FlyingWriter,
I know this post was quite some time ago, but was looking for some other assistance with the same model not relating to the hard drive. Yet let me tell you that it is NOT difficult to replace the HD in a Toshiba 2435 (I hope that is the model you have). Following these steps.
1. Remove the battery from the bottom of the laptop
2. Make sure the laptop is NOT plugged in.
3. There is a release button for the CD/DVD ROM drive on the bottom of the laptop, simply press and hold the release switch and pull the CD/DVD drive out.
4. Once the CD/DVD drive is remove volia! The hard drive is right there! :cheesy:
5. Next just remove the 4 screws securing the drive in place, pull the drive back toward you to slide it out of it's pin-position.
6. Remove the mouting bracket from the hard drive (4 more screws) on 2 screws on each side of the drive.
7. Then of course just replace it with whatever drive size you wish and your good to go.
Hope this helps! Nacht