How To Install And Mount Internal Laptop Hard drive

[Enigma]

Hello all!

I have a few questions about installing and mounting an internal laptop harddrive. My machine has 2 harddrive slots, one which has the manufacturer provided drive and the other slot which is currently empty. My laptop is a Asus G72GX gaming machine. I just bought a Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD10TPVT 1 Terabyte 5200 RPM 2.5 inch SATA hard drive from newegg.com. So I opened my notebook and slid it into the slot and it was a perfect fit. But then I screwed the cover back on and then noticed that the drive was moving around inside. So I opened it back up and saw that there were screw holes on the drive and where it fits in, and I figured that something must be placed there to give a snug fit. I contacted a PC tech guy I knew and he said that I would need to buy mounting brackets, which the manufacturer didnt include, for about $5 to $10. but before i do so, i decided to post this question here so that i can make sure that I am buying something which is a surefire solution, so I dont have to go through the hassle of returning it. So my questions are, what EXACTLY do I need to look for when I do a search on Google? I looked on the Western Digital website and it appears that they dont sell the mounting brackets. Also, the tech guy I talked to said that Asus laptops have a peculiarity in regards to mounting an internal laptop harddrive, in they they supposedly arent standardized, so that a particular harddrive/mounting bracket/etc might not fit correctly. I need to know well in advance that whatever i buy will fit correctly without a hitch. It should include the bracket(s), screws, and anything else i might need. Well, that's all for now, and I thank in advance anyone who takes the time out of their day to answer my question. Reply soon................................

 

[MadMaxData]

Just buy a universal bracket. It has slots rather than precise screw holes for mounting. That way the screws don't need to line up perfectly to be secure.

 

[whs]

I would inspect the other disk and check how it is mounted. That should give you a clue.

 

[Saltgrass]

It seems strange some type of mounting bracket was not included. On the Dells, the mounting bracket is the cover for the opening. I checked the owners manual but it does not show the hard drive installations.

 

[Enigma]

Thanks for the quick replies.I do have another unrelated question though.While screwing the cover back on I accidentally dropped one of the screws into the laptop and now it is trapped. I'm not willing to take it apart to get it out because I am not good at putting things back together in one piece. So my question is, does a loose screw inside pose any real threat or is it nothing to worry about? I dont want it being melted by the heat of the processor, getting caught inside the fan or somehow melding itself to the motherboard, etc. well, gotta go, thanks again.

 

[Saltgrass]

It would be basically impossible for us to give you a guarantee it would not cause a problem at some later date. It would certainly depend on where it is and what other areas it might eventually have access to.

I know I would try to get it out..

 

[Enigma]

I really have no idea where it might be at inside the machine. I've lightly shaken the laptop from side to side and tilted it every which way andd i cant hear it moving around inside. But at the same time, im kinda worried about removing the entire case to find it cuz i'm not entirely confident in my ability to extract the screw and put the laptop back together in one piece. Would I need to somehow disconnect the screen in the process of remove the cover? if its as simple as removing the case, getting it out and then putting it back together again and i know exactly how to do so and which part/screw/etc goes where then i might try it. i dont think i would have to actaully dismantle any internal components once i get the case off , i could simply use trial and error to locate and extract it. from there it would probably be a simple thing to just keep track of which screws goes where and exactly how to put the case back on. or is it harder to do so than it seems? so far it doesnt seem to be affecting my performance. maybe i'll just talk to my tech friend and get him to get it out for free. can someone here who has experience with taking apart and putting laptops (asus in particular) respond to this post, please? Thanks, reply soon..........

 

[Mellon Head]

I would remove that screw before powering up that laptop again...

I've taken laptops apart, and repaired them, and I hate doing it. Every one of them is different and quirky, and easy to break. If you do take it apart, please do so carefully, as some of the connectors and parts inside are quite fragile.

A better idea is to take the thing to someone with experience in the repair of laptops. A nice laptop like that is worth the $20 or $30 it will cost to have the screw removed, don't you think?

I don't do laptops any more. I don't even open my own, and I have some training at this.

 

[Enigma]

well, its a bit too late, i have booted up and shut down many times already and everything seems to be functioning normally. But for now im going to trust my better instinct and cease using it until tomorrow til i can go to my friend's repair shop and get him to do it. I know him quite well,and he will do it for free money-wise, and maybe even obtain (or already have on hand) the parts necessary to mount the drive and secure it. although i'm sure he might ask for a favor or 2 in exchange for his time, which i have no problem with. well, thanks again......................

 

[Mellon Head]

That's a great idea.

 

[MadMaxData]

I agree, get that screw out of there at all costs. It could very easily end up shorting out your motherboard. YIKES!

 

[Enigma]

The screw has been extracted now,for a total cost of $55. as it turns out, my pc tech friend went on vacation to louisiana to visit his family for a week, so i paid someone else to do it. the bad part is that he had to remove pretty much every internal component to find it, it had went that deep inside. he said it was a real pain in the ass. as for the mounting brackets, at last i got wise and called Asus, and it turns out that they sell the exact mounting bracket that I need and they told me over the phone that it was guaranteed to be compatible with the model Asus i have (g72gx) and pretty much all internal sata hard drives. so i'll wait for that in the mail, and this time around i'm gonna be extra careful not to drop any more screws while installing the brackets. Well, thanks again.

 

[derekimo]

That's an expensive screw, but it could have been alot more expensive in the long run.

 

[Mellon Head]

That's an expensive screw, but it could have been alot more expensive in the long run.

Yep. $55 is much cheaper than the alternative...

 

[CommonTater]

That's an expensive screw, but it could have been alot more expensive in the long run.

Yep. $55 is much cheaper than the alternative...

And certainly a LOT more expensive than a $3.00 magnetic screwdriver.

 

[Enigma]

Quote: "And certainly a LOT more expensive than a $3.00 magnetic screwdriver."

I'll make sure to buy a set of those for when the mounting kit by Asus comes in the mail in the next few days.

 

[not so gray matter]

I bet you the screw was sitting on top of the motherboard or the gfx card. It's pretty dang hard to get a screw to really get stuck in the lower depths of a laptop. There are no lower depths. I've had quite a few laptops and taken them all apart many times. It is a pain in the neck, but there's so little room in these things that it'd be close to impossible for screws to find their way to the bottom. The bottom is a maximum of an inch from the top and almost every component is sauntered into the motherboard. Not to mention the fact that most laptops allow you to access from both sides if you're smart about it.