Spare HD as a portable?

KArnier · 23-05-2005, 01:06 AM

Hi. I'm new here, and still relatively new with computer hardware.

I just recently came across a spare Hard Drive that my friend didn't want any more. It still works but it hasn't been formatted so it still has an OS and a bunch of files etc. I've been looking to get a portable storage device as something to keep files on when I reformat my computer (instead of going through the tedious process of burning dozens of GBs worth of files onto discs). Since I'm a cheap bastard, though, I was thinking there might be some way to convert my new spare HD into a portable storage device.

So to be more concise, how should I go about wiping all the crap off of the spare HD (if possible without going through the rigamarole of installing it into my PC) and, once I get the crap off, is there any way to turn it into a portable storage device?

Thanks in advance

Oh, thought I shuold mention the specs of the HD in case its important-

The SpinPoint V60 series embraces a micro-processor which has a Dual DSP (Digital Signal Processor) function and improves data processing capacity drastically as compared to current products, through parallel processing of HDD data and Servo signal.

Formatted Capacity = 60GB
Dual DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
Ultra DMA-100 Compatible
5,400 rpm Spindle Speed
8.9 ms Average Seek Time
S.M.A.R.T. Compliant
InpacGuard™
NoiseGuard™
SilentSeek™

Thats from the samsung website. The HD has WinXP Home on it too, if thats important.

stinkfing3r · 23-05-2005, 01:12 AM

if your talkin abotu an internal drive. there is not a way to like plug it into the back of your puter and it there like a real external.

you have to open up your puter plug in power and ide cable. the drive will show up in my computer. you can just select all the crap and right click and hit delete.

so if u want to hook it up to power and ide everytime u use a computer. sure it will work. otherwise not really.

ThePenguinCometh · 23-05-2005, 01:58 AM

I haven't used them myself but, as per below, there are kits available that can convert an IDE hard-drive into a hot-swappable external storage device. Try these for starters:

http://www.lockstep.com/Backup/suppo...ard-drive.html
http://hardryve.blogspot.com/2005/05...num-mobil.html
http://www.addonics.com/products/hd.asp
http://www.usbgear.com/usbgear-usb-drive-enclosure.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...29628?v=glance
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/pr...1713986&stext=

And I'm sure there are many others.

zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG · 23-05-2005, 09:32 PM

you can use one of these

http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__AMS_A...B2BK,__6939243

most of the external enclosures are crap but this is really awesome

ferg · 25-05-2005, 08:51 PM

carrying on with this toppic....

i have a 30 gig external drive (from a laptop held in a case that converts it to usb2) everything works fine. But of course there is a security issue, all someone else needs to do is plug it in to any computer and all the files are accessable- does anyone know of a way to secure this data easily?

TIA!

travis7377 · 29-05-2005, 07:59 PM

use PGP or some other encryption software

23-05-2005, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
KArnier Geek Trainee Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1 Status: Offline	Spare HD as a portable? Hi. I'm new here, and still relatively new with computer hardware. I just recently came across a spare Hard Drive that my friend didn't want any more. It still works but it hasn't been formatted so it still has an OS and a bunch of files etc. I've been looking to get a portable storage device as something to keep files on when I reformat my computer (instead of going through the tedious process of burning dozens of GBs worth of files onto discs). Since I'm a cheap bastard, though, I was thinking there might be some way to convert my new spare HD into a portable storage device. So to be more concise, how should I go about wiping all the crap off of the spare HD (if possible without going through the rigamarole of installing it into my PC) and, once I get the crap off, is there any way to turn it into a portable storage device? Thanks in advance Oh, thought I shuold mention the specs of the HD in case its important- The SpinPoint V60 series embraces a micro-processor which has a Dual DSP (Digital Signal Processor) function and improves data processing capacity drastically as compared to current products, through parallel processing of HDD data and Servo signal. Formatted Capacity = 60GB Dual DSP (Digital Signal Processor) Ultra DMA-100 Compatible 5,400 rpm Spindle Speed 8.9 ms Average Seek Time S.M.A.R.T. Compliant InpacGuard™ NoiseGuard™ SilentSeek™ Thats from the samsung website. The HD has WinXP Home on it too, if thats important.

23-05-2005, 01:12 AM	#2 (permalink) Top
stinkfing3r Big Geek Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 146 Times Helpful: 1 Status: Offline	if your talkin abotu an internal drive. there is not a way to like plug it into the back of your puter and it there like a real external. you have to open up your puter plug in power and ide cable. the drive will show up in my computer. you can just select all the crap and right click and hit delete. so if u want to hook it up to power and ide everytime u use a computer. sure it will work. otherwise not really. __________________ Clubdv.fm

23-05-2005, 01:58 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
ThePenguinCometh There is no escape Join Date: May 2005 Age: 33 Male Posts: 425 Times Helpful: 50 Status: Offline	I haven't used them myself but, as per below, there are kits available that can convert an IDE hard-drive into a hot-swappable external storage device. Try these for starters: http://www.lockstep.com/Backup/suppo...ard-drive.html http://hardryve.blogspot.com/2005/05...num-mobil.html http://www.addonics.com/products/hd.asp http://www.usbgear.com/usbgear-usb-drive-enclosure.html http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...29628?v=glance http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/pr...1713986&stext= And I'm sure there are many others. __________________ Insomnia - it's not a condition, it's a mentality. Registered Linux user: 388693. Registered Linux machines: 289172, 289173, 296291, 296293, 296294, 296869. Geek score: 34.714% - Total Geek Hacker key: v2sw5+8C+JGhw5ln4/5pr6/7Ock1ma6/8l6+8Sw3+2e4t2b9Hen4+6g5+3RHaIr9 Last edited by ThePenguinCometh; 24-05-2005 at 01:28 PM.

23-05-2005, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG HWF Guitar Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,487 Times Helpful: 101 My Mood: Amused Status: Offline My Computer	you can use one of these http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__AMS_A...B2BK,__6939243 most of the external enclosures are crap but this is really awesome __________________

25-05-2005, 08:51 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
ferg Manbearpig Join Date: May 2004 Age: 25 Male Posts: 539 Times Helpful: 26 My Mood: Innocent Status: Offline My Computer	carrying on with this toppic.... i have a 30 gig external drive (from a laptop held in a case that converts it to usb2) everything works fine. But of course there is a security issue, all someone else needs to do is plug it in to any computer and all the files are accessable- does anyone know of a way to secure this data easily? TIA! __________________ FREE STUFF Spybot S&D Ad-Aware Spyware Blaster Comodo Free Firewall Speedfan Ad Block Plus (Plugin for Firefox)

29-05-2005, 07:59 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
travis7377 Geek Trainee Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 Status: Offline	use PGP or some other encryption software

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