How to put a 3.5 hard drive in a laptop. Connecting a hard drive via usb, step by step instructions

Good day to all, my dear friends. Today I want to tell you about how to connect a hard drive via usb to a computer or laptop. Personally, I had such a question when I replaced it on my laptop, after which the old "hard" remained restless, albeit completely serviceable. Therefore, I hasten to please you. If you have such a device, then you can make an excellent mobile data storage out of it.

However, there is one small condition. These methods are suitable only for more or less modern hard drives with an interface not lower than SATA.

USB Box (containers, pockets)

Cam Box - This is (as you understood) a certain box (plastic or metal), inside which there is a special slot for one or another disk. It is naturally worth noting that there are boxes for both large HDDs (3.5) and small ones (2.5), which are suitable for laptops.

It is just elementary to insert the HDD into the box, and after assembly it will not differ in any way from a regular external hard drive. After that, you just need to insert a USB cable into it and connect it to your computer. Thus, you get a double benefit:

• You bring an old device back to life and use it;
• You almost get an external HDD for free

On such media, you can store any backup and archive copies, or use it in everyday life.

All the fun will cost you an average of 300-500 rubles.

Adapter (SATA-USB)

The easiest and least expensive way is to purchase a special SATA-USB adapter. The adapter itself is a cable, at one end of which there is a connector for connecting a disk, and at the other end there is a USB port.

Well, I think that you have guessed what needs to be done in this case. Yes, it's simple. Connect the hard drive to the connector, and insert the other end into the usb-port of your computer or laptop.

But just keep in mind that ordinary HDD (3.5) may not have enough power from one USB cable, so purchase a cable with two connectors and use them at the same time.

Depending on the company and product quality, such cables will cost you about 200-600 rubles.

Dock station

The most expensive but highly effective option is to purchase a docking station. These devices are somewhat reminiscent of old consoles such as Dendy or Sega. The similarity lies in the fact that instead of a connector for cartridges, there are connectors for HDD. All you have to do is just insert the hard disk into this station, and then connect it via USB to the computer.

Such devices are of different types, and in many cases you will be able to work not only with one disk, but with several at once, and even of different form factors (2.5 and 3.5).

The cheapest options with one device will cost you no less than 1,000 rubles, or even more. More powerful stations cost both 3 and 4 thousand rubles.

As you can see, there are enough ways to connect a hard drive via usb to a computer, and for every taste and color. Therefore, you no longer have to leave all your devices restless.

Well, this is where I end my article. I hope you enjoyed it, so don't forget to subscribe to my blog updates and also share blog articles on social media. Good luck to you. Bye Bye!

Best regards, Dmitry Kostin

Hello, friends. Sooner or later, disk space runs out. We are constantly flooding our devices with data and one day we will find out that there is no more space on our disk. And I want it to be always. Today I will tell you how you can quickly cope with this problem yourself. In today's article, we will connect the hard drive to the computer ourselves.

So, friends, you found that you have a problem, but do not worry, it is really easy to connect an HDD. In a regular computer, from one to six hard drives are installed. You can make them a place to store files, you can install another operating system. For example, on one disk you have Windows 10, and on the other Windows 7. When necessary, you boot from the "seven", and when not - from the "ten" - you can do that. And you can make RAID arrays if necessary.

We connect a 3.5 hard drive from a laptop to a computer via a USB adapter

The easiest and most hassle-free option is to buy an external portable hard drive. Such a disk is connected via a USB connector and is used as a large USB flash drive. The advantage of this solution is that you can store a lot on it? It connects easily to your computer, is compact and easy to carry. There are also disadvantages:

• the presence of a cord that must be connected all the time;
• read-write speed is lower than that of a disk connected in the usual way;
• special sensitivity to shocks, falls.

