Installing Hard Drive in External Case

If you are wanting to set up an external hard drive, by using an external hard drive case and an internal hard drive that you are wanting to use with it, I assure you, this is not a hard task.

For this build and install of the external hard drive kit, We have an acomdata external hard drive case with sata and pata capabilities. Under $30 at Fry’s. The hard drive we are using is a sata 500 gig Seagate under $45 at Fry’s.

First step is to get all of your hardware  and spread it out in seperate locations so you can keep your parts visible and easy to distinguish.

External Hard drive Kit.

See that? there is very little in that set. Manual, Power cable, usb cable, case, standing base and hard drive .

Next Step is to open the external case. Usually two up to 4 small screws at one of the ends of the hard drive case.

opening external hard drive case

Now you just have to slide everything out of the external hard drive case. With this one you just push to the other end.

Ejecting the tray

Some of the external hard drive cases have wires inside that are connected to light, just look closely for the wires to slide off , this hard drive case does not have wires for lights.

Dissasymbled External hard drive case

Now the simple step is to connect the wiring before you rock the hard drive into the external case.

Connecting the wires to a hard drive

Inserted hard drive in external case

Now begin to reassemble  your hard drive case. most just snap together.

External Hard drive Build

Now you are just reversing everything you did before, only now your gadget weighs a tiny bit more.

Final touches

Put screws back in  for the end face plate and then set the stand.

tightening stand for external hard drive case.

Now you just have to connect the usb cable and the power supply  and then power on the Hard Drive.

External Hard drive connected

Now that you have the hard drive set up and connected, look for the light on the outside of the case to be on to confirm all is working. Some external hard drive cases have a blinking light if you messed up.

Now watch your computer for any notifications saying that a new device is connected. To take that a step further, look at your list of storage devices and see if a new device shows up in the list.

eternal hard drive

Most Companies that make external hard drive cases, don’t force you into proprietary software, but some do. if your new device does not show up in the list, you may have a few steps to perform before you can access your software stored on the new electronic component.

I hope you liked the HoWto, if you have any questions feel free to ask them below, comments are always open.

Precautions For Building Computers

Use lots of overhead light. Once you have all the parts together, find a flat, smooth, clean, static-free surface. Make sure your clothes are not polyester or you stand a chance of building up buttloads of static and having a merciless discharge turning your junk into… well… junk.

I like using Gatorade lids to hold my screws and small parts in. Yeah Trailer Park Boys-ish, I know, but it works. Working above tile is good, also, so you can hear the small parts when they drop and kinda locate them easier by where the sound comes from. With the tower open and all parts scattered on the table, lower the motherboard in. Take small pin nails and set them through the mounting holes to mark your spot — should take like 6-9 of them depending on board size and tower abilities. Pull motherboard back out and try to not disturb the pin nails. Replace each nail with mounting studs, lower board in, and screw it down. Follow instructions in the manuals for motherboard and instructions from tower to set up power switches and USB connectors. you may sometimes need to split the end connector for the tower speaker so it fits the prongs. Tie back wires so they stay low and out of view.

Insert RAM, CPU, and heat sink. Simply put: Be gentle, be slow, bend no prongs, and scratch no boards

Set in all drives: CD-ROM / DVD / hard drive / floppy drive. Place the power supply in, and take the board connecting the wire strand and try and map the cleanest, least visible route. Then plug it in. Do not crack the motherboard (yes, it can happen)! Do the same with the drives. I tie them to the rack as I go down the line. Keep hard drives away from all magnets — even the case speaker magnet!

The Video card is done pretty much the same way as the RAM. The slit(s) in the card tells you which way it should face.

Get a good look at the inner case. All air paths need to be clear of anything — even wires. Now plan the path your air will flow and then look at your fans to see which direction the blades should face to achieve the airflow you planned.

Close the case, cross toes, plug in all devices for first boot, and press power button. Pray for BIOS/CMOS boot. Press delete and watch temperatures for about ten minutes or until you see that it is getting really hot.

More stuff to keep in mind.