How do I convert an Internal IDE Hard Drive for External use?

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/home.php?cat=93 has some.

Basically look for "Hard Drive Enclosures" via your favourite search engine. Add you country to that and you'll probably get a lot of hits.

This is easily done simply by purchasing an external IDE enclosure. Most use USB connections to attach to the laptop although some provide firewire if you would prefer that.

Newegg is as good a place as any to purchase said enclosure. I'll provided a link below:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000090092%201053807123%201054107130%201053907126%201054207132&name=USB%202.0

However, all you need to do is go to newegg.com and search for hard drive enclosure, then select 3.5", IDE, and USB from the guided search options. Be sure to verify the enclosure supports USB 2.0, otherwise transfers to and from the unit will be slower than necessary.

Construction materials for the casing will vary, but heat is your primary concern. If you can afford it, select fan from the guided search also. Enclosures with Fans often reduce the heat build up and prolongs the life of the drive.

Purchase the enclosure that appeals to you the most. Most if not all 3.5" hard drive enclosures come with power supply because the USB port by itself does not provide enough power for 3.5" drives.

I have not purchased any of the models listed but enclosures are fairly standard and relatively low tech.

Once the enclosure arrives it will provide instructions on connecting the hard drive to the Enclosure. Most I've seen work fine with the hard drive jumper set to cable select, which is the most common setting these days. Be sure to read the instructions from the enclosure to be sure. Once the hard drive is connected to the enclosure simply connect the power and connect the USB and Windows should pick it up. Occasionally the enclosures will supply a driver disk, but typically it is not necessary to install it when using enclosures with Windows XP.

I skipped the removal of the hard drive from the desktop machine but please let me know if you need assistance with that also.

Hope this was helpful.

The concept is described well above; but there is a wide variety in the quality of the cases, how well the power "brick" works with typical drives; and even whether or not they support 48-bit logical block addressing [needed for drives larger than 120GB (actually > 137GB, but 120GB is the largest drive that's under that limit)].

I've used several of the enclosures, but my current favorite for reliable operation is the Vantecs. This would be a good choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145125

Rquadling,

Thanks for the British link! As Great Britiain is not on the EURO so far, it may be cheaper for me to have it shipped back to the "colonies".
Please reread my comments: I have neither a SATA or PATA drive, rather just the good old IDE (ATA) type.

Semenot, Thanks for thorough explanation. I wanted to make certain I was on the correct path to solving this issue cost effectively. My confidence in WD drives living for a long time is among the reasons I'm looking to salvage this HD as is and make it available when needed.

Should at a later date my son decide he doesn't want it or need it, I will use it as a drive to back up my files or one of the other 3 machines used by other family members.

I will keep this posting open Until I acquire all of the parts and install the completed project on my sons LAPTOP.
Thanks both of you for the help.  

Should I also be looking for a Firewire 1394 AND USB 2.0 capable case? I know the speed claims for USB 2.0 are 480mbs (yeah right) and are supposed to higher using 1394. Is that correct?

And still another question! In reading the material on these drives many state they support various versions of Windows up to and including XP & MAC. However, my sons laptop has VISTA installed on it and the Drives configuration is NTFS to the best of my knowledge.

Will this present a compatibility issue???

There's no problem with the formatting of the drive or with Vista. I'd just get a good quality USB v2 case --> it's plenty fast. The Vantec case I linked to above is very reliable; is 48-bit LBA compliant; and has worked with every drive I've put in one -- up to 750GB.

Gary, you may have missed my posted commentsin the opening question: "however all of my sons backup files, photos, movies and assorted other storage items are sitting on this (NTFS) 2nd D:\ drive
(WD 2500JBRTL, 3 years old)".

Thus I cannot reformat this drive at this time or I will destroy all of his active data!

Doesn't VISTA use NTFS file standards? Wouldn't it be transparent to the OS?
What of my later comments about 1394 and/or USB 2.0 s the connection vehicle?

Firewire, though TECHNICALLY with a slower maximum throughput tends to perform BETTER than USB in terms of sustained throughput.  eSATA would be better still.

