I need to borrow a 3.5" HDD enclosure... Or maybe there's another way?

Forums › Desktop computing › I need to borrow a 3.5" HDD enclosure... Or maybe there's another way?

mattyb

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#233436 16-Apr-2018 13:21

I've bought a new 2TB hard drive to replace a an old slowly failing 500GB drive, and I'd like to transfer the data across. My thought is that I could insert the new drive into a HDD enclosure, then plug into a USB port to copy files over. Ideally I don't want to open up the PC and install the new drive until I get everything copied over.

Is there anywhere I could borrow a 3.5" hard drive enclosure?

Or is there another way to do it??

Dynamic

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#1997023 16-Apr-2018 13:34

Location?

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mattyb

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#1997025 16-Apr-2018 13:36

Dynamic:
Location?

Sorry. Auckland (specifically Ellerslie/Mt Wellington or East Tamaki)

gehenna

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#1997027 16-Apr-2018 13:41

If you can't get hold of an enclosure just install it in the PC as a secondary disk. You'll likely have enough SATA ports and power plugs for it. You'll also find it MUCH faster to copy data over SATA-SATA than SATA-USB.

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#1997030 16-Apr-2018 13:45

You can buy kits that let you easily plug a SATA hard drive into a USB 2 connection. I got my last one from ebay for not very much money, but they take up to a month to arrive. Just put the disk inside the PC, much faster.

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#1997052 16-Apr-2018 13:54

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ADPUNI1039/UNITEK-Y-1039-USB-30-to-SATA-6G-Converter-Super-Sp

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davidcole

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#1997157 16-Apr-2018 15:24

Yeah I'd just plug it in to a second sata port and leave it hanging out the case (cheapo version), just needs a sata cable and power.

Then once transferred, remove, or do whatever you';re doing with the 500gb drive. This should work much quicker than a usb connection as it's a sata to sata connection.

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#1997842 17-Apr-2018 14:25

mattyb: Ideally I don't want to open up the PC and install the new drive until I get everything copied over.

Assuming using a USB to Sata converter or HD USB enclosure....
the best way is to install the New HD in the PC, and then clone to that .

mattyb

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#1998507 18-Apr-2018 12:56

Thanks for the comments. Should have mentioned I'm not that keen on opening the case. The PC is tucked in a tight corner of a cabinet, I know that I don't have an open bay for the drive, and I'm not that happy about leaving it hanging out as I have young kids around that could easily bump it and cause damage (which could also be solved by doing it late at night which if you've got young kids you'll know I'm not that keen on either! :))

Looks like I should get it solved though, I found another old 2.5" external drive I had and I've been using that to transfer stuff to as an intermediary. Pretty slow but convenient. The hardest part is the old drive keeps spinning up to 100% and hanging the transfer on certain files, so I've had to stop and restart lots of times. I just need it to hang on for a while to get the last of the data off.