EggXpert

I am installing a new hard drive in my HTPC. New Windows install etc. There is only room in the case for one drive. I am having great difficulty backing up the files I need from the old drive. Nero's burn process repeatedly fails. Is there a way to transfer from old drive to new without burning to disk?

This external unit plugs in via usb and you plug a sata drive into it then you can copy your stuff over to it.

Or you can get a standard enclosure for a bit less and just install the old drive into it and off you go.

Do I have to buy stuff? Can I just plug the old one into the MOBO?

Uh well yeah but you won't be able to mount the drive in the case you'll just have to let it lie on the floor or just hang in the case. Not my idea of a good thing but if you are cheap and all guess that's what you can do.

jrk373:

Do I have to buy stuff? Can I just plug the old one into the MOBO?

sometimes you cannot.  I'm working on a box right now [for myself for a change] and the new PSU designed for small form format is from a dell, and it has ONE 4-pin molex connector...that's right one.  the optical drive was a slim-hight laptop style and powered with a floppy connection.  y-cable on order.....should get it today I hope.

point is you need to check that you have a power connector for 2 HDs and an IDE cable with 3 connectors [one for mobo and two for HD's, though if you won't need the optical drive during this, you can use those power/data connections,] as sometimes the MFRs like to save a buck and do not give you what you won't "need."

Tallon41