Also, PATA is the current term used for IDE.  TECHNICALLY, There are different types of IDE - ATA levels are examples of different types.  But in my experience, you can feel confident in the ability of an IDE drive working just fine connecting to any kind of non-RAID PATA, EIDE, ATA-x controller.

PATA === ATA IDE

IDE is old tech (relatively).
SATA is the new tech (relatively)
IDE was "rebranded" PATA (parallel ATA rather than Serial ATA).

Sorry for the confusion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_Advanced_Technology_Attachment

And

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pata - look for :

"Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment, a hard disk interface also known as IDE, ATA, ATAPI, UDMA and PATA"




In just looking at some other forums regarding Vista and USB harddrives, there DOES seem to be a lot of people having problems with the drive needing drivers.

If you are unsure, you may want to connect the machines using a network cable (a crossover cable - which is wired differently to the cable you would use between a PC and a hub/router) or via a hub/router (which would use normal cables).

Ok, that is a completely different setup, but is more likely to work without a problem.


If you have a local PC shop, ask if you can try out an enclosure there. If it works, then you know you've got something you can buy.

"PATA" has become the new "buzzword" only to differentiate it from SATA.   IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is simply a term that means the electronics are integrated on the drive rather than on a dedicated controller card within the PC (which older MFM drives required).  Those electronics implement what is known as the AT Attachment standard ... or ATA.   This basic concept hasn't changed in over a decade --> and indeed the newest SATA drives still use the same fundamental protocol, but use a serial data path instead of the 40-pin cable used for the older drives.   To differentiate the SATA drives from the older drives, the 40-pin drives are now referred to as Parallel ATA ... or PATA.   BOTH types of drives use the AT Attachment standard -- i.e. are ATA drives.

The other terms noted above -- ATAPI and UDMA are NOT an interface type.   ATAPI is an extension to the ATA standard that allows packetized transmission -- necessary to interface optical drives and certain other non-hard-drive devices (ATAPI => ATA Packet Interface).   Indeed, some external IDE-to-USB adapters only support hard drives ... unless they specifically note ATAPI support a CDROM or DVD drive will NOT work with those adapters.   UDMA is simply a transfer mode -- it has NOTHING to do with which interface is used.   Transfers can be via programmed IO (PIO) modes; or can use DMA channels (UDMA refers to "Ultra" DMA -- simply faster transfers).

There are NO drivers required to use a USB Mass Storage Class (MSC) device with Vista -- a hard drive is indeed an MSC device.   As I noted in my initial post; some of the external enclosures have marginal power supplies which result in sporadic issues;  some do not support 48-bit logical block addressing (so won't work with your 250GB drive); etc.   But the Vantec enclosure I recommended in my first post [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145125 ]  is one of the best -- and will work with no problem with your son's extra drive.

... You also asked for any caveats you needed to be aware of.    Basically, you simply remove the drive from the Dell;  pull off any jumper that may be in place (the drive may currently be jumpered for Slave or C/S -- with no jumpers a WD drive is set for "Single" operation, which will work fine);  install it in the Vantec case; plug in the power adapter;  and simply plug the USB cable into your son's laptop.

Done :-)     You'll see the drive with no problem in Windows Explorer.  

... If, for any reason, Vista will not let you access or modify the files, then the issue is simple:  You need to "take ownership" of the disk.   This is unlikely ... but depending on the security settings on your son's old computer, could happen.   If it does, just post back -- it's not as simple to take ownership in Vista as it was in XP; but it's still not difficult ... and indeed there's a nifty little utility that makes it trivial :-)

Gary, good points.

Garycase,

I showed my ignorance regarding the "Firewire " reference. I was incorrectly thinking that it was the same as "1394a" and of course it is not.

I now comprehend the differences between the 2. I will likely go with the 2nd unit you suggested with has both USB 2.0 AND 1394a connections, also the price seems right, it comes with a reference from YOU and the buyer ratings are even higher than the first model you suggested and among the highest for external HD holders. Wish me luck!

As I wrote previously, I will keep this posting open Until I acquire all of the parts and install the completed project on my sons LAPTOP.

