Things You'll Need:
- External hard drive enclosure
- Screwdriver
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Step 1
Buy an external hard drive enclosure that is designed for the type and size of hard drive that you wish to install in it. Different enclosures are on the market for SATA and IDE 3.5-inch internal hard drives as well as laptop drives.
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Step 2
Open the external hard drive enclosure by removing the screws holding it together. If there are no screws present in the specific enclosure that you wish to use, use a flathead screwdriver to release the clasps holding the enclosure case together. Depending on how the enclosure is designed it might separate into two equal halves or may have a cover which comes lose from the larger body of the enclosure.
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Step 3
Plug the internal hard drive into the enclosure by placing it inside and then pressing its power and data connections into the corresponding connections in the enclosure. Be careful not to try and force the drive into place, but use sufficient pressure to ensure that both the power and data portions of the drive have a firm connection.
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Step 4
Replace the previously-removed portion of the external hard drive enclosure and either clip or screw it back together. Once the two sides are securely connected again you are ready to plug in the USB or FireWire cable and power cord so that the external hard drive can be connected to a computer and used.
