Difficulty
Easy
Steps
10
Time Required
20 minutes
Sections
3
- External Battery
- 2 steps
- Bottom Cover
- 6 steps
- Hard Drive
- 2 steps
Flags
0
BackLenovo ThinkPad T460
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Introduction
A hard drive (also known as a hard disk drive, HDD, or hard disk) is a storage component in a computer. Hard drives use spinning disks and moveable parts, as opposed to the flash memory used in an SSD. Signs of a failing hard drive may include clicking or grinding noises, disappearing data, computer crashes, and an inability for your computer to recognize the hard drive.
If you are able to recover any data saved to your hard drive, be sure to back up your files before beginning this guide. Also, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources before you begin.
What you need
Step 1
External Battery
- Before you begin this guide, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.
- Place the laptop so that the bottom is facing upwards.
- Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks in place.
Before you begin this guide, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.
Place the laptop so that the bottom is facing upwards.
Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks in place.
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Step 2
- Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it in place with your thumb.
- Use your other hand to slide the battery towards the back of the laptop.
- Lift the battery up and away from the laptop.
Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it in place with your thumb.
Use your other hand to slide the battery towards the back of the laptop.
Lift the battery up and away from the laptop.
Step 3
Bottom Cover
- Loosen the eight captive screws in the bottom cover using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
Loosen the eight captive screws in the bottom cover using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
Step 4
- Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the bottom cover and the rest of the laptop, starting in the lower left corner.
- Pry the lower left corner of the bottom cover up by a few millimeters.
- Slide the spudger along the bottom of the laptop to release the clips until you reach the lower right corner.
- You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.
Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the bottom cover and the rest of the laptop, starting in the lower left corner.
Pry the lower left corner of the bottom cover up by a few millimeters.
Slide the spudger along the bottom of the laptop to release the clips until you reach the lower right corner.
You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.
Step 5
- Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips.
- You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.
- Potential for device damage: If the clips do not release easily, check to ensure that the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips to detach can crack the bottom cover.
Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips.
Potential for device damage: If the clips do not release easily, check to ensure that the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips to detach can crack the bottom cover.
Step 6
- Use the spudger to pry the upper left corner up by a few millimeters.
- Pry up the sections of the bottom cover with printed logos of the ports.
- Potential for device damage: Prying inside the ports themselves can damage your laptop. Be sure to only pry up on the sections of the cover that extend past the ports.
Use the spudger to pry the upper left corner up by a few millimeters.
Pry up the sections of the bottom cover with printed logos of the ports.
Potential for device damage: Prying inside the ports themselves can damage your laptop. Be sure to only pry up on the sections of the cover that extend past the ports.
Step 7
- Use the spudger to pry up the bottom cover in the lower portion of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.
Use the spudger to pry up the bottom cover in the lower portion of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.
Step 8
- Use both hands to lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.
Use both hands to lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.
Step 9
Hard Drive
- Remove the single 3.7 mm screw from the left side of the hard drive using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
Remove the single 3.7 mm screw from the left side of the hard drive using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
Step 10
- Use your hand to lift up the hard drive by a few millimeters.
- Pull the hard drive to the left to detach it from its connector, removing it from the laptop.
Use your hand to lift up the hard drive by a few millimeters.
Pull the hard drive to the left to detach it from its connector, removing it from the laptop.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.
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Kristen Gismondi
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