What does a laptop drive have to do with it? Inside this enclosure is the most common laptop hard drive. And if you have such a used disk from a laptop, you can make a portable one yourself. The most important part is the adapter. The adapter can be bought in a store, taking a disc with you, and the seller will select an adapter for you, and perhaps even a beautiful case. Putting everything together, we get a portable disk:

It can now be connected to the USB port. Or such an option, without an adapter, just the connector is screwed to the case, into which the hard drive is then inserted. The case itself can be fixed in the basket of the system unit with screws:

This option is suitable for connecting an HDD without an adapter - inside the system unit. We read further.

Connecting HDD without adapter at home

The same 3.5 hard drive can be easily connected by yourself. You will need an additional SATA cable for the hard drive and possibly an additional power plug (if the power supply lacks connectors). On sale there are such cable options where everything is in one:

We open the system unit, having previously disconnected all the wires from it, unscrew the screws:

... remove the cover,

We connect the data cable to the motherboard ...

... and the hard drive along with the power connector:

It is highly desirable that the 3.5 disk does not hang on the wires. If possible, it is better to secure it in a stationary state to avoid vibrations and shocks.

Then, we find a suitable place for it and fix it, if possible, with regular fixing screws in the basket, or at worst with plumbing tape, so that our disk is firmly and motionlessly fixed. We put the cover of the system unit in place.

How to connect a second, additional hard drive to the computer via the SATA connector

If you have a standard hard drive from your computer, you can just as easily connect it as a second drive. We do everything in the same way. First, fix the new disk with standard screws on both sides in the disk cage so that there are no vibrations:

Then we connect the ribbon cable and the power connector. The disk is connected.

Connecting IDE hard drive to motherboard and SATA connector

If your computer's motherboard has connectors for an IDE hard drive, you can try connecting such a drive as well. For a long time, all computers worked on the IDE interface for about this year until 2005. A disk with such an interface looks like this:

The connection socket looks like this:

Sometimes the connectors are multi-colored. And the cable for connecting to the motherboard looks like this:

The blue header connects to the motherboard, the black (topmost) one connects to the hard drive, and the white one connects to the DVD drive.

There is an important point when using IDE drives. If you are going to use such a disc, you need to correctly switch the jumper to the position Master or Slave. This option tells the system what role this disk will play. Master- this disk is considered to be the main one, and it will be loaded from it. Slave- secondary disk.

Different manufacturers have their own pinout of jumpers. The decoding of the switching modes is always indicated on the disk case:

By setting the jumpers to a certain position, we indicate the priorities - which disk is the main one. Earlier, when there were several such disks, it took a lot of time to switch them. The SATA interface is free of these drawbacks. The IDE interface has long been outdated, and is no longer used on modern devices. However, you can connect your existing IDE drive to the SATA socket on the motherboard using a special adapter. You need to connect the adapter to the IDE drive:

... and the SATA cable and power cable to the motherboard and power supply. In this way, you can increase the disk space by some, albeit small (by modern standards) amount. More than a USB stick!

If you bought a new hard drive, you must initialize it before using it, otherwise Windows will not see it, even if it is connected correctly. This is done using special programs such as Acronis Disk Director 12. First, install the disk in the system unit, connect, load Acronis Disk Director:

At first, you will not see the new mapped drive from under Windows. However, if the Disk Management snap-in is available in your version of Windows, then you can try to initialize the connected disk through this snap-in. In the photo we first went to Computer Management, then to Disk Management.

However, I always use Acronis, it is guaranteed to see all the disks connected to the computer.

You need to select the desired disk, right-click to bring up the menu, select "Initialize disk", and then at the very top, click "Apply pending operations":

After initialization, we create a partition or partitions on the disk, formatting them in the NTFS file system. At this point, the operation of connecting the disk to the computer can be considered completely completed. We connected it physically and programmatically. After these steps, the disks can be used for their intended purpose - to install the operating system or make volumes from them to store your data.

If you decide to install another operating system on a new disk, then after installation, when you boot your computer, you will need to select the disk on which you installed it. This is done through BIOS. To enter BIOS, first press the key DEL, and then select the desired disk:

Again, you need to select from the list that appears, the disk that you need. You can then change the download at any time. In general, you can connect a hard drive yourself very easily, try everything you will definitely succeed.

