How to Install a Hard Drive or SSD in a PC

Learn how to install a hard drive into any PC with this easy to follow step-by-step guide.
Upgrading storage is one of the most common changes that PC owners want to make. And it happens to be one of the easiest tasks to do yourself! The steps in this guide can also be applied to the installation of 2.5" Solid State Drives (SSD's) as well. If you're interested in learning how to install NVMe and SATA M.2 drives, get subscribed because I'll be covering that in a separate video.
This is the first video in a new series on this channel that will focus on basic PC building and upgrading. If you have questions or ideas for future video topics, let me know in the comments!
Shopping Links
Hard Drives: amzn.to/3xP9xRp
2.5" Solid State Drives: amzn.to/3dE92m6
M.2 Solid State Drives: amzn.to/3R9mHQ2
PC Cases: amzn.to/3xOrShg
RAM: amzn.to/3xOfLkc
CPU's: amzn.to/3ScHl2K
Motherboards: amzn.to/3xLXXGw
Graphics Cards: amzn.to/3DME8Tn
Power Supplies: amzn.to/3Ssp9SC
Purchasing links are affiliated. If you click on them and make a purchase, the channel may earn a small commission. It doesn't cost you anything, and helps support the channel. Thank you for your support!

[@ECPUz]

For anyone looking to install M.2 drives (NVMe & SATA), here's a link to a separate video for you: ruclips.net/video/fhPYpgLJKtQ/видео.html

[@Robin_Is]

Ok.

[@StainderFin]

nice i jsut bought that! unsure if i got connector since it didnt provide it also pc box has not that some says it is inside of pc covers? that stupid lol i should just order it? wont cost lot

[@Toheebify]

Hi, My new hard drive showed up as 'healthy (basic data partition) instead of Unallocated. What do I do?

[@shep9231]

I came because I was curious but you answered a dozen questions I had in one sitting. I'm gonna be coming back for more of your content!

[@Dano84]

A simple thank you. Been a few years since I built a pc, this was my first Windows 11 build and the drives weren't showing up. The last bit helped me greatly and was easy to follow. Thank you

[@joep3525]

Dude! Simple, easy to follow, right to the point, instructions. Many thanks!

[@KevinKnightCanDance]

Thank you. I for got where my SATA ports were on my motherboard. Thanks to this video I checked in my manual to see I had to remove the graphics card to get to them. Took 5 mins to install and another 5 to get my case back together.

[@pertjarnstrom1330]

Thanks to a friend who give me a link to this vid, It solve my problem....now my SSD works thanks to you!
I have a AMD Ryzen 3500U (or similar) and next step are to get the right memory....the one I had was to big...Im gonna buy 2x16 SO-DIMM are the right one I need.

[@thegamingillustrator]

i am saving up for a build that uses a 20 tb hard drive as native backup storage, so this really helped me understand how it should be installed. (my laptop ran out of space in the first year. I am NOT skimping on storage again.)

[@justinpodhola5414]

Thank you for the tips, I got my daughter a pc for Christmas, time to install it :)

[@ECPUz]

Glad I could help!

[@fifugan_1798]

Your daughter lucky af, my dad didn't even wish me happy birthday in 7 years

[@blubernaut]

​@@fifugan_1798 sad

[@Abdo-jw5ff]

​@@fifugan_1798 if one day you have son or daughter don't mistake like your father

[@fifugan_1798]

@@Abdo-jw5ff I'll make sure not to!

[@michaelthompson9798]

It’s actually great to see someone actually show and explain how to install a SATA SSD and correctly initialise it for use 🥰👍🤩. ……. You should do one as a supplementary episode with NVME drives too. Great work ECPU 💪👍

[@ECPUz]

Yep.. NVMe will be coming in a separate video! 👍

[@user-fo9ce3hr5h]

THAT WAS REALLY COMPLETE AND BEST FILMING, GREAT JOB!

[@Jerkenstein]

Thanks for this tutorial. I actually have the exact same case as you so it made things even easier.

[@aspiringartist3949]

I had the physical installation down fine, but this video helped a lot when I couldn't find the drive in Windows - Thank you!

[@syfamilytv]

Very precisely explained. I have a HDD and SSD which needs to be removed. This really helped a lot. Thank you.

