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What should you do first when replacing the hard drive on a laptop with a drive bay accessible from the outside?

  1. Remove the battery and Unplug the AC power

  2. Run a diagnostic test

  3. Reformat the existing hard drive

  4. Check for user data backups

The correct answer is: Remove the battery and Unplug the AC power

When replacing the hard drive on a laptop with an externally accessible drive bay, the first step that should be taken is to remove the battery and unplug the AC power. This is crucial for ensuring the safety of both the technician and the laptop itself. By disconnecting the power sources, you can prevent any electrical shorts or potential damage that could occur while handling the internal components of the laptop. This step also minimizes the risk of electrical shock and ensures that there is no active power in the system, allowing for a safer working environment. Once the power is disconnected and the battery is removed, the technician can proceed to access and replace the hard drive without worry. Running a diagnostic test, reformatting the existing hard drive, or checking for user data backups are all important steps to consider but they follow after ensuring the laptop is powered off and safe to work on. Prioritizing disconnection of power is fundamental to establishing a secure process for hardware replacement.