How to Add a Laptop HD to a Desktop
Laptop hard drives have become increasingly popular for use in desktop computers, particularly in applications where the heat, noise, and power consumption of the system are a concern. Solid state disks (SSDs) are especially desired in desktops, due to their extremely high speed and the fact that they operate in silence. Adapters are available to make the process of installing a laptop hard drive in a desktop computer simple, and you can complete the process in just a few minutes.
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Things You'll Need
- 2.5-inch SATA laptop hard drive
- Crucial SK01 internal/external 2.5-inch drive storage kit (or equivalent from another manufacturer)
- Small Phillips head screwdriver
Instructions
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Installing the Drive Externally
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1
Open the drive caddy, a small metal container barely larger than the hard drive, and slide the hard drive inside. Use firm, even pressure to engage the drive with the caddy's connectors, but do not force it.
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2
Close the drive caddy.
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3
Locate the USB cable included in the SK01 package. Plug this into the back of the drive caddy.
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4
Turn your computer on and allow Windows to boot completely.
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5
Connect the drive caddy to your computer using an open USB port. The drive should automatically be detected as a USB mass storage device. In the future, you can leave the drive connected when you start your computer.
Installing the Drive Internally
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6
Turn your computer off and unplug the power cable from the wall outlet.
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7
Open your computer and look for an exposed 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch drive bay at the front of the system. An exposed drive bay has a small plastic or aluminum cover in front, which can be pushed out, allowing access to the drive bay when the computer is closed.
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8
Locate the smaller of the remaining two metal enclosures from the SK01 package. Push the drive caddy into this enclosure. When the caddy is fully inserted, the eject button pops out. If you wish to install the hard drive into a 5.25-inch drive bay, install the small metal enclosure into the larger one. On the sides of the large enclosure, find the four threaded screw holes. Screw the two enclosures together securely.
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9
Place the enclosure into one of the drive bays inside your computer. Ensure that the threaded holes on the sides of the enclosure line up with those on the sides of your computer's drive bay. Place screws into all four threaded holes and tighten them.
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10
Locate your computer's power supply. It has several wires coming out of it. Locate a wire with a black plastic cap, approximately 1 inch in width. Generally this type of connector is labeled "SATA." This is the power connector. Plug this connector into the back of the hard drive.
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11
Locate the black cable in the SK01 package. This is the data cable. Plug one end of the cable into the back of the hard drive. Examine the computer's motherboard. There is a small bank of either two or four L-shaped connectors. Plug the other end of the cable into one of these connectors.
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12
Confirm that everything is connected correctly before closing your computer. The drive assembly should be securely screwed into a drive bay, with the drive caddy and reset button exposed on the front of the computer. The back of the drive assembly should have two cables connected; one leading to the power supply, and the other to the motherboard.
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13
Close your computer and reconnect the power cable. Turn your computer on. Your new hard drive is detected automatically.
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Tips & Warnings
Many solutions are available for adding a 2.5-inch laptop hard drive to a desktop computer. The Crucial SK01 was selected for this article because of its low retail price of $29.99 (as of October 2009) and ability to operate externally or internally. The installation process for most other 2.5-inch hard drive kits is similar.