[@rothgamez]

Thank you so much! I just got a new PC and I couldn't remember how to install my Hard Drive, this helped a ton!

[@KuroOokami167]

Many thanks for this! Found the missing 4 TB of storage my new custom build was lacking.

[@CordobezVeridan]

Thanks man.
The hardest part for me was mounting the drive but by staring really hard at all the holes I managed to. Then I followed your install guide and it was a piece of cake.
Now I can free my SSD and save all my catgirls on my hard drive.

[@dyonisisvakratsas4934]

Lmao

[@soroame]

what a perfect and phenomenal guide! Thanks for the help on this

[@GoshenPrepping]

Thanks so much ECPU! I did this years ago, and completely forgot how to do it.

[@puffpuffin842]

thanks! nothing in the paperwork I got with the case or hdd explains how to do this, so this was very useful

[@GHM9]

Very helpful, thanks! I’m about to do this upgrade really soon and this was exactly what I was looking 👍🏼

[@diesel3296]

Thank you I am planning to install a new hhd to my gaming laptop which already has an ssd however I am running out of storage. This was very helpful as I had no clue how to format it!

[@climbcompasswest]

great video. just installed an ss drive. Your instructions couldn't be more clear. Well done one of the best I have used.

[@egrintarg230]

Very helpful video. I just added a 2 TB HDD to my new tower. This new PC should be much more powerful than the one I have been using.

[@dominikb6912]

Came for copper and found gold!
Great video! Also love the clean space and composition of the room :)

[@havoc_bel]

So because of this video I just learned I've had a 500gb ssd unallocated for 3 years!

[@Bigmike24743]

Lol 😂

[@vievitelair]

Bro same, I installed my HDD when I built my computer 3 years ago and never actually allocated it. Been complaining alot for no reason it seems lmao.

[@KykyCheek]

Thank you so much, this is the only video that make me understand how to install my SSD. You're the best :)

[@instantchildbirth2746]

This video is absolutely perfect. You're like the Babish of PCs. Subscribed!

[@yesyesyesyall]

Tx for taking the time to do this, exactly what I needed.

[@joshuaneth4216]

Thank you for the great video! Well put together and easy to follow.

[@BBOYPITO92]

Wow, I felt like I put together my whole pc just installing that HDD hahaha thank you! 🙌🏽

[@realjose04]

Broo this is so nice, im so noob in pc. And this helps me alot to understand installing additional hard disk.
Thanks men. This is very helpful in newbie like me

[@Formattingformula]

This was great! You explain everything so well. Thank you very much!

[@reallyryan_]

super clear video top notch quality as usual! 👌

[@ECPUz]

Thank you!!

[@leith-lukashaddad2867]

Bo ive been looking for this for days thx alot respect man

[@lavender_moon11]

Super easy to follow thank you!! Watched this before installing

[@stix216]

This was great! I had an issue on my end but minor, thank you for the great tutorial!

[@JVT-]

Thx a lot man i was hella confused with the installation (i have the bare minimum of pc knowledge) and your video helped so much

[@alanhowitzer]

It worked. This was easier than I thought. Thank you.

[@Orion830]

Great Tutorial. Thank you. I wish my pc had those slide ins for the hard-drives. I had to move alot of cables just to attach the second one to the wall of it

[@nobutakaX]

Still helpful 11 months later thank u my friend

[@apriljoke1357]

Thank you so much, now I have more spaces for my photos and games ❤

[@foyez5]

Thanks for your super helpful vid I managed to install two hard drives no problem!

[@Cris-ib6bq]

The best video ive found on this

[@daviddjuric1016]

What a well made video, amazing!

[@rafaromi8282]

Omg thanks I just did it step by step as you described and bingo worked like a charm

[@ECPUz]

You're welcome!

[@manoftheroad55]

Installed today..following your guidance works perfectly ..Many Thanks

[@StrawberryBunny91]

thanks helped out alot, was nervouse on what I was spost to do and this was a very easy guide to follow

[@paramortalics]

My guy, thank you so much. This was really helpful.

[@movieshistory7598]

Very helpful. Thanks for making this video. Now I have my first ever HDD upgrade. 👌

[@flygamertk2300]

I appreciate u, u broke it down and explained everything easily

[@DoomguyIsGrinningAtYou.]

