My old PC is no longer working and I've removed the SATA Hard Drive with a view to hopefully retrieving some of the files on it, photos, videos
etc.
I was hoping that I could buy an enclosure for it and use it as an external hard drive but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Most of the
HDD enclosures seem to be for 2.5", 3.5" or 5.25" HDD's
The dimensions of my HDD are 4" x 5.75" x 1" and I can't find an enclosure to house it 
I'm wondering how I can connect the
old hard drive without opening up the new PC box.
Any advice for a novice?
Phil
It almost certainly is one of the standard sizes, my inclination would be to take it out and go to Maplins or PC World, show it to them and get the
one that fits.
I got one for the HDD out of my old laptop, Maplins didn't have one in stock, turned out PC World did, and were quite a bit cheaper.
odds on is that it is a 3½" drive, if you do get a enclosure for it, make sure it supports sata drives as thats what you have NOT pata as thats
the older style interface
something like this ?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143544
[Edited on 26/12/09 by Scotty]
99.99% of Desktop PC use 3.5 inch drives the smaller ones are are Laptop drives although they sometimes are used in ultra compact fan less PCs.
Try this search on ebay
hard disk enclosure 3.5 -ide
Then use advance search to restrict your search to "Items Located in United Kingdom"
Also important to avoid handling your drive as much as possible --- they are ver easy to zap with built uo static.
[Edited on 26/12/09 by britishtrident]
isn't the dimension for the actual size of the disc platters in which case yours would be a 3.5"
HTH
What does the 3.5" refer too? Is it the actual size of the HDD case or some internal component?
Phil
As liam said, it's a 3.5" drive.
The spares I have on my desk all measure around 4" x 5.75"
It's the whirly bits inside which are 3.5".
You can either get a SATA 3.5" enclosure to permanently house it or a docking station which you can plut it into.
These house the drive vertically and have a usb connection to the host PC.
I would go for the enclosure to keep it safe and secure.
Thanks for the quick replies guys. Think I'll go for the one that Scotty has posted a link to. Just hope I haven't handled it too much
already......
Phil
Oh, and it's not the platters, nothing to do with them, their diameter can vary a fair amount (and are usually more like 3.75" in standard
drives)
They're called 3.5" because they fit the same bays as 3.5" floppy drives.
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Thanks for the quick replies guys. Think I'll go for the one that Scotty has posted a link to. Just hope I haven't handled it too much already......
2.5, 3.5 and 5.25 refers to the original reference size of the platters inside the case. (the actualy disks themselves).
They no longer actually use those size disks but use it as a reference to the "form factor".
It is a legacy naming process from the days of the original PC. Back then floppy disks were 3.5 or 5.25 in size and the case required a mount to allow
the 3.5 or 5.25 inch drive to fit.
In todays terms a 3.5 inch drive uses 3.74 inch platters (approx) and fits in a 4 (approx) inch hole.
Your drive sounds like it is a 3.5 inch drive for which you will need a 3.5inch case.
Just one other question before I go off and look for one. What's the difference between IDE and SATA?
There is a label on the HDD warning to use either SATA Power or Legacy Power connector.
Phil
The kind of cable and data magic they use.
PATA = IDE
[Edited on 26/12/09 by Staple balls]
Many thanks, that makes it clear.
Phil
Hi Phil try copy catz in Rotherham they are in the centre and also have a unit on Barbot Hall, cheaper than both Maplins and PC world
Also: IDE = ATA = PATA which as said is the older larger conector. Sata is the smaller one.
There is also a reduced size ATA/PATA contector used ror 2.5" laptop drives which is very simular looking to the 3.5" contector and has the
same pin-out. Modern 2.5" sata drives use the same conector as 3.5" sata drives.
Its also therefore worth noting the if you just want to rape the data off it, you can bung it stright into any other pc (laptop or desktop) that has
sata capabilty with no more than a 25p sata lead.
Daniel
[Edited on 26/12/2009 by dhutch]
Ive got a shed loads of SATA leads if you want one posting hellfire.
quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
It's remarkably difficult to kill a HDD that's not running, just stick it on a shelf out the way and it'll be fine.
[Edited on 26/12/09 by Staple balls]