The ability to connect additional hard drives will be very useful to you if there is a lack of free disk space on the already installed ones. You can connect the HDD to a personal computer:

1. Installed in the system unit using standard SATA connectors on the motherboard.
2. Installed in the system unit using the SAS connectors of the RAID controller.
3. Using a USB-SATA adapter adapter.

It is interesting! PredecessorSATA was the interfaceATA (another name -IDE). The difference lies in the method of data transmission - serial transmission fromSATA parallelATA. It is generally accepted that serial transmission is faster, however, for the average user, the difference is invisible.

SATA

Step 1. Remove the case cover of your system unit.

Step 2. Connect the data cable to the connector on the motherboard.

On a note! The slot number is not important. The definition of a bootable hard disk is based on the software installed on it.

Step 3. Connect the data cable to the connector on the hard drive.

Step 4. Connect the power cable to the hard drive connector.

Important! When connecting the cable, the power of the computer must be turned off. When connecting a ribbon cable with voltage applied to it, there is a high risk of damage to the hard disk controller, or controllerSATA motherboard! In the event that your power supply has power connectors only for hard drivesIDE, use a special adapter.

Step 5. Fasten the hard drive to the chassis with the screws.

Important! Make sure that the cables do not come into contact with the fan blades of the system unit.

In the event that you are using a 2.5-inch drive, use special sleds to secure the hard drive more tightly inside the system unit.

Connecting the hard drive inside the case to the connectorsSAS

These connectors are backward compatible, that is, SATA can be connected to SAS, but SAS to SATA cannot.

Step 1. Install the hard drive in a special frame (sled) of the appropriate size.

On a note! Constructs are designed for certain form factors, that is, you will not be able to insert a 2.5-inch disk into the controller basket of 3.5-inch hard drives.

Step 2. Insert the slide into the controller basket and slide until the slide handle locks into position.

Important! Remember to check the cable connectionRAID to the motherboard and change the settings of your controller.

Connecting a 3.5-inch hard drive using an external powered adapter

Step 1. Attach the adapter to the hard drive.

Step 2. Connect the adapter and the desired port on your computer with a USB cable.

Step 3. Connect the power cable to the adapter.

Step 4. Apply power to the adapter by switching the toggle switch to the working position.

Step 5. Install drivers for the connected equipment, if necessary.

Connecting a 2.5-inch hard drive using a 3.5-inch adapter

2.5-inch drives are commonly used in laptops. The connectors are no different from 3.5 drive connectors, but the laptop's hard drive is attached to the case using a special basket (sled).

Step 1. Remove the skids or other constructs from your hard drive.

Step 2. Follow the instructions to connect the 3.5 hard drive using the adapter.

Connecting a 2.5-inch hard drive using an appropriate adapter

When using a special adapter for 2.5 hard drives, you do not need to remove the slide. As a rule, such adapters do not have external power supply, and receive voltage from the USB port of the computer.

Step 1. Connect the adapter to the hard drive.

Step 2. Connect both ends of the USB adapter cable to the ports on your computer.

Important! Two ends of the cable are needed because information is transmitted through one of them, and the adapter power is transmitted through the other.

Video - How to connect a hard drive

Conclusion

We examined three different ways to connect hard drives with SATA connectors to a personal computer. Each of them requires the purchase of additional equipment, at least - loops. In the event that you decide to use a SATA drive as an external one (connected via a USB adapter), it is recommended to purchase a reliable protective case for the drive. When working with the device, the cover should be removed to avoid overheating. Some parameters of hard drives working with different technologies are presented in the summary table.

Name	Data transfer rate, Mb / s	Number of devices per port
IDE (ATA)	133,5	2
SATA R.1	150	1
SATA R.2	300	Up to 15
SATA R.3	600	Up to 16
SAS R.150	150	Up to 4
SAS R.300	300	Up to 4
SAS R.600	600	Up to 4

When the first computers appeared, all programs, games and other files practically did not take up disk space. Now things are quite different, and it is often necessary to install an additional storage medium. Therefore, every user should know how to connect a second hard drive to a computer. In fact, this is not difficult to do, you just need to follow simple instructions.

