| Everyone needs more storage space sooner or later, | | | | as opposed to users requiring more functional features. |
| whether it's an internal or external hard drive and | | | | Some external hard drive enclosures come built in with |
| you've probably replaced that hard drive inside your | | | | "back-up" buttons that can be used to automatically |
| computer for a larger capacity drive. But, what do you | | | | launch software, or extra LED lights that help indicate |
| do now with the old drive lying around collecting dust? | | | | drive activity. Others come with fancy paint or body |
| You can easily turn that old tired hard drive into an | | | | designs to give you some style. Some external |
| external harddrive without spending very much money. | | | | enclosures are also made of aluminum to help |
| An external hard drive can be extremely useful for | | | | dissipate heat. The possibilities are endless. |
| transporting large files, adding extra storage space, or | | | | Connecting Your Newly Converted External Hard |
| can serve as a back-up drive for your important data. | | | | Drive |
| It can also be a great tool for IT professionals who | | | | Connecting your old hard drive to your new external |
| require software and tools handy to troubleshoot | | | | hard drive enclosure is pretty simple. You will most |
| computer problems out in the field. | | | | likely not need anything other than a screwdriver. If you |
| Choosing the Right External Hard Drive Enclosure | | | | have an IDE drive, check that the jumpers on the back |
| Before we begin, we need to determine the type of | | | | of the drive are set to the correct master/slave |
| external drive enclosure that we need. The most | | | | cable-select setting according to your new enclosure's |
| important factor is choosing an enclosure that works | | | | instructions. |
| with your old hard drive. Is your drive an IDE drive, or is | | | | From here, it's simply a matter of securing the drive to |
| it a SATA drive? If you have an older hard drive, it will | | | | the chassis, plugging in the power cables, and |
| most likely be an IDE drive; however some of the | | | | connecting the interface cables. Now you can close up |
| newer drives have a SATA interface. Simply | | | | the external hard drive enclosure. |
| double-check your drive's interface before you make | | | | Last Step - Connecting to your PC |
| a purchase. The next step when looking for an | | | | Most external enclosures will come with an external |
| external hard drive enclosure is what type of cable to | | | | power supply and a data cable. Simply hook up the |
| use. Is your current hardware mostly USB or FireWire? | | | | power supply to your new external hard drive |
| Most PC users will have USB ports on the back of | | | | enclosure, and connect the provided data cable from |
| their computers. However, some Mac users maybe | | | | the enclosure to an available port on your PC. If the |
| prefer to use their external hard drive with a FireWire | | | | enclosure requires drivers to be installed, you should |
| connection. And then there are some who would like | | | | insert the CD and install it at this point. Your computer |
| the increased transfer speeds provided by the | | | | should automatically detect your new drive and assign |
| eSATA interface. Keep in mind that in order to use | | | | it a drive letter. Double check that the drive is |
| eSATA, your PC must have an external eSATA port. | | | | functioning properly by transferring some sample files |
| Other factors to consider while choosing an external | | | | back and forth. If all is well, then you have successfully |
| hard drive enclosure can be merely aesthetic reasons | | | | turned an old hard drive into an external drive. |