What is the first step in the correct order for adding a new hard drive to a computer?

• A. Remove the old hard drive
• B. Install the new hard drive
• C. Back up your data
• D. Turn off power to the computer

Answer: (C)

The first step in the process of adding a new hard drive to a computer is backing up your data. This step is crucial because it ensures that all existing data on the current hard drive is safely stored in another location before making any hardware changes. In the event that something goes wrong during the installation process—such as data corruption or accidental deletion—having a backup can protect against data loss.

While turning off the power to the computer is an essential step before physically handling any internal components, it is important to ensure that your data is backed up first. This preventive measure is key to safeguarding against unexpected failures.

After backing up your data, you would then proceed to turn off the computer, remove any existing hard drives if needed, and finally install the new one. Each step is important, but backing up data is the priority to maintain data integrity and security throughout the process.