The device must first be purchased from a store. Please note that the hard disk has several connection interfaces. After purchasing the purchase, you can proceed with the installation of the device.

Preparing for installation

• How many hard drives are already connected to the motherboard? Most often, a computer has only one hard drive, so installing a second drive is not difficult. In most cases, the HDD is located directly under the DVD-ROM, so it won't be difficult to find it;
• Is there extra space for installing a second hard drive? In the event that it is not possible to install a second or third disk, then you will have to purchase a USB drive;
• What type of cable is used to connect the hard drive to the computer? If the purchased device does not have the same interface as on a PC, it will be difficult to install.

Please note that you need a 3.5-inch hard drive. You don't need to buy small drives designed for laptops.

Physical disk connection

If the system unit has not yet been disassembled, disassemble it. It is now recommended to get rid of static electricity. This is done by any means known to you. If you wish, you can purchase a special grounding strap in the store.

After small manipulations, the hard drive will be fixed in the case, now all that remains is to connect the hard drive. Before plugging in the power cable and ribbon cable, it should be noted that the procedure is slightly different for the IDE and SATA interface.

IDE interface

When connecting a disk with an IDE interface, it is recommended to pay attention to such a nuance as setting the operating mode:

1. Master (main).
2. Slave (slave).

If an additional hard disk is installed, then you need to enable the Slave mode. To do this, you need to use a jumper (jumper), which is installed in the second place. The first row turns on the Master mode. It is important to note that on modern computers, the jumper can be removed completely. The system will automatically determine how hard the master is.

At the next step, you need to connect the second or third hard disk to the "mother". For this, the IDE interface is connected to a ribbon cable (wide, thin wire). The other end of the cable is connected to the IDE 1 Secondary socket (the main drive is connected to the zero connector).

The final stage of connection is power supply. To do this, a white chip with four wires is connected to the corresponding connector. The wires go directly from the power supply (box with wires and fan).

SATA interface

Unlike IDE, a SATA drive has two L-shaped connectors. One is for power connection and the other is for data cable. It should be noted that such a hard drive lacks a jumper.

The data cable plugs into a narrow connector. The other end is connected to a special connector. Most often, there are 4 such ports on the motherboard, but there are only 2 ports with an exception. One of the slots can be occupied by a DVD drive.

There are times when a SATA disk was purchased, but no such connectors were found on the motherboard. In this case, it is recommended to additionally purchase a SATA controller, which is installed in the PCI slot.

The next step is to connect the power. The L-shaped wide cable is connected to the corresponding connector. If the drive has an additional power connector (IDE interface), just use one of the connectors. This completes the physical connection of the hard drive.

BIOS setup

When all manipulations with the hard disk are completed, turn on the computer, and then enter the BIOS. It is important to note that the launch of BIOS on each computer is carried out in its own way. To do this, use the key:

• Delete;

After entering the BIOS, you need to go to the configuration setting. It is important to assign boot from the disk on which the operating system is installed. If the priority is set incorrectly, the system simply will not boot.

If one of the disks is not displayed in the BIOS, it means that the hard drive was connected incorrectly or the ribbon cable was damaged. It is recommended that you inspect all wires and reconnect (remember to turn off your computer).

As soon as the BIOS setup is completed, you can boot with the operating system. After that, all that remains is to assign a letter to the drive.

The final stage

Since it is not enough to connect a hard drive to a computer, you need to make the final settings directly from under Windows. On some computers, a similar procedure is carried out automatically. To check this, you should open "My Computer" and then see if a new disk appears.

If nothing happens, you need to start the control panel. Then select "Administration". As soon as a new window opens, you will need to select "Computer Management". In the left column, you need to find the "Disk Management" tab (on some computers "Disk Manager").

