Acer 6930G Notebook HDD removal

Does anyone know how to remove the primary HDD from an Acer 6930 laptop? It seems to be designed not to be removed, very annoying. I hope we're not returning to the bad old days of having to remove half the casing just to get at one component.

If anyone knows the trick and can help it would be much appreciated.

 

ehmm what are u talking about? just remove the 2 screws, and you will the a silver shiny thing lik and sticker just pull up that thing and u are done?

 

Normally this is what one would do. However, on this particular model the silver HDD casing has two tabs at the non-interface end which are hooked under the solid casing of the laptop's internal structure. It is not possible to just pull it straight up. In addition, the drive bay has very little play, so it is not possible to do the other thing you would normally do: pull the drive a little back until the interface is clear, and then up.

Anyone familiar with this particular model (Aspire 6930G) know what the trick is?

I've also seen this on some laptops: you remove the top of the sata connector housing and then pull the drive up and out. Unless I'm missing something obvious it does not seem to be this kind of setup either.

Edit: This is the primary drive bay btw, not the secondary.

 

I do not have this model I have an 8930G which quite different. However I was wondering if the HDD can be unscrewed from its bracket (in place) thereby providing some slack in the bracket so it could be removed first, leaving the HDD loosely connected to the interface. If this were possible would it then allow enough room to loosen and with draw the HDD out? I am guessing here as I have not seen the layout in person.

 

The Acer 6930G has 320GB SATA , why to remove it ?

 

I tried that, no go. The light silver frame is still jammed into the side casing. trying to lever it out started putting pressure on the sata interface, and we can all see where that would go.

Pic below so you can see what I'm seeing on this machine:



It is one of the weirdest setups I've seen in a long while. The only thing I can figure is that the sata casing MUST come off upwards, but it seems firmly attached to the board (you can see the ends of the screws where it is screwed from underneath the board in the pic).

 

...

Because I want to?

Actually I no longer need to remove it (rollback to WinXP, long story, but didn't need to do a full backup in the end), but I'd still like to know how it is done.

 

All that you need to do its to lift it up , from the side of the connector .
The opposite side comes out , if you lift the right one.

For better results you need to lift both corners ... from the connector side simultaneously.

 

I'm glad that you've clarified there is a secondary drive bay. I've asked about it and got no reply. Perhaps you could chime in on this thread where I've asked for photos of this secondary drive bay. My interest being whether these units could host a SSD+HDD system, with the optical drive still there.

 

I think kiriakost has hit the nail on the head, it looks like lifting the assembly (carefully) up from the side opposite the tabs should separate the HDD connector allowing enough clearance to slide the tabs out once the connector is separated. Of course you do this at your own risk so I can understand your reticence

 

Well that worked, thankyou

No way you can guess that from the setup though, and it really didn't appear to be moving just with gentle pressure using the plastic tab. And if there's one thing I've learnt with laptops . . . don't force anything.

For future reference for anyone who stumbles across this thread: yes, you get a screwdriver under the corner on the sata connector side, and gently prise the connecter out of the socket *upwards*, even pressure on both corners.

 

With a client machine? absolutely

Actually I've come across this arrangement before in another Acer (at least I think it was an Acer). On that one though the plastic tab was close enough to the actual pivot point to do something and the drive lifted out easily enough. On this one it's too far back to put enough pressure on it to lift it out. Poor design that you need a screwdriver to lever it, imo.

 

Strange connections on that 6930G - on my 6920G, it's just a matter of pulling the hard drive away from the SATA connector, then up and out of the bay.

 

Well not many knows what a picoblade connector is , thats why i gave this advice .

By the way , that nail , did gave me a good stroke

 

Also now I know the name for that kind of connection, so thanks again, you're a champ.

 

Guys the HDD used by acer here is IDE and it uses a small sata converter in front. Which is why its difficult to get the casing out. All you need to do is apply pressure on the side where the pins are inside the board by pushing it towards the front the connnection side but obiviously unscrew the drive cover.

It will come out.