7. Step 2

Make sure you have the following additional surgical tools:

A desktop PC you can open up

A 2.5" IDE to 3.5" IDE (15 to 25 pin) adapter

Since my Tablet PC can not boot from a CD, my plan of attack is to convince this innocent desktop PC that it is a notebook computer! To do this, I have to remove the hard disk from the notebook, and install it in the desktop PC.

I'm removing screws from my notebook's case so I can access the hard disk drive.

Here I have located the white plastic tab that is used to remove the drive from the notebook. The process of removing a disk drive from a notebook computer depends heavily on the manufacturer and age of the notebook. However, most notebook computer drives are relatively easy to remove and replace, because there is a panel that can be easily removed somewhere on the bottom or one of the sides of the computer. Patience and persistence will almost always pay off. If in doubt check your documentation or ask the manufacturer. Some will cooperate even though replacing a bad drive can void the warrantee on the notebook.

I need to get the tab out of the case.

Here I'm gently yanking the old drive out of my Toshiba notebook.

My old, crotchety and clacking hard disk drive is liberated at last from the notebook's case.