How to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop (netbook). How to connect a laptop hard drive to a computer
This question might interest you for several reasons. Firstly, you want to transfer a large amount of information from your laptop to your computer. Secondly, you hardly use a laptop or you bought a cheap laptop with a working hard drive and want to increase the amount of memory on your computer. In any case, you need to understand how to properly connect the hard drive from a laptop to a computer.
Let me note right away that if you are not eager to disassemble your computer and laptop, then you can transfer information by simply connecting them together using a cable. More information on how to do this is written in the article: how to connect a laptop to a computer.
Now let's get back to our question.
First, you need to place the laptop with its bottom facing you and remove the battery. Then you need unscrew the plastic cover, which covers the hard drive.
The hard drive may be screwed to the case; unscrew them. Then slide the disk away from the contacts as shown in the picture and remove it.
The interface for connecting hard drives in laptops is SATA. The IDE interface is already considered obsolete and is quite rare, so we will not consider it further.
After removing the hard drive from the laptop, let's move on to the system unit. We remove the side cover from it: you need to unscrew the screws from the back, then slide the cover towards the back of the system unit with a sliding movement.
Now we are looking for a free SATA port on the motherboard.
We connect the plug from one end of the cable to the motherboard, and connect the other end of the cable to the laptop’s hard drive. The cable plugs are the same on both sides, so you cannot mix them up or connect them incorrectly.
Then we look for a free plug on the cable coming out of the power supply and connect it to the hard drive.
We connected the hard drive from the laptop to the computer. Now turn on the computer, the hard drive will appear as a regular local drive, and copy all the necessary information.
If you want the laptop hard drive to be installed in the system unit, you will need to buy special slides to be able to secure it there. The sleds are needed because the size of the laptop hard drive is 2.5’’, and the standard size of the cells in the system unit in which the drive is installed is designed for computer hard drives, the size of which is 3.5’’.
We screw the laptop hard drive to the inner sides, then insert it into the system unit's hard drive bay and secure it there.
You can also connect a hard drive from a laptop to a computer using special box.
It looks like a small container for a hard drive. Just insert the disk into it, connecting it to the contacts, and close the box. It connects to the computer via a USB cable. Sometimes a power supply is also included with the box. It can be useful if the hard drive does not have enough power received through the USB port. Such hard drive “cases” are very convenient. Now it can be used as a regular external hard drive.
I think after reading the article you will succeed connect the hard drive from the laptop to the computer. Just choose the method that suits you.
And also watch a video on the topic:
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Practice shows that the likelihood of having to connect the hard drive of one of the computer devices to a laptop or the implementation of the opposite reconnection scenario is prohibitively high. A precedent for this could be a “digital disaster” that suddenly or naturally appears... The methods described in the article are intended to help the “puzzled user” in solving the common problem of how to connect a laptop’s hard drive to a laptop. Of course, valuable material, consisting of extremely effective recommendations, will affect all options for interface interaction of various types of information storage devices in order to gain full access to the data located on them.
Discord in the single purpose of the hard drive: a threat to a healthy psyche
Wow, how confusing everything is! are equipped with one type of storage device, laptops and a separate type of computing device with a NET prefix are equipped with another. However, all these devices have a single universal ability - storing and processing information. This means that “interface differences” when deciding how to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop can be circumvented. And also to avoid the state of slight confusion that often arises (for a “victim of technological circumstances”), when the hard drive of a failed PC contains extremely necessary data that is needed “right now.” Relax, dear reader, there is a way out! Take a breath... and not even in a single version!
to the laptop: instructions for SATA devices
Let's take a closer look at this situation: there is a working laptop to which you need to connect the HDD from the PC.
- First of all, you need to purchase a special SATA-eSATA adapter, when choosing which you must be guided by the technical characteristics of the receiver device. In our case, this is the presence of a “favorable” eSATA connector on the laptop.
- Most modern portable configurations have this interface. Which ultimately will become a kind of answer to the question of how to connect a hard drive to a computer or laptop.
