Convert Internal Hard Drive To External
I have an insignia computer and I have tried unsuccessfully to install an additional hard drive. I have a Maxtor Diamond Max 160GB internal hard drive and my question is, is it possible to convert that internal hard drive into an external hard drive? Do they make a kit or something for that? I would like to convert it rather than have to buy a new external drive.
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Yes, you can buy a kit to convert an internal hard drive to an external hard drive. There are a variety of connection options, including serial, USB and Firewire. One company that makes these kits is Addonics.
I recently had an old computer with a IDE hard drive that I wanted to install as a second drive in a new PC. But the new PC only had SATA connectors on the motherboard. So I bought an external hard drive enclosure kit at my local Radio Shack for $39. You remove the drive from the old computer, pop it in the enclosure, and then you can use it as an external drive. Just plug it into the USB port (mine came with a USB cable) of your laptop or any other computer.
This is a really good idea if you have a spare drive sitting idle, since you can use it as either portable media or a backup device.
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Posted by Bob Rankin on August 21, 2005 01:44 AM
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Convert Internal Hard Drive To External (Posted: August 21, 2005 01:44 AM)
Printed from: http://askbobrankin.com/convert_internal_hard_drive_to_external.html
Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Convert Internal Hard Drive To External"
(See all 35 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Chef Richard C
08 Sep 2008
I have three hard drives that I would like to use externally. I am a single PC user so I don't have a network set up.
Do I have to get cases for all 3 drives individually, or are there a multi-drive cases available?
EDITOR'S NOTE: I've never seen a multi-drive enclosure...
Posted by:
Richard
27 Sep 2008
I recently converted a Fujitsu, MHS2040AT laptop hard-drive into a USB drive. The problem is that the drive was partitioned into two 20 gig drives. Now I want just one partition. Is there a way create one partition on this drive?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Something like Partition Magic should be able to combine the two partitions.
Posted by:
Todd
26 Oct 2008
I have an internal cd/dvd burner (lite-on sohw 1673s) that does not read when installed properly. I took the bottom plate off and plugged it in facing upside down so I could see the internal workings as they moved to see if there was a problem I could fix. That is when it started reading properly. I noticed that it works fine on its side as well. Is there an external enclosure I could get for this to work on its side and does it have to be a usb 2.0 connection? Are there other ways to connect it? I have no usb2 ports on any of my computers.
EDITOR'S NOTE: If it's a standard IDE drive (like most) then a hard drive enclosure seems like it would work for a USB connection.
Posted by:
Rex Habner
09 Dec 2008
I have a 60g Western Digital Passport ext. hard drive (laptop 2.5) This drive is in its own external housing and I would like to use it as a flash drive in my truck. The Kenwood head unit has a usb port via a cable in the glove box. Flash drives work but the self powered usb 2.5 hard drive will not show. Thank for any suggestions. Rex...
EDITOR'S NOTE: It's hard to say why it doesn't show up the same as a flash drive, since I don't know what kind of computer is inside your truck. But it could have something to do with driver software. Maybe Kenwood can provide more info on your USB connectivity options.
Posted by:
carlos
15 Jan 2009
can i install a external hard drive as a internal hard drive do i need a kit or something i have a emachine 3502 and i open my external hard drive but it say to place a bootable cd. can you please help thanx.
EDITOR'S NOTE: You'd have to disassemble the external drive from its housing, then hope it has a standard IDE connector. But why?
Posted by:
Eric
28 Jan 2009
I have an iMac G5 and recently my logic board died. The cost to get a new logic board is quite high, and I feel it's probably time to get a new computer all together. After talking to many tech support specialists, they feel that the hard drive isn't damaged at all, so as I came across this article, I figured this was an excellent solution to my problem. Do you have a specific hard drive kit that might work the best for a MAC computer? I really don't want to lose my files, and feel this could be a great solution that saves me a good amount of money.
EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm pretty sure that iMacs use standard IDE or SATA hard drives. So any external hard drive kit should work, as long as you know which kind of hard drive you have (IDE or SATA).
Posted by:
Galib
23 Jun 2009
I bought an enclosure for my old ide HD. But after putting it together, it doesnt seem to work. It turns out my ide HD has four power pins that do not have connectivity to the enclosure to hook power up. I guess this enclosure is for USB powered HDs.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The HD enclosures I've bought have a USB cable for the data, and a power cable that plugs into the wall.
Posted by:
Sean
22 Jul 2009
I have an old laptop that is totally smashed up, the screens broke, keyboards missing a few keys, battery is totally dead, processor is fried, but one of the few things that does still work is the harddrive. where can I purchase a kit to turn this internal laptop HDD into and external HDD?
(P.S. I live in LA)
Posted by:
Cris
28 Jul 2009
hey!!! i did it with the usb thingy but the new computer wont read the usb or i dont know how to find it then!!!
Posted by:
Bill
17 Oct 2009
I installed an internal SATA hard drive from a broken laptop into an enclosure so that I can read the files from another computer. The installation and the plug and play set-up with the other computer worked fine, but when I try to get at the My Documents folder (in \Documents and Settings\Mary\), I get a message saying that folder is not accessible; access is denied. I am running XP Home Edition. How can I change the folder access to open it with the other computer?