are installing to CS (cable select) if the jumper is not already in the CS position.
Step 2 Slide the replacement drive into the drive cage, with the label facing up and the connectors toward the right (the top of the cage). Align the four screw holes in the sides of the drive with the holes in the cage.
Step 3 Insert and tighten the four screws that secure the drive in the cage. For the second drive, use the upper four screw holes.
Step 4 Find the four tabs on the bottom of the drive cage.
Step 5 Find the four slots inside the computer that match the tabs on the bottom of the drive cage.
Step 6 Hold the cage over the computer, and connect the drive power and data cables by pressing each plug onto its connector. If you are adding an additional SATA hard drive, connect the additional SATA cable to the next available SATA connector on the motherboard. For example, if SATA connectors 1 and 2 are used, for the additional drive use SATA connector 3 on the motherboard.
Step 7 Lower the cage into the computer, inserting the four tabs on the bottom of the drive cage into the computer slots.
Step 8 Slide the cage toward the bottom of the computer until it locks into place.
Step 9 Insert and tighten two screws that secure the cage in the computer.
Step 10 Set the computer upright.
Step 11 Replace the front panel. For more information about replacing the front panel, refer to the HP support document Removing the Front Cover.
Step 12 Replace the side panel. caution: MBR or NTFS partitions are limited to 2 TB (without using dynamic disks and volume sets). If you are installing a hard drive that is 2 TB or greater, HP recommends formatting the drive using GPT partitions. For more information about replacing the side panel, refer to the HP support document Opening the PC Case.