If your laptop has this type of interface, then the further initialization process takes place almost instantly. The operating system will literally immediately identify the connected device as an external drive. Moreover, the operating speed when organizing this kind of synchronization process is incredibly high, up to 6 Gbit/sec. Agree, with such parameters you can quite comfortably interact with data of any (within reasonable limits) volume.
Guide for IDE hard drives: universal USB port
How to connect a hard drive to a computer (laptop) if the drive has a somewhat outdated interface and the laptop only has a universal USB connector? Undoubtedly, it is a rather “complex symbiosis”. However, as mentioned earlier, there is a way out!
- Everything is resolved using a special adapter that connects to the laptop using a USB cable.
- The device's IDE input connector allows you to connect a PC hard drive, and a separately routed cable is used as a power supply.
As a rule, such devices are often universally used gadgets. Since they often provide two types of connections - SATA-USB and IDE-USB - using one controller adapter.
“Brotherly understanding”: two cords decide everything!
You will not have a question about how to connect a laptop hard drive to a laptop if your laptop has the previously mentioned serial interface, and your “reconnect” arsenal has an eSATA to SATA adapter (7+15 pin). Otherwise, you should pay a visit to your nearest electronics store and buy an inexpensive “pocket” for an external HDD.
This option is the most acceptable for the optimal solution to the stated difficulty. Since the owner of such an HDD container may well use the purchased device (in the future) for its intended purpose - as an additional external storage device.
By the way, the “HDD pocket” can be connected not only via the eSATA interface, but also via a universally used USB port. Which will incredibly simplify the situation when you need to connect a 2.5 ̎ drive of a laptop computer to a desktop PC. Do you see benefits from such an acquisition?
Climactic finale: extreme ascent of information at random
When deciding how to connect a laptop’s hard drive to a laptop, if the situation requires quick access to data on an external hard drive and when there is no necessary adapter, but there is a flash drive and access to the Internet:
- Download Live USB distribution.
- After you create a bootable Flash drive, turn off and unplug your laptop.
- Remove the device's battery.
- On the back of the laptop, find the text designation HDD, which is a kind of landmark that indicates the location of the installed laptop hard drive.
- Unscrew the protective cover and carefully remove the HDD.
- In the freed space, install a hard drive on which the information you need (urgently!) is stored.
- After you boot from the flash drive, you can view the “secret data”.
This is how you can get a practical answer on how to connect a laptop hard drive to a laptop. The basic techniques for gaining access to information stored on an external HDD have been reviewed in full. Good luck to you and all the best!
The desktop computer was outdated or out of order, but the hard drive with numerous files accumulated over many years, fortunately for its owner, remained working. There is a laptop available, which means there is no point in resorting to upgrading an old computer and “bringing it back to life.” Let's connect a hard drive to the laptop, which in computer parlance is the internal hard drive HDD, and transfer all the necessary information from it.
Visit a specialized computer equipment store, where, in consultation with the manager, decide on the choice of an adapter device that will help connect the hard drive to the laptop. If you do not have extra funds, then use the Internet to find where to buy an adapter in your region. Act economically and opt for a fairly cheap multifunctional adapter - a “SATA” cable in other words. When purchasing, make sure that the kit includes: two cords (a power adapter that connects to the electrical network and a USB cable), a disk with software, which will be needed if the laptop has an old operating system installed, instructions, and the adapter itself - such a nice little thing with connectors. For long-term use of a hard drive, purchase a modern USB 3.0 IDE to SATA adapter cable, which will easily allow you to connect the hard drive to a laptop in a matter of seconds. The kit also includes all the necessary cords and user instructions.
Choose an adapter seriously if you want to use your old hard drive as an external drive. Don't forget to take the hard drive with you when you go to a computer store to buy an adapter. The seller may suggest that you test the adapter in operation right there by selecting the appropriate cable.
User question...
Good afternoon.
Can you tell me how to transfer ~500 GB of information from a laptop disk to a computer hard drive? I tried copying to a flash drive, but it took a long time (especially since I have photos, and when transferring many small files, the speed drops).
How to connect a hard drive from a laptop to a computer at minimal cost, and is it possible? Or maybe there is an option to quickly transfer such a volume of files without connecting the drive directly to the PC?
Thank you in advance, the question is too big...
Hello.
There are two ways to connect a drive from a laptop to a PC:
- connect it directly to the SATA/IDE port of your computer and transfer your entire amount of information;
- buy a special BOX into which to insert a disk, and then connect this BOX to any USB port of a computer/other laptop.
In the article, further, I will consider in detail each of the options. By the way, so that speed is not lost when transferring many small files, you can (for example, in ZIP without compression (such an archive is created very quickly)), and then quickly copy the archive file to another disk (as a result, you will transfer one large file and the speed will be much higher).
How to remove a hard drive from a laptop
If you already have a hard drive in hand, you can skip this part of the article...
Perhaps this is the first thing the user encounters. For example, a laptop won’t turn on, but you urgently need to get data from the disk...
And there is one difficulty here. If earlier laptops always had a special cover on the back side for the hard drive and RAM, now not all laptops have it (new fashion trend...). As a result, in order to remove the hard drive from the laptop, you will have to completely disassemble it (which is a very difficult job for novice users. Many people act carelessly and tear thin wires - then they go to the workshop...).
- turn off the laptop;
- disconnect all wires from it: power, mouse, headphones, etc.;
- turn over;
- remove the battery (usually there are always two latches, see arrow-1 in the photo below);
- unscrew the screw and remove the protective cover (see arrow-2 in the photo below).
The hard drive, by the way, can be covered with a special mounting cover and you may not be able to see the typical type of drive (shown in the photo above).
In the photo below: arrow-1 - hard drive; arrow 2 - RAM.
Actually, all you have to do is unscrew the mounting screws and remove the hard drive itself. Everyone knows, of course, but I repeat once again: remove the disk carefully and slowly, often the contacts of the disk can “boil” if it is standing there, and no one has taken it out for several years. One accidental hit or drop of the disk - and your data can be lost forever!
Now that the drive has been removed, you can start connecting it...
Connecting a drive from a laptop directly to a PC
The easiest, free and fastest way to connect a drive from a laptop to a PC is to simply connect it to a SATA port (so that they are backward compatible and there should be no problems).
Small disclaimer...
There are several ports for connecting hard drives: IDE and SATA (IDE is already outdated). Therefore, if you have an old computer (or an old laptop), you may encounter an IDE port. Then things will become somewhat more complicated for you.
Without going into technical terms, I will say that the IDE port is wider than SATA - an example in the photo below.
In this case, to connect an old IDE drive to a new computer (or a new SATA drive to an old PC that only has an IDE port), you need a special adapter: SATA/IDE or IDE/SATA. They are not expensive and are available in almost every computer store (example below).
If your computer or laptop is quite new, then there should be a SATA port, which means there should be no problems with the connection. The easiest way, in my opinion (especially if you can’t find free ports), simply disconnect your CD-Rom drive and connect your laptop hard drive to these ports (see arrows 1, 2 in the photo below).
If you need to copy information from a disk once, then you don’t even have to pin it: turn on the computer and transfer everything you need. Next, disconnect the drive and return it to the laptop.
If you want to work with it constantly, then there are special slides that will help you secure a laptop hard drive (and they are smaller than computer drives: 2.5 inches versus 3.5) in the most common standard system unit (photo of the slide below).
Inserting the disc into the BOX and connecting to the USB port of a PC/other laptop
Another popular way to connect a laptop drive to a PC is to purchase a special container (called a BOX). Moreover, the benefit here is versatility: no matter what kind of drive you have (old IDE, new SATA, 2.5-inch drive from a laptop or 3.5-inch drive from a computer) - such containers are available for a wide variety of drives!
The idea is that you insert your hard drive into this container, assemble it, and then you can connect it to any device that has a USB port! Those. in essence, you get an external hard drive (which have become so popular lately).
Disassembling and assembling such a container takes 2-3 minutes: open the lid, insert a disk into it, and connect it to the USB port.
Advice!
By the way, the assembled BOX is almost indistinguishable from an external HDD (example in the photo below).
The assembled BOX is no different from an external hard drive
PS
By the way, another option for transferring information from a laptop HDD to a computer is to connect them into one local network , then share the files on your laptop and download them to your PC. However, this option has several important disadvantages:
That's all, good luck connecting!
