If you have a new computer, you can do two things with your old computer’s hard drive: erase the hard drive and dispose of it, or, use it as a second hard drive with an enclosure. I’ll show you how easy it is to set-up and use an enclosure and recommend a great enclosure.
Using an enclosure is an inexpensive way to add storage area to your computer and use your old hardware. You do not have to open your new computer, just plug it into a USB port. No messing around with the BIOS, the drive is found by the operating system automatically.
With an enclosure, you don’t have to worry about the data on your old hard drive if you are throwing the computer away, selling it, or giving it to someone. You also increase your storage capacity for the fraction of the cost of a new external drive.
Recommendation
I found an enclosure from StarTech.com that is easy-to-use and reasonably priced. For this demonstration, I use the 3.5” USB 2.0 SATA Aluminum HD Enclosure model SAT3510U2V.
StarTech InfoSafe 3.5 USB 2.0 SATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure
Set-Up and Use the SAT3510U2V Enclosure
See my review of the StarTech InfoSafe 3.5 USB 2.0 SATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure here.
You will need a SATA drive. Pull the hard drive out of your old computer and check the connections. They should look like the ones in the image below. If you do not have a SATA drive, then you have an IDE drive. Enclosures for IDE drives are available and all the procedures are the same.
SATA Drive Connections
Items that come with the 3.5” USB 2.0 SATA Aluminum HD Enclosure are:
- Aluminum HD Enclosure
- Manual
- Screws
- Stand
- USB cable (A to B connectors)
- Power Adapter
SAT3510U2V Contents
Remove the rear panel and connect the SATA hard drive.
Connect Hard Drive to Panel
Secure the hard drive to the rear panel with the 2 screws supplied.
Secure the SATA HD
Insert the rear panel into the enclosure.
Insert the Rear Panel into the Enclosure
Secure the rear panel with the supplied screws. Two screws on the rear panel and two screws on the enclosure. See the images for locations.
Secure the Rear Panel with Screws
Secure Rear Panel with Screws on Front
Connect the power adapter and the USB cable. Once the USB cable is connected to your computer, turn the enclosure on. See image for location.
On/Off Switch
Your computer should find the new hard drive automatically.
Hard Drive Found
You now have a second or back up hard drive for a fraction of the cost of a new external hard drive and you recycled your old hard drive. Its a win-win.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
Hey, good site! I’ve got a couple of semi-techies that will be bookmarking big time! This stuff is wayyyy over my head, but I’m sure the guys over here are interested big time.
Oh yeah, we’ve learned from experience the importance of an external hard drive.
Best to always have one!
Lins last blog post..The Hell?!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Hey, I’m happy I found your blog. I have 3 old hard disks. I kept them with for 2 years but now I’m thinking of sending ‘em off to recycling centers. But after seeing how easy it looks to recycle one myself, I think I’ll try sticking the disk with the biggest space into an enclosure. Thanks for sharing a good information.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:45 am
This looks like something i should try when i eventually upgrade and it will save me having to spend a lot on an external hard drive which will probably be less reliable then a standard hard drive. Thanks
January 19th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Nice Trick … …
January 19th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I am not very techy but it is so good to find a blog like yours where I can learn something new every time.qiwomans last blog post..Newsflash: get 1,000 free shares before they all go!
January 20th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Haha, good idea. However I am still using old hdd in old PC cause I put TV tuner here and mommy watches TV on kitchen. But that’s what you suggest cheaper than buying those usb hdds:)
January 20th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Hey, i like this blog. It’s techie but not a hardcore techie that only a geek could understand. I like the way how you discuss the technical aspect of the it, very practical and can be understood by non-techie like me.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
hey great site! I never thought that it would be that easy. I am glad I found this blog. i may use this tips and your other post tips in the future.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Thanks for the tips. Awesome.
yeokeehuis last blog post..Life is a drag without inspiration
January 28th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Great tips to increase storage space. I have an external and have been thinking about getting another big internal HDD so I would have two external. That would allow me to have enough room for music, movies, and backups. Thanks for sharing this!
January 29th, 2009 at 3:20 am
That was a pretty good demo on how to do it, it will really help out my friend and I as we attempt to do it ourselves
Boris Saids last blog post..Boris Said Daytona 500
January 29th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I am so happy I came across this. I an old hard drive and now I going to try to convert it into an external hard drive. With the detail directions and pics, I should be able to do this. Thanks
February 4th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Pretty awesome..now old hard drives can actually serve a purpose
February 5th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Thanks for the tip, very informative.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Hey i actually just did this…your blog is very helpful. Thank you
February 6th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
This is cool tips, very practical and doable steps. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
February 8th, 2009 at 6:48 am
This is really a good help to use this old Disk Drives using this enclosure. I have tried it and it is cool and becomes my instant backup.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Hello, Agreed that backing up regularly is best solution. However, having something to tell you if there are possibly errors on the disk can’t hurt. Especially when they are free.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Excellent article. Thanks for the information
February 12th, 2009 at 1:22 am
That was cool. I should try to use this trick as I badly need to increase my storage. The thing is I just usually back up my files in CD, but I have learned that overtime that files in the CD gets corrupted and you’ll end with lost data…not really funny when you badly those files.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I like this kind of reading,thanks for your blog,my rss reader like it
February 16th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Very good tutorial! We had many old drive at home, and they all ressurected thanky to you!
February 17th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Thanks for the great tip, I have a old hard disk which I didn’t know what to do with it. Thanks to you now I know what to do with it.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Thanks for share. It’s useful for me.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Great tips, thanks for share.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Thanks for posting this.I have bought a new computer and I am thinking about doing what you describe here. I hope to succeed in it, otherwise I will come back to you to ask for advice.cheers.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Your Blog is helpful.I have tried, and it is cool and is my Instant Backup
June 17th, 2009 at 2:54 am
that is really a super trick….thanks a lot for sharing it….very useful
July 10th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Your blog is really cool.
You give real information not as some blogs,
I have at home one old hard disk that I don’t use, so thank you for the tip.
Sasha
July 27th, 2009 at 3:51 am
Can anyone here recommend a good computer?
I am looking for a new one, as my old one is broken now. I need it to write articles, cos I work as a journalist
i also want to have programmes to download films and music.
can anyone help me?
cheers
August 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Very good article. a lot of information. saved a copy
Thanks
December 4th, 2009 at 4:58 am
This is a good tutorial – didnt know how to do the sata drives… thank you
February 13th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Sounds good, but ?. Could I access the software installed on my old drive, and are there any problems/conflicts if one\’s an XP and the other Vista?
Thanks,