How to connect laptop hard drive to pc

[Itchel]

I have an old laptop hard drive which has data on it. I want to erase it. Is it easier to use a old laptop or is there a way to attach it to a modern desktop computer and run http://killdisk.com/?

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Do you know what sort of interface it uses? (IDE, SATA, ect?) A picture of the connector on the drive would be enough to tell by if you aren't certain.

If it's a SATA drive, you can pretty much hook it up just like any additional hard drive and the system will recognize it as an additional drive in windows explorer. If it's IDE, your best bet is to just buy a USB enclosure for $7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182143- it takes less then two minutes to install the drive and have it recognized just like any other external disk.

You could also go with an external enclosure if it's SATA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182140

Just remember USB is MUCH slower than an internal connection, so if you can hook it up using a SATA cable to your system, it'll probably save a lot of sitting around and waiting.

 

[Itchel]

The drive is an IDE. How about the http://www.microcenter.com/product/264555/u-Jam_25_Hard_Drive_Enclosure_USB-IDE ?

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Yeah, that'd work just fine too... really, any IDE to USB enclosure should work fine for your purpose. The mot expensive USB enclosure are intended mostly for people building permanent external storage drives. As long as it's 2.5" IDE, any model should work fine.

 

[Itchel]

Thanks. The external drive will be sitting on a desk most of the time. Thumb drives are almost as big now... it was just a way to wipe the disk, and now it is usable. Cool.

 

[Suraj Grewal]

melt the disk to destroy data or borrow friend's laptop to do the deed.