Instructions
As an example, we will consider a standard SATA drive, since IDE drives are already leaving the modern technology market, although at the moment there are universal tools for connecting both types of drives. Connecting hard disk To laptop carried out via a USB container.
First of all, you need to open the container and insert the desired hard drive into it (do not forget about the different sizes of containers and media - 2.5 and 3.5). Then the container interface is connected to the hard drive, and then to the laptop computer. The presence of the new USB 3.0 interface will significantly increase the speed of file transfer between devices.
Depending on the type of container, make the appropriate power connection. Now you need to turn on the laptop itself or. After loading the operating system, the hard drive should be automatically detected and appear in Windows Explorer. If this does not happen, install special drivers from disk, which came with the container. In some cases, you need to connect to the Internet, for example, when the current driver is outdated and a new version has been released.
Sometimes you may encounter the following problem: after booting the system, the disk does not appear in Windows Explorer, but its icon is in the Device Manager applet. The solution to this problem is to change the priorities of the connected disk, because current disk () and external have one "Primary" option disk».
Reboot your laptop. While reading information about devices, press the Delete, F2 or other key, which activates the loading of the BIOS SETUP menu. Go to the Boot section, select the new media and check the box next to Secondary Master.
Press F10 to save settings and reboot computer. Once the Welcome screen appears, launch My Computer and wait for the new media to appear. Most likely, after installing it, the system will request another reboot. All that remains is to complete this action and use the additional free disk space.
A purchased new hard drive requires installation in a computer. This procedure involves mechanical work - screwing, connecting, installing drivers and formatting the disk.
You will need
- Connecting wires, screwdriver, driver disk
Instructions
Let's look at the model of the purchased hard drive and the connection method. On older models, you need to install a special switch (jumper) between the hard drive terminals so that the operating system understands which one needs to be accessed first. Modern Sata-connected hard drives do not require such manual configuration.
Video on the topic
note
Connecting the hard drive must be done with the computer completely turned off. After unplugging it, touch the computer case to remove static voltage.
Helpful advice
When choosing a driver source, insert the disk that came with your hard drive and specify the path to it. Drivers from the manufacturer may differ from the drivers available in the operating system. You can later update the drivers via the Internet.
Sources:
- Methods for installing a hard drive in a computer case in 2019
Usually new ones are hard disks connected in order to increase the capabilities of their PC, in particular, to increase the storage space for information. In order to connect an additional hard drive, it is not at all necessary to call a specialist - you can do it yourself.
You will need
- a new hard drive and a few simple work tools.
Instructions
Build a computer.
Video on the topic
note
It will be good if you put an antistatic bracelet on your wrist before working with the computer. Such bracelets are sold in electronics stores.
Helpful advice
Once you have installed the new female drive and checked that the PC is working well, you can format the old drive. This way, you will remove unnecessary data and free up space for storing new files.
Connecting a SATA drive involves mounting this drive into the case. But in the case of a laptop, it won’t be possible to mount it in a case. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternative connection paths. The connection operation will take no more than 10 minutes. If you know all the details, you can connect a hard drive much faster. You will learn about all the nuances of connecting this type of hard drive below.
You will need
- Set of SATA disk, USB container, laptop.
Instructions
The SATA cable has the same connectors. One connector leads to the motherboard, the second – directly to the hard drive. Incorrect connection of SATA drives is an impossible operation;
SATA drives do not have jumpers - the connection is very simple;
BIOS Setup will appear on the screen - go to the tab for selecting parameters of installed devices - view all available devices - HDD SATA should be among them.
When installing any operating system, additional drivers for your disk are required. However, some versions of operating systems are already equipped with such drivers.
After loading the operating system, some containers are automatically detected by the system. A message will appear on the screen indicating that a reboot is required. Click Yes. The next time the disk will be installed. Go to "My Computer" and make sure it appears.
Sources:
- laptop hard drive connectors
Tip 5: How to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop
It may happen that you someday need to connect a hard drive from a regular desktop computer to a laptop, for example, to transfer a large amount of information. Luckily, you'll already know how to do this.
