How to Connect an IDE Hard Drive to a Laptop

IDE hard drives were the standard internal hard drive for desktop computers until the mid 2000's, when they began to be replaced by SATA hard drives. As a result, many computer users are left with old IDE hard drives when they upgrade old computers with a new laptop or desktop. It is possible to connect an internal desktop IDE hard drive to a laptop externally with the use of a USB to IDE adapter, essentially transforming the internal IDE drive into an external hard drive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An IDE to USB Adapter

1. Set the IDE hard drive next to the laptop, near a USB port.

2. Plug the appropriate IDE connection on the adapter into the back of the old hard drive.

3. Plug the power cord that came with the adapter into a wall socket. Pllug the other end of the power adapter into the four-pronged power plug on the back of the hard drive. Wait several seconds for the hard drive to spin up.

4. Plug the USB cord from the adapter into the laptop. On the laptop, the drive should appear automatically as an external drive, just as if you'd plugged in a USB flash drive or external hard drive.

Tips & Warnings

• Using an IDE to USB adapter is a useful way to turn old hard drives into backup storage devices. Many IDE to USB adapters work for both 3.5 and 2.5 inch drives (desktop and laptop sized drives) and some can also hook up SATA hard drives.

[elizta711]

on 7/15/2009 What should I do if the hard drive does not spin up?