How to Replace the Hard Drive in an HP Touchsmart Laptop

HP's Touchsmart tablet laptop, available in two models: tx2 and tm2, is a small, light-weight tablet laptop that is great for any computer user. However, when it comes time to replace your HP Touchsmart's hard drive, whether the hard drive failed or you simple want to upgrade your Touchsmart's hard drive, it is necessary to know what you're doing before you carelessly take apart your HP Touchsmart.

1. Have the replacement hard drive ready. Do not take apart your HP Touchsmart until you are ready to change the hard drive, doing so may result in loss of parts of your HP Touchsmart.

2. Turn off your HP Touchsmart's power. Shut down your HP Touchsmart by using the Start Menu, wait until it is completely off. Then remove the power cord from the HP Touchsmart, and then remove the battery by squeezing the two sliders together on the back of your HP Touchsmart. The battery will simply pop out.

3. Get a small screwdriver. To open the compartment that stores the HP Touchsmart's hard drive, you will need a small phillips head screw driver. There are four screws to take out before the cap will come off.

4. With the back of the laptop facing away from you, turn your HP Touchsmart over (so that the bottom is facing up) and find the compartment on the left side, closest to you. There will be a small picture of three discs stacked on top of each other. This is your HP Touchsmart's hard drive. Unscrew the screws and remove the cover to expose the HP Touchsmart's hard drive.

5. To remove the HP Touchsmart's hard drive, simply pull the tab to the left. The hard drive will pop out of place and you are now almost ready to replace it with the new hard drive.

6. Clean the compartment that holds the HP Touchsmart's hard drive with compact air before inserting the new hard drive into the HP Touchsmart to ensure it's clean before you replace the hard drive.

7. Follow the instructions on the new hard drive to properly put it in place. Most of the time it will simply pop into place without any complications, but the procedure to replace the hard drive may depend on the brand of hard drive you are putting into your HP Touchsmart.

8. Replace all covers and screws and reconnect your battery, then the power cable, then turn it on. Verify that your new hard drive works in your HP Touchsmart and enjoy!