DMP - Hard Drive Replacement

If you have a failed HDD and need some guidance on swapping in a replacement, you can use the instructions/video below.

Video

Note: This video is for a Dell PowerEdge R420, but it shoulds still give you a good representation of how to do this task.

• How to Replace Hard Drive on a PowerEdge R420 | Dell St. Kitts and Nevis

Instructions

Replacing a hard drive on a Dell PowerEdge is typically a hot-swap procedure: 

• Identify the failed drive, press the release button on the carrier. 
• Slide out the old drive.
• If reusing the carrier, swap your replacement HDD in. 
• Insert the new drive. 
• The RAID controller automatically begins rebuilding the data.

Pre-removal Instructions:

Before you remove the hard drive, do the following:

• Remove the front bezel if installed

Physical disk removal from server and carrier

1. Press the release button to open the hard drive carrier release handle.
2. Slide the hard drive carrier out until it is free of the hard drive slot.

 

 

Figure 1

Item	Description
1	Release Button
2	Hard Drive Carrier

If you need to reuse the carrier:

1. Remove the screws from the slide rails on the hard drive carrier.
2. Lift the hard drive out of the hard drive carrier.
3. If you are not replacing the hard drive immediately, insert a hard drive blank in the empty hard drive slot.
4. Insert the replacement hard drive into the hard drive carrier with the connector end of the hard drive toward the back.
5. Align the screw holes on the hard drive with the set of screw holes on the hard drive carrier.
6. When aligned correctly, the back of the hard drive is flush with the back of the hard drive carrier.
7. Attach the screws to secure the hard drive to the hard drive carrier.

Figure 2.

Item	Description
1	Screw
2	Hard Drive
3	Hard Drive Carrier

Insert the New Drive

1. Insert the hard drive carrier into the hard drive slot until the disk connects with the backplane.
2. Close the hard drive carrier handle to lock the hard drive in place.

Note: When a replacement hard drive is installed, it automatically begins to rebuild. Ensure that the replacement hard drive is blank.

Note: Disk rebuild time depends on the size of the array that the disk is part of.