[SOLVED] Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures

andrewset · 09-16-2007, 06:24 PM

I'm confused about hard drive enclosures. I'm planning to make an external drive from my internal Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB. Its measurements are:
Length: 5.7"
Width: 4"
Height: 1"
Diagonal: 6.9"
Every enclosure I've seen states that it (the enclosure) can be used for either a 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive, (which I believe I found to refer to the width) including the 5.25" enclosures, which only mention that the 5.25" is useful when encasing CD/DVD burners. No mention of 4" hard drive support anywhere I've looked.

So does my hard drive count as a "3.5 inch" one, despite its measurements, (4 inch width) or else will it work if I put it in a 5.25" enclosure, even if the only size they seem to mention for hard drives are 2.5" and 3.5"?

It's just a normal desktop hard drive, but I'm confused by these lower measurements mentioned by enclosures.

Thank you

**TheMatt** · 09-16-2007, 09:27 PM

If it is a desktop hard drive then it will work in a 3.5" hard drive enclosure. Make sure you get one with the right internal interface.

andrewset · 09-16-2007, 09:56 PM

Oh, great, thanks:) I'll get a 3.5" SATA one, then.

andrewset · 09-16-2007, 10:45 PM

I wanted to spend as little as possible on the enclosure, and, after searching, I have my eye on a cheap $15 (total) one from eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5-USB-2-0-SATA...QQcmdZViewItem

I'm assuming it does the job, in which case I'd be happy with it. I just wanted to check here first, just in case there's anything I'm overlooking. Thanks!

And IF there's something wrong with it, this would be my second choice, but they look about the same to me in terms of quality:
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-Enclosur...QQcmdZViewItem

**TheMatt** · 09-17-2007, 12:17 PM

Those should do the job. Did you get either one?

andrewset · 09-18-2007, 12:20 AM

Yes, thank you. I got the first one, for $15:)

**TheMatt** · 09-18-2007, 09:02 AM

That is a good deal. Post back when you get it setup.

andrewset · 09-19-2007, 12:58 PM

I got it set up! It was so easy, even I could do it. I'm buying a second from the same guy, to take care of my other spare 200GB hard drive as well. Thanks for your help on this=) That initial 3.5"/4" stuff confused me at first ^_^

**TheMatt** · 09-19-2007, 05:16 PM

You're welcome.

Glad its working out well.

09-16-2007, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
andrewset Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 105 OS: Windows 7 32-bit	[SOLVED] Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures I'm confused about hard drive enclosures. I'm planning to make an external drive from my internal Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 250GB. Its measurements are: Length: 5.7" Width: 4" Height: 1" Diagonal: 6.9" Every enclosure I've seen states that it (the enclosure) can be used for either a 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive, (which I believe I found to refer to the width) including the 5.25" enclosures, which only mention that the 5.25" is useful when encasing CD/DVD burners. No mention of 4" hard drive support anywhere I've looked. So does my hard drive count as a "3.5 inch" one, despite its measurements, (4 inch width) or else will it work if I put it in a 5.25" enclosure, even if the only size they seem to mention for hard drives are 2.5" and 3.5"? It's just a normal desktop hard drive, but I'm confused by these lower measurements mentioned by enclosures. Thank you

09-16-2007, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,698 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures If it is a desktop hard drive then it will work in a 3.5" hard drive enclosure. Make sure you get one with the right internal interface. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [URL="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-16-2007, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
andrewset Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 105 OS: Windows 7 32-bit	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures Oh, great, thanks:) I'll get a 3.5" SATA one, then.

09-16-2007, 10:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
andrewset Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 105 OS: Windows 7 32-bit	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures I wanted to spend as little as possible on the enclosure, and, after searching, I have my eye on a cheap $15 (total) one from eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5-USB-2-0-SATA...QQcmdZViewItem I'm assuming it does the job, in which case I'd be happy with it. I just wanted to check here first, just in case there's anything I'm overlooking. Thanks! And IF there's something wrong with it, this would be my second choice, but they look about the same to me in terms of quality: http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-Enclosur...QQcmdZViewItem

09-17-2007, 12:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,698 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures Those should do the job. Did you get either one? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [URL="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-18-2007, 12:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
andrewset Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 105 OS: Windows 7 32-bit	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures Yes, thank you. I got the first one, for $15:)

09-18-2007, 09:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,698 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures That is a good deal. Post back when you get it setup. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [URL="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-19-2007, 12:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
andrewset Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 105 OS: Windows 7 32-bit	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures I got it set up! It was so easy, even I could do it. I'm buying a second from the same guy, to take care of my other spare 200GB hard drive as well. Thanks for your help on this=) That initial 3.5"/4" stuff confused me at first ^_^

09-19-2007, 05:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,698 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System	Re: Confused about Hard Drive Enclosures You're welcome. Glad its working out well. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [URL="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides