I had a Dell Dimension 8200 laying around that had Windows XP, so I opened it up and took out its internal modem, and the NIC, for good measure. The modem shows up in certain system dialogs but none of the dialers - HyperTerminal, Phone Dialer, etc. I recently tried using the internal modem on the computer - a 56k Compaq modem - for the first time.
It's been handed down a few times, and I don't recollect it ever being online but it does have a version of Firefox from 2007 so I could be wrong about that. Then start filling your new closet with data.I have a Compaq desktop computer running Windows 98 SE. Right click on the drive icon and select Format, and use the Quick Format (NTFS) feature. Look under the Removable Drives section of My Computer.
You have now built your own external drive.īefore using your drive, install any software that comes with the case. Close the case following manufacturer's instructions, then connect all necessary external cables (power and USB). These are shaped so they can't be inserted the wrong way. Inside the case there will be two wires: a power cable and a data cable (the IDE or SATA cable mentioned above).
First, consult the drive's manual and check that the jumpers are set to the "master" position. If your computer uses the slow, antiquated USB 1.0 (12Mbps) connection, this might not be the project for you.Īssembling your drive is the easiest part. The most common input on modern PCs is USB 2.0 (with a transfer rate of 480 megabits per second), but some computers may require a FireWire connection (400Mbps). Likewise, make sure the output cables from the enclosure match the data inputs on your PC. Make sure the cables inside the enclosure you buy match the connections on the back of your drive. If you decide on a plastic case, get one with a fan. Remember that data transfer is only as fast as the slowest connection, so the higher speed of a SATA drive is wasted if the data is handed off to a USB 2.0 cable that moves bits at one-sixth the speed.Īn aluminum enclosure will act as a heat sink to keep the drive cool. SATA drives tend toward higher capacities and transfer data at six times the speed of IDE drives. In the past few years, drives using a faster, simpler SATA connection have come to market. They are the more common drive format and tend to be cheaper. IDE drives use a 40-pin connection (look for the wide, flat cable). Hard drives are available in two basic flavors: SATA (serial advanced technology attachment) and IDE (integrated drive electronics). Desktop drives are available with much higher capacities (up to 500GB) but must have an external power source. Laptop hard drives are more expensive, but smaller and lighter, and some can draw power through a USB cable. Basically, there are three physical sizes of internal drives to consider: laptop (1.8 in., 2.5 in.) and desktop (3.5 in.). That's a $147 difference.īefore you go shopping for components, however, you'll need to know your drives, enclosures and connections. USB 2.0 External IDE hard-drive case for $33 at (Total cost: $83.) Compare that to a prebuilt Maxtor OneTouch II 200GB External USB 2.0/FireWire hard drive that was $230 at CompUSA. We found an internal Seagate 200GB hard drive for only $50 (after manufacturer's rebate) from and a 3.5-in. How much cheaper can a build-your-own drive be? Prices fluctuate, but bargains are plentiful if you look around. Plus, it is the simplest way to get the drives from your previous computers plugged into and playing nicely with a new machine. Assembling your own drive also gives you more flexibility to choose the connections, capacity and design that suit your needs. By buying an internal drive and an enclosure to put it in, you save money. Luckily, it's much easier to build an addition for your computer than it is for your home.īuilding your own external hard drive is a 5-minute job that can be done without opening up your PC's case. The various programs, pictures, digital music and movies that accumulate can fill your computer's hard drive to the bursting point. Inevitably, your closets become overstuffed with tennis rackets, board games, coats, towels and other objects you just can't part with. When you first build your house, you try to design in enough closet space to hold all the stuff you own and plan out a little extra storage for the new things you'll acquire in the future.
Think of your computer's hard drive as the closet of your PC.