How to Make an External HD
If you have an unused hard drive from an old PC or have recently upgraded your hard drive, you should not just allow the old drive to sit around collecting dust. With the old hard drive, an inexpensive enclosure case and a USB cable you can create an external hard drive to use as an additional backup device or even a portable drive to carry around with you.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- External USB hard drive enclosure case
- IDE or SATA hard disk drive
- USB cable
Instructions
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1
Find and purchase an external hard drive enclosure. Ensure the enclosure cable interface matches the one on your old hard drive (EIDE or SATA in most cases).
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2
Open the external hard drive enclosure by removing the retaining screws on the side or bottom of the case. Remove the cover slot or remove the circuit board from the enclosure (depending on the design of the case).
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3
Set the old hard drive in the mounting bracket of the external case enclosure. Insert and tighten the mounting screws. Connect the data ribbon cable to the back of the hard drive. Plug the power adapter cable from the enclosure case to the adapter plug on the rear of the drive.
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4
Verify that the jumper on the hard drive is in the "Master" setting location. Refer to the schematic on top of the hard drive or the diagram in the hard drive installation manual. If the jumper setting is not in correct position, remove the jumper and cover the correct pins (usually the two closest to the ribbon cable).
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5
Slide the hard drive and mounting bracket into the outer shell of the external enclosure case. Insert the captive screws and tighten with the Phillips-head screwdriver.
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Plug the USB cable into the hard drive enclosure case. Plug the AC adapter cable into the case as well if applicable (not all cases need the AC adapter cable).
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Plug the other end of the USB cable into an empty USB port on the computer. Wait for Windows to detect and configure the new hard drive for use.
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Open "Computer" or "My Computer" and right-click on the drive letter for the new hard drive. Click the "Format" option on the pop-up menu. Choose a file format type and click the "Format" or "Start" button to format the new external hard drive.
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Access the new hard drive through "Computer" and copy or write files to the new drive just as you would with any other disc or hard drive.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit external hardrive image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
