External HDD to Internal HDD – Help

Hi there guys, I currently have 3 TB of informarion (valuable one) in 3 different external hard drives. I’m thinking about putting them to good use and using them for a good media server for my house but they are all external and I fear that might not be very handy for the computer I will use as a server… Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to take out the hard drive from its external casing and use it as a normal internal HDD? I’ve googled around but results didn’t seem as specific as I wanted them to be…
If it is then I’ll also need some guidance on how to do it, here are my 3 HDDs:
1 – 1TB WD elements, looks like this:
2 – Another 1TB WD elements, looks like this:

3 – 1TB Imation Apollo UX, ook like this:

Thanks a lot
BTW, I’m considering assembling a server with freeNAS, ownCloud and a media streming server like Plex, XBMC or KooRaRoo Media server (like this one for the UPnP external subs support), so if you’d care to comment on that…
Answer #1
Yes you can. I did it on a few of my external hard drive lol.
You just open it up and unscrew all the screw. Then unplug the hard drive wire/board.
What your left with is an regular hard drive.
Answer #2
Cool, so it’s pretty much standard for all kinds of drives, right? Just have to worry not to damage the drive while removing the box.
Answer #3
Yes you can – with most, but NOT all. *-EDIT – some Western Digitals
The external cases just clip together, no glue – some use screws but not many. You will not damage the cases unless you use a hammer and chisel – just try not to be too hard as you may want to put drives back in them at some point
The Imation will be easy, and will just fit internally.
Some WD externals are weird when you take them apart – be careful and Google them first, they have weird ways of soldering on connections.
Just wondering why you don’t keep them as a backup if it’s important data – just copy to fresh internal drives, and store the externals safe/dry etc.
Use a small piece of flat, semi-flexible plastic to prize the cases open and maybe a small screwdriver to just push the internal clips as you do it. I’ve done it thousands of times, and quite often do it the other way around – we got a pallet load of Seagate Free Agent USB 3,0 externals empties at an auction dirt cheap
Answer #4
Regarding WDs, there are YouTube tutorials on how to open those, but yep, they can be real ~ censored ~ to open.
Answer #5
Regarding WDs, there are YouTube tutorials on how to open those, but yep, they can be real ~censored~ to open.
Opening them is not the issue – it’s the connections inside are sometimes different so you can’t plug a SATA cable on it as the USB port is soldered direct onto a board, and have no SATA plug.
Answer #6
I think the WD Elements should be OK…..But their portable (2.5″) Passports that have no external power supply are the ones that now have no Sata connection..
Answer #7
Regarding WDs, there are YouTube tutorials on how to open those, but yep, they can be real ~censored~ to open.
Opening them is not the issue - it's the connections inside are sometimes different so you can't plug a SATA cable on it as the USB port is soldered direct onto a board, and have no SATA plug.I think the WD Elements should be OK.....But their portable (2.5") Passports that have no external power supply are the ones that now have no Sata connection..
Oh, I see… But I don’t think that’s an issue since all of my external HDDs have a power connection and a USB connection? What do you reccon? Should I go for it? As far as I understood I’m good to go on the Imation and the first WD but some of you seemed unsure about the answer on the second WD…
Answer #8
The 2nd one should be OK…Just take the screws out and have a look at it..
Only thing is if they were under warrantee as you would loose that.
Answer #9
The 2nd one should be OK...Just take the screws out and have a look at it..
Only thing is if they were under warrantee as you would loose that.
Yes yes, I know that, I’m only doing this because the warranty is long gone.
Answer #10
there are probably many who have wondered about this …. so this is gud stuff …
remember to let us know how you go ,
Answer #11
warrantee
Is this some sort of new Australian thing?
Some of the WD external drives have a kind of inner cage once you have the outer casing undone, this is like trying to remove some kind of medieval chastity belt, but done carefully and without dropping the drive won’t cause any damage.
Answer #12
there are probably many who have wondered about this .... so this is gud stuff ...
remember to let us know how you go ,
I will, definitely.
wrote: Select allwarrantee
Is this some sort of new Australian thing? Some of the WD external drives have a kind of inner cage once you have the outer casing undone, this is like trying to remove some kind of medieval chastity belt, but done carefully and without dropping the drive won't cause any damage.
Lol, I’m afraid it’s just an ignorance thing (or better said, misspelling).