Garycase,

I did some Dell research and indeed this Inspiron 1525 has a 1394a port plus 4 USB 2.0 ports. Moreover I correct myself again!!!!  

From what I read on the Internet, 1394a is indeed considered "Firewire" by all accounts.

what say you? Before I order this gear.

Interesting ... if you "step through" the configuration pages, there's not a "peep" about firewire;  but on this page it does indeed list a 1394a (firewire) port:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspnnb_1525?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ST=inspiron%201525%20specifications&dgc=ST&cid=26885&lid=610883

So the combo enclosure is a good choice -- it will let the drive run at firewire speeds; but still be simple to connect to other systems via USB whenever needed.

Hmm, a 3 year old HD as backup? I'd suggest you get a mini NAS (LaCie or the like) instead and leave this HD in its native environment. TheNAS will be just another networked drive with good capacity and at your full network speed.
/RID

Garycase,
You had to  select the "Technical specs" tab to drill down and read the specs. that is where is was written. So we finally agree.

Rid,
I am trying to do this as inexpensive as possible. It will just be a matter of time before I know for certain how valuable the "data" on this 2nd drive is to my son.
If after a month he hasn't accessed it or saved anything to it, then I know I only invested $45.00 , end of story. Otherwise I'm a HERO!


 

Point taken... :)
/RID

Garycase,

More questions and maybe its nothing, though when I'm in doubt I pause to ask...

This link is to the model you recommended. I am confused in the reference to the OS supported???
It makes no comment or references to VISTA.. Can you expand on this for my education???

Please pull open the tab to "specificatoions" and you will see of what I write.
2nd question is about heat build up. I read some of these drives provide built in fans for cooling. I don't expect my sons usage to be such that this drive will be in constant motion.
As with Primary HD's, you have the ability to place the HD in hibernation when inactive for a period of time, can this also be done with ancillary drives were discussing?

The advertising text was simply written before Vista ... or by someone who didn't think to add it.   It WILL work fine with Vista :-)

The aluminum case works well at dissipating the heat.  Unfortunately, I've yet to find a bridged device (i.e. external enclosure) that supports the power management spindown settings ... so the drive will in fact simply spin all the time.   That's not, however, an issue as long as it's in a good enclosure like the Vantec.   You do NOT need a fan in those enclosures -- the aluminum works just fine as a heatsink.   I've got a couple of drives (one is, in fact, a WD 2500JB) that have been spinning non-stop for over three years with no issues.    In fact, the spinup/spindown cycles are more of an issue than simply spinning --> most hard drives are rated for ~ 50,000 spinup/spindown cycles.

You're making this too hard -- just buy the enclosure; mount the drive; and plug it in.   It will work just fine :-)

Your absolutely right.... Its off to Newegg.com! thanks for your guidance!

Ok folks, the drive was installed inside the VANTEC case, I hooked it up to the Dell laptop and VISTA recognized it immediately. I was able to read everything that was on this 250 Gig drive. Including a backup copy of Win-XP home edition Install software which I will be erasing as soon and my son is comfortable with the new drive.

Now he has access to all of his music, Videos, movies and whatever else.

My thanks to all which contributed especially GARYCASE.

GaryCASE, another comment.

For the meantime I am using the USB 2.0 cable out of the HD to the Laptops USB 2.0 inputs. The cables that came with the HD case were Firewire 1394  "SIX" pin on both sides. The Laptop only has a "4" pin Fireware jack. So I have to order a couple of 1m,  6pin to 4 pin cables.

Which presents the next question, if we are dropping 2 pins what is sacrificed? Why was 6 pins needed to begin with? I see there are even 9pin Firewire 1394 cables! Could you exp[lain that for me?  

You're most welcome.

4 pins carry the actual signalling information.    Six pin cables add an extra ground and a 30v line (some devices use this voltage);  9 pin cables add two additional shield cables (one for each of the data channels) and an unused wire [not sure why they aren't just 8 wire cables :-) ].

Thanks for the fast answer. Now I'm off to the best place to buy cables---Mycablemart.com.

Their prices are fantastic for just bout any cable you can ever need!