when I replace by lappy's 2.5 inch SATA drive, I'll either sell it - probably won't get much for it - or more likely use it as portable
back up.
For the latter purpose, I would need an portable SATA Hard Drive Enclosure USB 2.0 type of thing.
So what does the collective locostbuilder's brain recommend?
Ideally it must be light, reasonably rugged so made of metal, e.g. aluminium and cheap.
One candiatie is this:
Oh, and I'll need some drive cloning software (there is meant to be one on Western Digital's website but I've yet to look hard) so
again recommendations and pointers. 
ta.
I got a green mesh type one from EBAY only cost about 6 quid and in anly slightly bigger than the drive. No probs so far.
Dirve has even survived a roymail trip from glasgow in said caddy.
I got mine from E-bay for about £3, but it did not have any sofware... but then none of them will that as you are only buying the case. the case was
blue alluminium and because it was 2.5inch drive it was powered from the USB bus.
also most cloning software require that the destination drive be the same size as the original.
better using an incremental backup type of program like backup XML or somthing like that.
got mine from eBay, nice and cheap about £4, it was a nice black metal.
quote:
Originally posted by yellow melos
also most cloning software require that the destination drive be the same size as the original.
Got mine from callright
http://www.callright.co.uk/
http://callright.x2tek.co.uk/dept/Hard-Disk-Enclosures_74.html
They don't need software (on anything post win95), to the computer they are just an enormous USB flash key.
Do your research - a portable drive for a laptop is most convenient if it will work from the laptop alone (for power) and not need, at worst, a mains
lead and at least a double usb lead (to supply enough power from 2 usb ports).
I have done exactly what you plan to do on 2 separate laptops. I used this case from ebuyer
which is plastic but rugged and runs off a single cable.
Use something like Easeus to copy your old disk to the new one which you put temporarily in the new
case. Then put the new one in the laptop and check that it works - it should boot up like it's never been changed. Once you are happy that
everything works, pop the old disk in the case, format it and you have a portable external HDD. Simplesk.
(Make sure you always have a backup until you are sure it's all working)
quote:
Originally posted by iank
They don't need software (on anything post win95), to the computer they are just an enormous USB flash key.
The software I mentioned will clone your old disk to a new one - irrespective of manufacturer.
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by iank
They don't need software (on anything post win95), to the computer they are just an enormous USB flash key.
you mena no need to install drivers?
but the software I refer to is to copy contents of hard disc in lappy to the one in USB so that that one becomes the boot disc; (Seagate Discwizard. )
next remove disc from USB enclosure and swap it with the one the lappy and hopefully it will boot and run as before.