How to Convert an SATA to a USB Drive

SATA, which is an acronym for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, is the most popular technology used in hard drives today. USB drives are exclusively used as external storage hard drives. Most external hard drives on the market are SATA hard drives converted into USB hard drives through a SATA-to-USB hard drive enclosure. Most external hard drives are overpriced and significantly more expensive than their internal counterparts. Converting an internal hard drive into an external hard drive with an enclosure will save you a lot of money and it is simple to do.

Things You'll Need

• SATA-to-USB hard drive enclosure

Instructions

1. Buy a SATA-to-USB hard drive enclosure that supports the data transfer rate of your SATA drive. For instance, if your hard drive transfers data at 1000mbps, you want to buy a hard drive enclosure that will support a 1000mbps or higher data transfer rate.

2. Remove the hard drive cage from the hard drive enclosure; the hard drive cage is removed from the rear of the hard drive enclosure and should slide right out when you pull it. If not, consult the manual of your hard drive enclosure for instructions as enclosures come in various shapes and sizes. Place the hard drive into the hard drive cage.

3. Connect the power cable and SATA cable from the hard drive enclosure to the SATA hard drive. Replace the hard drive cage into the hard drive enclosure.

4. Connect the USB cable from the hard drive to the computer. Go to My Computer and check the external hard drive to see if it is functioning properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a SATA-to-USB hard drive enclosure that has a slower data transfer rate than the hard drive can block or seriously slow down many processes in the hard drive, which may cause it to malfunction.

References

• Karol Harmata MD, Computer Engineering, Illinios Institute of Technology (IIT)