• At the bottom of the window, select disk 1 (if more than 2 hard drives are connected, select the disk with the highest number). This will be the new hard drive;
• You must assign a letter to the logical volume. To do this, right-click on the disk, and then select "Assign letter";
• As soon as a new drive letter is assigned, it needs to be formatted. The procedure can take a long time, it all depends on the size of the hard drive. It is important to choose the NTFS file system when formatting.

When the formatting process is complete, a new disk will appear in the root directory "My Computer". If for some reason it is not possible to connect the HDD using the built-in manager, it is recommended to use third-party programs.

Partition Manager is an excellent tool for working with hard drives. In addition, such a utility allows you to partition a disk into several logical volumes.

Conclusion

Attaching a hard drive takes no more than 15 minutes. If you follow the instructions, difficulties should not arise. Modern computers do not need additional BIOS setup, of course, if the disks are not installed in a completely new computer. Also, do not forget that the operating system depends on how large the plug-in hard drive can be.

Video review: connecting a hard drive

Users of personal computers, laptops and netbooks are often faced with the need to connect additional external devices to the computer. One such device is an external hard drive.

The need to connect a disk may be associated with transferring a significant number of files to a laptop, exchanging information with other devices, or organizing external data storage. Sometimes the user just has an old hard drive that he intends to continue using.

With a decrease in size, modern laptops incorporate a significant variety of different types of storage devices into their designs.

Disconnecting the hard drive from the PC

Notebooks typically use 2.5-inch hard drives because they are smaller and use less power than desktop 3.5-inch drives. However, a 3.5-inch drive from an old PC can be successfully used as an external drive.

Step 1. Turn off the computer and disconnect it from the 220 Volt power supply, so as not to accidentally turn on the PC when removing the hard drive.

Step 2. Open the computer case, most often by removing the right side panel (viewed from the side of the PC connectors) after unscrewing the mounting screws or pressing a button and removing the panel along the case to the back and sideways.

Step 3. Find the hard drive inside the PC case. A hard drive is a rectangular metal box about the size of a small book and is usually housed in a special compartment in a PC case.

Step 4. The hard drive is usually connected to the PC with two cables. Inspect the cables carefully and carefully pull them out of the connectors.

Important! Dismantling operations are carried out with some, but not extremely significant, effort. Before removal, it is necessary to carefully inspect the part and make an appropriate decision on the method of its dismantling.

Step 5. Consider a method of securing the hard drive and, choosing a suitable method, remove it. The disk can be fixed with screws or be in the case on special "slide" with latches on the sides, sliding out through the removed front panel of the case.

Connecting an external drive to a laptop

To connect an external hard drive, the first thing to do is determine its size.

Step 1. If you do not know the size of the drive, you can measure its width. Hard drives are rectangular in shape, and its width determines its size (form factor) in the name. The 3.5-inch drive is 10.2 cm wide and the 2.5-inch drive 7 cm wide.

We measure the width of the hard drive, the width of a 2.5-inch drive is 7 cm, a 3.5-inch drive is 10.2 cm

Step 2. Next, you need to determine the type of hard drive connection in order to choose a case compatible with it, which serves as an "adapter" for connecting the drive to a laptop. Older computers used hard drives with an IDE connection, today drives with a SATA connection are used.

Consider the type of HDD contacts. An IDE connector consists of two rows of metal data pins and a separate hard drive power connector. The SATA connector includes two small pads with flat contacts for transferring data and powering the drive.

Step 3. Purchase a case that matches the size and type of HDD connection, as well as the type of connection to the laptop. For example, purchase a 2.5 "enclosure with a SATA connection for a 2.5" SATA drive.

Most hard drive enclosures have a USB 2.0 type of connection to a computer, as well as FireWire, since they are the most popular today. Some universal enclosures have a combination of both interface options.

Most USB 2.0 enclosures are compatible with any USB port on a laptop or netbook. However, enclosures with a USB 3.0 interface provide better performance when connected to a USB 3.0 port.

Reference! All personal computers sold today are equipped with USB 3.0 ports, so you can purchase a USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure by making sure your laptop has this type of connector.

It is also important to consider that 2.5-inch cases are usually powered by a plug-in USB connector (port) on a PC and do not have their own power adapter, making them completely portable.