Instructions
Purchase a special adapter () that allows you to transfer information from a regular hard drive via a USB connection. Modern adapters support both the transition from SATA to USB and from IDE to USB, while they can have small network adapters for additional power to the hard drive, and also support hard drives of 2.5 and 3.5 inch form factors.
After you have selected the adapter you need, connect it to the hard drive using the required connector. Accordingly, the IDE interface requires a wide connector, and the SATA interface requires a small plug.
Connect the USB connector coming from the adapter to the USB controller. In this case, the hard drive will work as a regular USB drive. If your adapter has an LED indicator, make sure it gives positive signals.
If you have a hard drive with a SATA interface, and the adapter provides power only for hard drives with an IDE interface (four thick pins), then purchase a special adapter from power for IDE to power for SATA, but in no case vice versa (it happens that in This adapter may not be included in the configuration). Make sure the IDE power connector on the adapter is a male connector and not a female connector.
Just in case, it would be best to additionally consult with a salesperson at a computer parts store. Tell him which hard drive you are going to connect to and which one you are going to connect to. He will definitely select the best option for your purposes and will probably give additional recommendations.
Video on the topic
Recently, in the assortment of computer products you can find various media: optical And, flash drives, memory cards and external hard drives disks. The latter, although not as miniature as memory cards or flash drives, are the most profitable acquisition in terms of price/volume ratio. Connect an external hard drive to laptop or the computer is easy.
You will need
- - computer.
Instructions
Open the packaging of the external hard drive and remove the media. Find the instructions for the device, as well as the cable connecting the hard drive to the computer. If you purchased a 3.5" form factor hard drive, then the package will contain, in addition to what is specified, a power adapter.
Connect the power adapter to the hard drive if it requires additional power supply - usually this is needed for hard drives with a 3.5" form factor. Connect the power adapter to a power outlet and the cable to the USB port. You can use any USB that is convenient for you.
Wait until the laptop detects the external media. Typically, the operating system beeps when any media is connected. If you have autorun from media active, an action selection window will appear. If not, then after installing the drivers (which happens automatically), the contents of the hard drive will be available to you through any file manager.
You should not connect unverified media to your computer without an antivirus program. Modern viruses use autorun from the device to copy themselves into the operating system. When you use your portable media for the first time, the viruses it contains are automatically launched and integrated into your computer's registry, so do not disable your antivirus software.
The word "hard drive" is often used to refer to a computer's hard drive. It may seem that this device received a second name after the name of its developer. However, this is not at all true.
What is another name for hard drives?
Hard drives have received a lot of different names, and hard drive is far from the only one among them. Thus, in old textbooks the abbreviation HDD appeared, which stood for “hard magnetic disk drive.” The price tags of computer stores contain another abbreviation - HDD (Hard Disc Drive). It is also used in computer memory. A shortened name is also possible - Hard Drive. But users still hear the word “hard drive”, as well as its derivatives - “screw” and “vinch”.
The true answer to the word "Winchester"
In fact, a Winchester was an American rifle used during the Wild West. This information will seem surprising to many, because a metal box with magnetic disks can hardly be compared in any way to a firearm.
The drive was called a hard drive thanks to the American company IBM, which released a hard drive in 1973. The company's specialists, who worked on similar products, created the 3340 model. It was the first to contain disk platters and read heads in a single housing. They did not touch each other thanks to a layer of incoming air flow formed during rapid rotation. While working on the device, engineers used the internal name - “30-30”. These figures indicated the presence of 30 sectors and tracks.
In those days, Winchester hunting rifles were produced in the USA. It was loaded with cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber. The markings of this cartridge were as follows: Winchester 30-30. The numbers contained in this marking coincided with the working name that was given to the hard drive. Continuing the analogy, engineers also began to call their development a hard drive.
As for the rifle itself, it was called Winchester model 94. At the same time, other companies also produced such weapons, in particular Remington. In most cases, the rifle was used when hunting large game. Then the US authorities limited the use of cartridges from these weapons for hunting purposes. As a result, the demand for guns fell sharply. Currently, it is purchased mainly by collectors.
