The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    How do I prep and format a laptop hard drive to be used as an external drive?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Helpmyfriend, Jun 26, 2010.

  1. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    In windows 7? The drive that came with my laptop ill be using as ext for backup purposes and extra storage. Its a Hitachi 5400rpm SATA drive. Right now it has the windows 7 OS on it that came on it out of the box because before i swapped drives i format to wipe it clean (didnt think it was important). Is there still a way to wipe it clean without having to take out my current drive and reinsert the hitachi back in?

    For the enclosure I was told i need something a 2.5'' drive with a SATA and USB 2.0 connection right?

    Tell me where to go from here mates.

    thx
     
    Helpmyfriend, Jun 26, 2010
    #1
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    641
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Put it in external case. Plug it in and format it.
     
    Nick, Jun 26, 2010
    #2
  3. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    977
    Messages:
    1,095
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    +1^^^^^^^^
     
    deeastman, Jun 26, 2010
    #3
  4. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Dont have to install an OS on it?
     
    Helpmyfriend, Jun 27, 2010
    #4
  5. E30kid

    E30kid Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    899
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What? How did you come to the conclusion that an external HDD would need an OS on it?
     
    E30kid, Jun 27, 2010
    #5
  6. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    977
    Messages:
    1,095
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    You just need a blank, formated HD in an external enclosure. That is it, nothing else. You are only using the external drive to store data.
     
    deeastman, Jun 27, 2010
    #6