That being said, 3.5-inch hard drives need more power, so an AC power adapter is usually supplied with their enclosures, which means they won't work where there is no power outlet.

Step 4. Installing a hard drive into an external enclosure is very easy. Usually the maximum that is required in this case is a screwdriver. Most often, it is necessary to remove the top cover of the case, position the hard drive to be inserted into it parallel to its base, and gently slide the drive onto the contact pad to connect it. Close the hard drive case cover (see photo).

Reference! To connect a hard drive to the case, refer to the instructions supplied with the HDD case.

In some cases, on older 3.5-inch drives, it may be necessary to rearrange or remove the jumper setting the hard drive as the Master or Slave device according to the enclosure's instructions.

It is also possible to connect a 3.5 and 2.5-inch hard drive to a special docking station. In this case, you must carefully insert the disc into a suitable slot, pushing slightly from above to securely connect the pins of the disc to the station.

Step 5. After connecting the hard drive to the case, you need to connect the case to the laptop connector with a special cable included in the kit.

For this:

On a note! To supply enhanced power to the 2.5-inch hard drive, it is also possible to connect a second USB connector located on the cable that comes with the case.

In addition to special enclosures for connecting a hard drive, an open version of connecting an HDD is also possible through a special adapter that is put on its connector.

Connecting an "old" drive in Windows

If the hard drive has already been used in Windows before it was connected, then it has already been formatted. In this case, when connected, it will automatically be assigned a letter in the system, and it will appear in Windows Explorer, already ready for use.

If the disk does not appear in the system, you may need to install a driver for the hard disk enclosure.

Step 1. Press the "Win + R" keys on the keyboard. In the "Run" window that opens, type "devmgmt.msc" and click "OK".

Step 2. The "Device Manager" will start. View the manager for the presence of devices with exclamation marks. If there is such a device, right-click on it and select "Update drivers" from the menu with the left button.

Step 3. In the window that opens, click on "Search automatically for updated drivers".

After the system finds the required driver, the exclamation mark from the device in the "Manager" will disappear. You may need to restart your PC.

If the hard drive does not appear in the system, and at the same time a CD with drivers is included with the HDD case, then you need to:

Step 1. Insert this disc into your laptop's optical drive by opening it with a push of a button and snapping it back in after inserting the CD.

Step 2. On the desktop, double-click the "This PC" icon with the left mouse button.

Step 3. A list of Windows drives and devices will open. Open the CD drive by double clicking.

Step 4. Find the executable file "Run" or "Setup" in the folders by double-clicking on it with the left mouse button.

Step 5. Install the required software according to the suggested procedure. The HDD will appear on the system.

Connecting a new disk to the OS

If the connected hard drive has not yet been used in Windows, it will not appear in Explorer because it has not yet been initialized and formatted.

Step 1. Press the key combination "Win + R" on the keyboard. The Run window will open. Type in the line "diskmgmt.msc" and click "OK".

Step 2. The Windows Disk Management utility starts. Find in the left column a disk labeled as "Not initialized", and right-click on it, selecting "Initialize disk" with the left button in the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Put a check mark on the required HDD for initialization. Check the "MBR" box if the HDD has a capacity of less than 2 TB, and on "GPT", if more, and click "OK".

Step 4. After the disk is initialized, it will be put into the "Not allocated" state. Right-click on the unallocated HDD space and left-click on Create Simple Volume.

Step 5. In the wizard that appears, click "Next".

Step 6. Leave the default settings, click "Next".

Step 7. Select in the drop-down list the letter by which disk will be identified in the system, click "Next".

Step 8. Select the type of file system (usually NTFS) and volume label (any name of the HDD in the system), check the "Quick format" checkbox and click "Next".

Step 9. Check the entered information and click "Finish".

The disk will be formatted and ready to use.

As soon as the connected external drive is working, you can exchange any files with it.

Find out detailed information on how to install in our new article.

Video - Three ways to make an external hard drive out of an HDD (hard drive)