Turning an external drive into an internal

[MTMod]

So I've got a dead [URL=http://www.cultofmac.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WD_My_Book_HD.jpg]WD MyBook[/url]. My computer won't recgnize it so I'd like to bypass the USB and power supply functions and see if I can hook it up to SATA/IDE/Molex.

Is this possible? I don't care about voiding warranty.

[Emtu]

Yes, it should be just a regular desktop drive in there. Just find where the screws are and have at it.

Give this a watch -
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FlySnyJ0CQ[/media]

[Morkcheese]

yes, pretty much all external harddrives are just normal harddrives in an enclosure

[Luuper]

Pop it open and un-mate it with whatever usb interface hardware is there

I have seen it being done before, it's sometimes a WD Black, most likely a WD Blue though

[Nullianac]

I'd actually like a bit of a tutorial on this sort of thing; I have an iOmega 1TB USB drive so...

[MTMod]

I just followed the video. Took a flathead screwdriver and started prying it open. It was fairly easy. Too bad the drive is still unresponsive.

[jaybuz]

I thought you were good with computer stuff.

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=jaybuz;25440820]I thought you were good with computer stuff.[/QUOTE]

What?

[Nullianac]

I know how to open the drive and crap, yes;

I'm just unsure about the USB junk :v:

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=EpikEnvy2.0;25441488]I know how to open the drive and crap, yes;

I'm just unsure about the USB junk :v:[/QUOTE]

In the drive I opened there was a board that connected to the drive's SATA ports (both data and power). The same board contained the connections for the USB and power cables.

This is what confused me in the first place. I thought the drive inside was a different kind of connection. I didn't know it was just a regular ol' OEM drive.

[editline]16th October 2010[/editline]

[QUOTE=Justice;25441622]If you still have the parts left over, you could always use it as an enclosure, since it's apparent the drive itself is dead.[/QUOTE]

Perfect hiding spot for secret "material" :ninja:

[Nullianac]

Hm, interesting MT - I'll need to investigate further.

[torekk]

That's what I did with my old Maxtor external, because USB was way too slow. So I started with opening the case, completely ignoring the sticker which said "If you remove this sticker, you'll void the warranty" and to my surprise, after I've cut away the metal casing, there was a normal SATA drive in there.

Also keep the USB adapter, might need it one day.

[onforty]

"Voiding warranty", computer illiterates :sigh: law illiterates :sigh: people with stupid avatars :sigh:

Im having a bad day.. or night..