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How do you convert an internal hard drive into an external drive

Do you have old or spare internal hard drives lying around and want to make use of them? Here’s how to convert an internal hard drive into an external drive.

This blog was updated in June 2022.

You might have an old internal hard drive you don’t want to use lying around – and that can be put to good use as an external drive. Given that internal and external hard drives can function much the same in terms of design and function, thankfully, it’s pretty easy to convert and internal hard drive to an external drive. All you need are a few extra parts and a bit of planning, all of which we’ll help you with in this article.

Why do I need an external hard drive?

When it comes to external hard drives vs internal hard drives, you might be wondering why you would ever need an external hard drive if you already have one inside your desktop PC or laptop.

However, it’s always a great idea to have an external drive as a backup just in case the one inside your desktop PC does fail. You can use an external hard drive as a backup, and if you’re working on the move with large file sizes, an external hard drive can be invaluable as a work laptop accessory.

If you’ve ever upgraded your computer, or you simply have old hard drives lying around, it’s possible to convert these units into an external hard drive that you can quickly make use of.

The internal workings of a Hard Drive (Shutterstock)

External hard drive vs internal hard drives

The primary advantage of external hard drives over internal hard drives is their portability. Simply put, you can take an external hard drive with you anywhere you go, allowing you to transport important files for use in areas without the internet.

On top of this, external hard drives are a laptop’s best friend. Laptops can be difficult to upgrade at the best of times, so the addition of an external hard drive gives you a place to store big files, so you don’t clog up your laptop’s memory.

External hard drives are also just a great backup option in general. Yes, you can back things up on the cloud, but if you want a storage device with enormous space, then you can’t go wrong with an external hard drive.

The downside to using an external hard drive is that you need a connector to use it, and should this connector be dislodged during use, there is a chance your files will be affected.

You may also know that hard drives can be rather delicate and can be easily damaged if you’re not careful. Unless you get a protector for an external hard drive, you will need to be extra careful when transporting it to avoid damaging the drive.

What do you need to convert an internal hard drive into an external hard drive?

When looking at the internal hard drive, you might notice that it lacks connections and protection for use in the big bad world. The SATA or IDE connections it comes with are only really useful if it’s installed inside a computer.

So, you need to add a way for it to communicate with other bits of tech, specifically a USB (the most common type of connection for external hard drives and most computer peripherals), a Firewire bridge, or one of the other forms of hard drive connector types.

As well as this, you’ll also need an Enclosure, or ‘Caddy’ as they are known. These cases act as both a converter, protector, and holder for the internal hard drive to ensure it’s usable and safe from damage.

Below are the following things you’ll need to consider to safely convert your internal drive to an external one.

Drive type enclosures

Enclosures are boxes that the internal drives sit in. They come compatible with two interfaces: IDE and SATA. Of the two, SATA hard drives are much more common than IDEs and are likely to be the ones you’ll need. Always check first, however, as the connections differ, and you want to be sure you get the right one.

Hard drive size

Depending on your model of hard drive, the size of the drive will vary. 3.5” (3.5 inches) hard drives are most commonly used in desktop computers, with 2.5” (2.5 inches) drives found usually in notebooks.

3.5” drives are usually bigger, faster, and cheaper to buy, but because a 2.5-inch device is naturally smaller it’s more portable. Be sure to note the size of your drive so you can buy the correct additional tech.

Connection types

Most external hard drives connect to your computer through USB (3.0, 2.0 and 1.1) or FireWire. You should choose your connection type based on what your priority use will be for your drive.

Mac users focusing on video may consider Firewire as the computer is more suited to this connection, but your standard office or home user will find USB more useful.

External drive bays

If you’re looking to use an external hard drive without transporting it, you may decide to invest in an external drive bay. This option is useful for those wanting to back up large files or partition secure software.

Some enclosures offer different numbers of bays, essentially, how many internal drives it can hold in one box. For example, a dual-bay enclosure would hold two hard drives- double the storage of a standard enclosure.

Price

Enclosures tend to vary in price depending on what you need them for. A simple hard drive enclosure at approximately £10 will have one simple connection and will ideally be suited to those wanting to use it as a straight back up.

The £10-£40 range is where you will see a larger array of connection types, material qualities, and speeds. These enclosures are aimed at those with more information to move, such as photographs, videos, and games.

£40+ enclosures tend to be the top speed specification. These are best used with high-speed hard drives. Many also have networking capabilities, meaning your hard drive is turned into a basic NAS drive – files shared via Wi-Fi direct to a TV or tablet.

An external Hard Drive connected to a laptop (Shutterstock)

How to make your internal hard drive into an external drive

The process of housing your internal hard drive as an external hard drive is very simple.

First, you’ll need to remove your internal hard drive from the PC in question, assuming you’re yet to remove it. With the hard drive in hand, you can then open the enclosure along the designated line. Some unscrew, others clip. It’s best to do this on a clean, static-free surface to avoid contaminating the drive.

Once open, place the internal hard drive inside. If you have the right size it should be obvious how it lines up. Then connect all the necessary cables. Usually, you’ll have a power source, SATA connection, and holding clips.

If it’s a 3.5” holder, you’ll likely need external power, but a 2.5” will run off the USB connection. Lastly, plug it into your PC and register it to your computer.

That’s it! Now you can use your old hard drive like any new external device.

And if you want to make your new external drive portable, simply find the appropriate protector cover for it and you’re good to transport it.

Hard drives at Ebuyer

With this information to hand, you’re ready to take that old internal hard drive and make use of it externally!

Of course, you may very well decide that you want an extra internal hard drive in your computer instead, in which case, we have an article all about how to install internal hard drives, including how to connect a hard drive to the motherboard.

But if the idea of repurposing in this way, and fitting in a new enclosure, doesn’t appeal you can always check out the range of external hard drives in the Ebuyer store. We’ve plenty of external hard drives and solid-state drives for you to choose from.

You can also read more on hard drives and their uses over at the Ebuyer blog and in-depth Knowledge Hub.

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