In Europe and the USA, the word “hard drive” is no longer used in relation to a hard drive. In the language, the name remains semi-official, and in slang the words “vint”, “vinch” and even “broom” are usually used.
Video on the topic
Tip 8: How to connect another hard drive to your computer
The need to connect a second hard drive to your computer may arise if there is not enough free space to store files on a standard hard drive, or if you need to quickly transfer information from one device to another. This operation has its own characteristics.
How to connect a hard drive to a computer
You can connect another hard drive of any size and capacity to your computer, for example, a regular 3.5-inch, using a special Mobile Rack adapter. The connection is made via a USB cable, as well as a cable with a 220V adapter, which are sold in one set in computer stores. Simply insert the hard drive into the adapter, close it, and plug it into a power outlet and computer.
Most often, it is enough to connect a second hard drive to the computer, and it will be immediately detected by the system. However, in some cases, the device must be formatted first to update the file system. To do this, open the “My Computer” folder, right-click on the icon of the connected drive and select the “Format” action. Specify the NTFS file system in the window that appears, and also activate the “quick format” function.
How to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop
Try connecting the hard drive from your computer to your laptop using a special USB container, which can be purchased at one of the computer hardware stores. The device must be suitable for the hard drive format - 2.5 or 3.5. Open the container and insert the disc into it. Using the cables supplied with the container, connect the hard drive to the laptop and a 220V electrical outlet. The data transfer speed between media will depend on the type of interface - USB 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0. The new USB 3.0 interface will significantly increase the speed of file transfer between devices.
Turn on your laptop and boot into the operating system. If a new device does not appear in the “My Computer” folder, you need to complete connecting the hard drive to the laptop via BIOS. Restart your laptop and press the F2, Delete, or other key that launches the BIOS settings several times. In the Boot section, check Secondary Master, then save the settings and reboot. Please note that for your device to function properly, you may also need to update its driver through the Device Manager system service.
There are situations when it is necessary to transfer information stored on a hard drive. disk laptop to a desktop computer. Some difficulties may arise due to incompatible connectors. But they can be easily eliminated with the help of special adapters.
Instructions
Use an adapter to connect the hard drive to your PC. Why is this necessary? If yours is over 3 years old, then there is a risk that the hard drive may fail. To avoid complete loss of necessary information, you need to make a backup copy of it, which will be stored on your hard drive. disk your personal computer.
Buy an adapter at any computer store. Then to connect the hard drive laptop To the computer, connect the adapter with the wide side to the IDE cable of the motherboard of the desktop computer. Connect the hard drive connector to the narrow part of the adapter laptop. Before performing these manipulations, do not forget to turn off the power from the computer.
Power up your desktop computer after connecting the hard drive laptop to the computer. The new device will be detected during boot. Please note that you can transfer all the necessary data to the hard drive of your personal computer only after rebooting it again. It does not matter what version of Service Pack the operating system you are using is on. It will not be possible to avoid re-downloading.
Use a special HDD container if you don’t want to bother with adapters and if the process of transferring data from a hard drive laptop on PC will be repeated quite often. This container is connected to the computer using a USB cable. This imposes certain restrictions on the data transfer speed, but at the same time makes the process more convenient. The HDD container can be purchased at any computer store. There are several versions, among which there is a container, which itself is an adapter from the IDE motherboard of a desktop computer. Those. when using it, the data exchange speed does not suffer, as is the case with a USB container.
DVD players are gradually becoming a thing of the past, giving way to media players and TVs with a USB interface. Indeed, why accumulate piles disks at a time when you can keep all your movies on a hard drive connected to TV.
Instructions
A hard drive can be either an independent device with a cable for connecting to USB, or a component or. And if in the first case you do not need any additional devices to connect to, then in the second you will have to purchase an external enclosure for the hard drive. Such cases are sold in computer stores and fit any hard drive to a computer, TV, music center and other equipment.
If yours is not equipped with a USB interface, this does not mean that you cannot connect a hard drive to it. It is enough to purchase a media player to play multimedia files from any USB devices and use it as an adapter between hard and . Some
