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General => Internet, Science, & Technology => Topic started by: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 01:39:20 PM

Title: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 01:39:20 PM
...but the enclosure doesn't have a USB output or any way to connect it to the computer aside from installing it in the tower. This is the enclosure in question, which I had to buy for school:

http://ca.startech.com/HDD/Mobile-Racks/Black-525in-SATA-Hard-Drive-Mobile-Rack-Drawer~DRW110SATBK

Is there anything I can do with this or do I have to buy another enclosure? My actual external hdd stopped working and I'd really like to not have to buy another one and just use the useless internal hdd I already have.
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: snoorkel on December 06, 2011, 02:03:15 PM
Can you use your old non-working external hdd's enclosure (if it had one)?

Otherwise, yeah, just look for a cheap 3.5" external enclosure, they shouldn't cost more than $15-20.
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 02:49:57 PM
Quote from: vziard on December 06, 2011, 02:03:15 PM
Can you use your old non-working external hdd's enclosure (if it had one)?


no, it didn't, it was one of those:

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/external/expansion/expansion_portable/

smithicide;
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: snoorkel on December 06, 2011, 03:01:32 PM
Quote from: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 02:49:57 PM
no, it didn't, it was one of those:

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/external/expansion/expansion_portable/

smithicide;


I can't tell, is that a 2.5" or 3.5" drive? If it's the right size you can break it open and replace the drive inside somehow, don't be timid, all you need is the little sata-to-usb adapter component on the one end
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 03:05:40 PM
Quote from: vziard on December 06, 2011, 03:01:32 PM
I can't tell, is that a 2.5" or 3.5" drive? If it's the right size you can break it open and replace the drive inside somehow, don't be timid, all you need is the little sata-to-usb adapter component on the one end


2.5'' lol

and either way, i think it's the enclosure that doesn't work anymore lol

but i guess i could always open it anyway, i'd end up with a (corrupted, i believe) 2.5'' drive, i'd just have to format it
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: snoorkel on December 06, 2011, 03:09:58 PM
Quote from: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 03:05:40 PM
2.5'' lol

and either way, i think it's the enclosure that doesn't work anymore lol

but i guess i could always open it anyway, i'd end up with a (corrupted, i believe) 2.5'' drive, i'd just have to format it


if the enclosure itself isn't broken, you could also just pull the adapter out of it and use it for your 3.5" drive... the only difference between 3.5" and 2.5" enclosures is the physical size of the case. so in other words, gut the 2.5" enclosure and just have your bare 3.5" disk sitting there with the adapter and a cable plugged into the back
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: applesauce on December 06, 2011, 03:41:37 PM
Quote from: vziard on December 06, 2011, 03:09:58 PM
so in other words, gut the 2.5" enclosure and just have your bare 3.5" disk sitting there with the adapter and a cable plugged into the back


this will work. what you need is the pcb that will take powered USB and bring it into sata and sata power. only problem is that the powered usb may not have enough amperage to run your drive. give it a go though.
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: ????? on December 06, 2011, 08:45:17 PM
Or you could install external SATA ports on your computer.
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 09:00:14 PM
Quote from: ,,,-,,, on December 06, 2011, 08:45:17 PM
Or you could install external SATA ports on your computer.


lol

i want to use it as portable storage between home and school
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: ????? on December 07, 2011, 10:43:45 PM
Quote from: Thyme on December 06, 2011, 09:00:14 PM
lol

i want to use it as portable storage between home and school


olol

btw how much storage does your HDD have?
Title: Re: Turning 3.5in hdd into external hdd when I already have an enclosure...
Post by: Thyme on December 08, 2011, 04:04:26 AM
Quote from: ,,,-,,, on December 07, 2011, 10:43:45 PM
olol

btw how much storage does your HDD have?


500GB