If you have an external hard drive and an unused internal hard drive slot in your computer, you can save yourself the expense of buying a new internal hard drive by converting the external hard drive into an internal storage unit. Here’s how to do it.
It’s no secret that external hard drives are cheaper, larger, and faster than ever before. They are great for storing pictures, music, movies, and work documents. But what if you want to use one of these external hard drives as internal storage? It’s actually not as difficult as you might think. In this article, we’ll show you how to convert an external hard drive into an internal storage HDD unit.
First, you’ll need to purchase an external hard drive enclosure. This is a special case that allows you to connect an external hard drive to your computer’s internal data bus. There are many different varieties of enclosure available, so be sure to select one that is compatible with your hard drive’s size and data interface.
Once you have the enclosure, simply remove the hard drive from its current housing and insert it into the enclosure. Make sure that the hard drive is properly secured inside the enclosure before proceeding. Then, connect the enclosure to an available data port on your motherboard. In most cases, this will be a SATA port.
Now, you’ll need to configure your operating system to recognize the new drive. In Windows, this can be done by opening the Disk Management tool. In the Disk Management tool, you should see the new drive listed. Right-click on the drive and select the option to “Initialize Disk.” This will prepare the drive for use.
Once the drive is initialized, you can create partitions and format the drive as you would any other internal storage drive. When you’re finished, you’ll have a fully functional internal hard drive that was once an external drive!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
In order to convert an external hard drive into an internal storage HDD unit, you’ll need a few things. First, you’ll need an external hard drive. Second, you’ll need a SATA to USB cable. Third, you’ll need a screwdriver. Fourth, you’ll need a computer with an available 3.5-inch drive bay.
Once you have all of the necessary items, the process is relatively simple. First, use the screwdriver to remove the screws from the back of the external hard drive. Next, use the SATA to USB cable to connect the hard drive to the computer. Finally, use the screwdriver to screw the hard drive into the 3.5-inch drive bay.
Now that you’ve successfully converted an external hard drive into an internal storage HDD unit, you can enjoy the increased speed and reliability that comes with having an internal hard drive.
Converting The External HDD
Assuming you have an external hard drive that you’ve been using primarily for storing files, you can easily convert it into an internal storage unit. Here’s how:
First, you’ll need to purchase an external hard drive enclosure. This is a special case that allows you to connect your hard drive to your computer internally. Make sure to get one that’s compatible with the size and model of your hard drive.
Once you have the enclosure, simply remove the hard drive from its current casing and insert it into the enclosure. Then, follow the instructions that came with the enclosure to connect it to your computer.
Once it’s connected, you should be able to access the hard drive just like you would any other internal storage unit. You can now use it to store files, install programs, or even run a backup of your system.
Preparing The Internal HDD
1. Shut down your computer and disconnect all external devices including your external hard drive.
2. Find an empty drive bay inside your computer case and remove the corresponding panel.
3. Depending on the size of your external hard drive, you will need to purchase either a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch HDD enclosure.
4. Remove the hard drive from its current enclosure and carefully insert it into the new enclosure.
5. Secure the hard drive inside the enclosure with the screws that came with the enclosure.
6. Connect the enclosure to an available SATA port on your motherboard.
7. Replace the panel on your computer case and power on your computer.
8. If everything is connected correctly, your external hard drive will now be recognized as an internal storage device.
Mounting The Internal HDD
If you have an external hard drive that you would like to use as an internal storage unit, there are a few things you need to do in order to mount the drive inside your computer. First, you will need to unscrew the hard drive from its case. Next, you will need to locate an available SATA port on your motherboard and connect the hard drive to it. Once the hard drive is connected, you will need to screw it into place so that it is secure. Finally, you will need to connect any necessary power cables to the hard drive. Once all of these steps are completed, you should be able to boot up your computer and access the hard drive just like you would any other internal storage unit.
Conclusion
External hard drives are a great way to increase the storage capacity of your computer. However, if you find that you need even more storage, you may want to consider converting your external hard drive into an internal storage unit. This can be done quite easily, and it will allow you to take advantage of the increased speed and reliability that comes with internal hard drives.
