Hard drive question...??

[al cole'holic]

Anyone here taken a hard drive out of a computer they want to throw out the window and install it as a second hard drive on another tower?? This computer is on it's way out but I have some much shiat on the drive...I got another tower that is newer and blazing fast, same OS...?...:220v:

[brad22]

Its just like a CD/DVD drive im pretty sure. A few screws and maybe a couple ribbon cables.

[H20Advantage]

I use them in an external hardrive case that you can pick up for 25 to 40 dollars. Just plug it into you USB port.
http://lifehacker.com/software/hard-drives/alpha-geek-turn-an-old-hard-drive-into-an-external-drive-253847.php

[YeLLowBoaT]

All depends on if the mother board will reconise it or not. if the bios are way diffrent your chances are not good.

[al cole'holic]

I use them in an external hardrive case that you can pick up for 25 to 40 dollars. Just plug it into you USB port.
http://lifehacker.com/software/hard-drives/alpha-geek-turn-an-old-hard-drive-into-an-external-drive-253847.php
...I rike this option, they have these at Fry's or Office Depot..??

[HocusPocus]

i was able to do i without any problems.. but they were both the same brand of computer.

[brad22]

forgot to mention I took mine to Best Buy and they did the same thing for me (install a second hard drive). You could just have them transfer your files instead of installing a second drive?? I just picked up a external Western Digital drive (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Western-Digital-250GB-External-Hard-Drive-WDG1U2500N/sem/rpsm/oid/145402/catOid/-12976/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) and it is freakin awesome. 250 GB for $60!! (on sale at circuit city).
Good Luck.

[marty722]

if you want to use the old drive with the new drive you have to set the jumpers to master and slave. The boot drive will be master and the second drive will be a slave. Of course thats if its on the same controller.

[Beanpohl]

...I rike this option, they have these at Fry's or Office Depot..??
I got my external case at CompUSA:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=312100
It works great... put the drive in, USB plug and play, you're good to go! Then you can store it out of the way and use it for data back-up.

[BigDogIvan]

if you want to use the old drive with the new drive you have to set the jumpers to master and slave. The boot drive will be master and the second drive will be a slave. Of course thats if its on the same controller.
Thats what I have done. BUT!! I burn the important stuff on to CD's just in case the drive goes belly up. ;)

[Racey]

It's very very simple, a power cable and a IDE/ATAPI ribbon, this is all industry standard stuff now, your new computer should have no problem recognizing it, if you have any questions pm me.

[voodoomedman]

It's very very simple, a power cable and a IDE/ATAPI ribbon, this is all industry standard stuff now, your new computer should have no problem recognizing it, if you have any questions pm me.
Ummmm. That depends on the computer. If he bought a new computer the motherboards aren't IDE anymore. Now if it's older and the IDE interfaces aren't tapped out and there is available power then it's no problem. Assuming it's a new computer.... The best thing is to go spend 30 bucks on an external case that the IDE drive will go into and then the case will hookup to the computer via USB. Copy the important files to the new computer and once your sure you have everything then the old drive can be tossed. Actually keep it just in case you need to do any large data transfers you have a large portable drive. Of course USB sticks are better for that though.