I agree with Val - It is at at all complicated to replace a hard drive. Whoever told you that may be well intentioned (unless it was a salesperson selling laptops, <g>) but s/he is mistaken. I replaced a hard drive on an older computer and it was one of the easier tasks I ever did with regards to computers. Another option is for your friend to just format the hard drive - given what you wrote what he indicated. I used to format my hard drives fairly often - it is a great way to ensure your computer does not get overburdened with all the junk that accumulates. (Every time you install software, there are files left hither and yon, not to mention all the programs and files that are downloaded to our hard drivesjust by virtue of our being online - and many are not delected when we just get rid of history and clear our cache and temporary internet files.) Really, I doubt you need a new laptap when it is only a year old.
