* If you are installing an SSD or an AF (Advanced Format) drive, a drive spacer may be required and are usually available on sites like eBay if your drive does not include one. '''If you are installing a hard drive, cut the spacer relative tobased on the location of the breather hole.''' |
* '''If the system has a unknown HDP installed, this MUST be removed. TheThis password will be loaded onto your replacement drive. This since it is stored onin the system's ATMEL chip.''' |
* Make a backup of your original drive, if possible. This is not a requirement (and not required if you purchased the system used and want to install a new drive), but will apply in most scenarios in the eventcan be used to recover if something goes horribly wrong. '''Do not do this with a used system.''' |
* Once you are done with the old drive and are sure you have your data you need off of the old drive, securely wipe the drive. '''SED's (and FDE) can be erased by deleting the encryption key from the drive rather then using a drawn out full disk erasure. This also applies to FDE.''' |
* '''Reinstalling/cloning your operating system will take significantly longer then drive replacementseveral hours. This timeI cannot be estimated since either option can be used and takes different amounts of timeestimate how long this will take.''' |