Xtremly simple and helpful. Nice

[@nos9312]

Thanks for the help it all worked flawlessly.

[@PJ-rp5gb]

This video is super helpful, thank you very much

[@Nctrnlhyp]

The most helpful and simplest vids ever thanks!🤙🏻

[@manoftheroad55]

Simple Clear and Very Helpfull..will update you on my novice install first steps

[@gnarlord6319]

love this tutorial. so easy to understand. you're an oustanding teacher mr ecpu

[@TrentReed27]

Great video, very helpful! Thanks!

[@_fabiojacinto]

Thanks! Straight to the point, very simple and clear information. Keep up the good work!

[@SkippyDoPe]

Thanks alot! After hour of struggle you helped me out!

[@soby2468]

Pretty insightful and clear tutorial! Thanks

[@fortunefair]

THANK YOU. Really great guide.

[@mariawaage11]

ty man, i was cluuuueeeless but now i can do it myself wiii

[@jasonsteyn7380]

thanks dude this made it super easy as its the first pc i own! shot allot

[@Sigy]

Thanks for the help!

[@steve4552]

Excellent tutorial!

[@ThePhilterExperience]

Thank you so much bro!

[@Soheth_-]

Thank you very much! Helped a lot😊

[@ceglastymonster7799]

thank you, you helped me:)

[@daboss1113]

Worked great! Thank you sir

[@MrLeiduowen]

You're a really nice guy and it's a pleasure to watch👍👍

[@justinkcire]

Thanks for this!!!

[@ECPUz]

You're welcome!

[@nokedlipudinggal8276]

Would be nice to see as a follow up to show how to check the new drive for errors, bad sectors and such.

[@Thetom5000]

thank you!! really heopful

[@ethanjeremiah3306]

Appreciate the help

[@XenoSophos]

thanks it helped me :)! cheers mate

[@muhummadali8381]

thanks man

[@sathsarasenadeera]

Thanks man.big help❤

[@RakeshBhargava]

Very nice and well explained video - Thanks

[@wowandrss]

What do you do if it's like your 4th drive so you need another cable running from PSU but there isn't one? You can just buy a random one and it'll be okay or does it have to be specific in any way?

[@yikesyoudied8010]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@zed_fi]

Thanks bro it's very useful ❤

[@jackshayduran]

actually helpful, thanks

[@kanemiller1412]

Just wondering if you may know the answer to this, but after swapping my ssd from my old PC and doing a clean wipe of all the stuff that was on it before transferring it into the new rig, I've been experiencing blue screen (watchdog timeout) errors every now and then. I've wiped the drive again on this pc but I'm unsure what could be causing the issue. the drive I had swapped is an 870 evo.

[@mraizat3278]

Outstanding, thanks ya.

[@Capt-Cran]

Really good video!!

[@michaelmccurdy2467]

EXCELLENT!

[@mounaim7811]

Thank you for the guide.

[@kawhijula9825]

Thanks for Tutorial. :)

[@NorFam]

Thank you big bro

[@corruptedanimator]

Great tutorial! It was very easy to understand, even for someone like me, who has next to no knowlegde on computer building.
I have one small question though, does a computer already come with the SATA power cable, or do i need to purchase one?

[@mew1407]

You have to purchase a PSU (power supply unit) which contains the cables you’ll need (SATA, PCIE, etc) Unfortunately I learnt that the hard way lol

[@officialtoofknbusy]

Great video thanks!

[@puspobiswas6453]

Thank you bro❤

[@aizen.x.9312]

Easy walkthrough,Thanks

[@jamesborough2921]

I'm good at screwing things up, so this should be a piece of cake.

[@Heorgath1]

thanks man!

[@wyattnichols6749]

this is a perfect video thank you for the help

[@selection01]

Simply Amazing.

[@ahmedessamel-din5603]

very nice and helpfull one but one small question for me. data cable do I buy them or should I find them with my power supply it's fully modular and it's XPG core reatcor 750W 80+ Gold.

[@ECPUz]

SATA cables usually come bundled with your motherboard. If you don't have any you can pick some up pretty cheap on Amazon.

[@smokey8764]

Thank you my brother

[@ceuser3555]

Do those cables (data and power) come with the HDD or PSU?or sold separately?