How to turn a Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB HD into an external hard drive?

andrewanimation · 09-17-2007, 12:30 AM

Hello,

I'm planning to turn a hard drive into an external hard drive by putting it in a case. I'm completely new at this, so I just wanted to make sure it's easy enough for me to do. Do I simply buy a hard drive enclosure and put the hard drive in it? In case it matters, to make full use of the hard drive, it's a:
Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB, 5.7" long x 4" wide x 1" tall
I'm finding hard drive enclosure sizes like 2.5", 3.5", and 5.25", so where does mine fit in with that?
If there's anything else I should know to make sure I maximize the potential of this external hard drive setup, please let me know. Again, it's the first time I do this.

Thanks!

brian · 09-17-2007, 12:35 AM

yes. it is veary easy. but you need to make sure it is a sata. i never seen a sata but there has to be. also you need the 5.25 inch one

andrewanimation · 09-17-2007, 12:37 AM

Excellent. So I just make sure it's a SATA, and the 5.25" enclosure will hold my 5.70"-long hard drive?
Thanks

Ambushed · 09-17-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianmay27

yes. it is veary easy. but you need to make sure it is a sata. i never seen a sata but there has to be. also you need the 5.25 inch one

What wires/cables do you need to do this externally?

brian · 09-17-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewanimation

Excellent. So I just make sure it's a SATA, and the 5.25" enclosure will hold my 5.70"-long hard drive?
Thanks

yes. 5.25 is the diagonal dimension.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambushed

What wires/cables do you need to do this externally?

mostly it comes with it. it is usaly a usb cable and a power cord. but the 2.5 inch hd (laptop ones) may only need a usb cable

andrewanimation · 09-17-2007, 12:48 AM

But my hard drive has a diagonal dimension of 6.9". Will the 5.25" enclosure still hold it?
Thanks

brian · 09-17-2007, 12:54 AM

o then i dont know what it is measured by

andrewanimation · 09-17-2007, 01:02 AM

It would be good if the 5.25" refers to the width, as that would make sense in fitting my 4"-wide hard drive. Does anyone know for sure?
Thanks

nexolus · 09-17-2007, 03:28 AM

Yes it's 5.25. I just bought this and it's great:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817193030

Jabes · 09-17-2007, 04:29 AM

brainmay srry to tell you this but your taking the guy down the wrong road this is a 3.5 inch hd like all desktop hard drives and the enclosure that nexolus posted looks good andrew

09-17-2007, 12:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
andrewanimation Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 117	How to turn a Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB HD into an external hard drive? Hello, I'm planning to turn a hard drive into an external hard drive by putting it in a case. I'm completely new at this, so I just wanted to make sure it's easy enough for me to do. Do I simply buy a hard drive enclosure and put the hard drive in it? In case it matters, to make full use of the hard drive, it's a: Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB, 5.7" long x 4" wide x 1" tall I'm finding hard drive enclosure sizes like 2.5", 3.5", and 5.25", so where does mine fit in with that? If there's anything else I should know to make sure I maximize the potential of this external hard drive setup, please let me know. Again, it's the first time I do this. Thanks!

09-17-2007, 12:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
brian Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Age: 16 Posts: 3,865	yes. it is veary easy. but you need to make sure it is a sata. i never seen a sata but there has to be. also you need the 5.25 inch one __________________ formerly brianmay27 Main laptop: hp dv9005us \| turion 64 X2 1.6 ghz \| 3 GB ram \| Vista ultimate \| 240 GB HD First build: pentium e2160 3.2 GHz \| gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L \| 2.5 GB ram \| 160GB HD If you can see this, you have WAY TOO much time on your hand. Or you're a mod going through my sig. But if you do, copy and past this in your sig.

09-17-2007, 12:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
brian Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Age: 16 Posts: 3,865	o then i dont know what it is measured by __________________ formerly brianmay27 Main laptop: hp dv9005us \| turion 64 X2 1.6 ghz \| 3 GB ram \| Vista ultimate \| 240 GB HD First build: pentium e2160 3.2 GHz \| gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L \| 2.5 GB ram \| 160GB HD If you can see this, you have WAY TOO much time on your hand. Or you're a mod going through my sig. But if you do, copy and past this in your sig.

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09-17-2007, 12:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
andrewanimation Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 117	Excellent. So I just make sure it's a SATA, and the 5.25" enclosure will hold my 5.70"-long hard drive? Thanks

09-17-2007, 12:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
andrewanimation Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 117	But my hard drive has a diagonal dimension of 6.9". Will the 5.25" enclosure still hold it? Thanks

09-17-2007, 01:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
andrewanimation Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 117	It would be good if the 5.25" refers to the width, as that would make sense in fitting my 4"-wide hard drive. Does anyone know for sure? Thanks

09-17-2007, 03:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
nexolus Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 472	Yes it's 5.25. I just bought this and it's great: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817193030

09-17-2007, 04:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jabes banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vista the best place to live :D Age: 15 Posts: 1,773	brainmay srry to tell you this but your taking the guy down the wrong road this is a 3.5 inch hd like all desktop hard drives and the enclosure that nexolus posted looks good andrew