Sergeant Premium Member Joined: Mar 13, 2005 Posts: 125 Location: Canada
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: External HDD setup on crashed HDD
My one computer won't boot to the OS so I was going to buy an external HDD kit to set it up and take the files I need off, then reinstall the OS to see if it's a software failure. Will I be able to use it as an external HDD if it has an OS? Will I have to format it before it can be an external HDD?
SRT Team Lead Premium Member Joined: Oct 28, 2004 Posts: 7329
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: External HDD setup on crashed HDD
Hi Hyuken,
Hyuken wrote:
Will I be able to use it as an external HDD if it has an OS?
Yes - the system you connect it to will boot normally from its own hard drive.
Hyuken wrote:
Will I have to format it before it can be an external HDD?
No - just pop it in to the external HDD enclosure and you should be able to read it like any other drive. In fact you can set some BIOSes up to allow you to boot from an external hard drive (assuming the operating system is properly installed).
I would be inclined to get your data off safely and then run the manufacturer's diagnostics on that drive. If it checks out OK then you can refit it to your system, reformat and reinstall the operating system.
If you need help with this then post the make and model of your hard drive (from the label on top) and we can sort that out with you. _________________ Never stop learning
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