Summary. Hard drive removal from a Dell Vostro 1400 notebook is different than other Dell notebooks. Follow these instructions for easy removal.
- Find the panel on the underside of the notebook with two screws and icons that look like a cylinder. These cylinder icons represent the hard drive. There may be a Windows software license product key sticker on this panel. Remove the two small screws carefully with a small philips head screwdriver. These screws have retaining brackets to keep them from falling out.
- Once the cover is removed, the drive will be visible inside a drive retaining case with holes in it. There are two arrows pointing to the left (while looking at the bottom of the notebook with the battery and hinge of screen away from you). These arrows are misleading because they suggest the drive needs to be pushed or pulled out to the left. Instead, grab and lift the black flap/tab on the right of the drive retaining case (toward the middle of the notebook). Pull up carefully on this black tab and the drive will lift out.
- Remove the two small screws from the drive retaining case and carefully remove the drive from the retaining case.
- Gently remove the adapter that is connected to the hard drive for converting from the standard SATA connectors to the quick release notebook data connectors.
- Assuming you are putting a different (or larger capacity) drive into the notebook, replace the parts working in reverse from step #4 to #1 above. When inserting the hard drive again in step #2, put the left side (with arrows) in first and then press the right side down (where the data connection is).