[billethkid]

I have dismantled my old desk top and have saved the hard drive. Is it possible to utilize it as an external back up hard drive?

If yes what do I need to connect it to my new computer?

btk

[zcaveman]

Buy a hard drive Caddy and insert the hard drive and connect it to your PC via the USB cable. You can get one where computer accessories are sold. Best Buy, probably Wal-Mart, etc. I got mine at the MMD computer store.

Z

[Virtual Geezer]

Originally Posted by billethkid

I have dismantled my old desk top and have saved the hard drive. Is it possible to utilize it as an external back up hard drive?

If yes what do I need to connect it to my new computer?

btk

Yes and very easy to do and there are a number of ways to do it. One is to buy a USB external case. Just mount the drive in the case and plug it into your USB port and away you go. At one time the cases were available at Best Buy or you can go over to Comp USA in Altamont Springs or buy them from Newegg. I have 4 or 5 old hard drives that I use to store things on.

Another way that is not very fancy is to buy an USB to IDE & SATA cable kit. They are about $25.00 at Comp USA. This will allow you to plug in any hard drive including lap top drives into your USB port. I also have two of these kits and they really come in handy in recovering data from a hard drive.

When you plug the drive into the USB port the computer just adds it to the drive list.

Now remember that you are backing up only your data and NOT installed programs.

VG

[ocalaunderpressure]

Check out NewEgg.com or Tigerdirect.com and search for Hard Drive Enclosures... If its a really old Hard Drive with the wide ribbon cable make sure to get an IDE Enclosure, however if its newer and has the smaller cable pick a SATA Drive