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.

    Old HD into enclosure?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Mippoose, Sep 12, 2008.

  1. Mippoose

    Mippoose Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    126
    Messages:
    885
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371014

    I was wondering if i took an old SATA WD hard drive out of my dead desktop that has xp pro and all my file son it and put it in that enclosure, if it would work.

    Does anyone know if that would work? Even if I had to erase the drive I wouldn't care, but I don't really have anything but my laptop to use... And I heard I may have to format the drive by connecting to mobo?
     
    Mippoose, Sep 12, 2008
    #1
  2. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    358
    Messages:
    1,710
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    you should be fine. I've done that more times than I care to count.
     
    goofball, Sep 12, 2008
    #2
  3. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    XP Pro probably won't work, but the files will be accessible. You might have to take ownership of some files though. And there'll be no need for formatting.

    EDIT: This should be better in that price range. (But its plastic)
     
    Andy, Sep 12, 2008
    #3
  4. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

    Reputations:
    1,806
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Do a bit of research on your specific enclosure first, some DO require you to format once the drive is installed. Most won't, they're just an ATA/USB bridge.
     
    Hep!, Sep 12, 2008
    #4
  5. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

    Reputations:
    1,112
    Messages:
    2,730
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    i own 4 of these.... nice and cheap... but they offer NO SHOCK PROTECTION.. so if there is a chance the HDD may get dropped then you may want to spend more than $8.

    i have not had to reformat any drive i've tried in these enclosures... and i have used them with both XP and VISTA...

    for my needs these are perfect and only need one usb for both power and data.
     
    bigozone, Sep 12, 2008
    #5