i have a DELL INSPIRON N5010 hdd will i be able to move this pc hdd to a computer??

[Tarun123]

i have a DELL INSPIRON N5010 hdd will i be able to move this pc hdd to a computer?? will i need to buy an adpater because i dont mind please help first time build

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNLvACJbKaU

You won't be able to use the Windows installation that's already on the laptop hard drive. You have to reformat the drive then install Windows on it from scratch (unless you're only going to use it for storage and software installs).

 

[Tarun123]

My pc is broken so how can I reformat the hdd

 

[Paperdoc]

"Reformat" means that ALL the data on that old HDD will be lost permanently. So stop now and decide: do you want any of that information? Or, is it OK to destroy it all?

IF you are willing to destroy all the old data and use the HDD as if it were new and empty, it's not hard. Install the old HDD in your new machine normally. As you suspect, if it is a 2½" HDD from a laptop you will need a small adapter plate to fasten it into a desktop's 3½" drive space. But if it's a SATA HDD unit, the connectors should be the same and work OK.

Then you need to Install Windows fresh and any application software. Do NOT try to boot from that HDD. Put your Windows Install CD in your optical drive and set the BIOS to boot from that drive first, and the HDD unit second. When you boot into the Install routines, the first thing to do is to Delete any and all Partitions that exist on the old drive until it is all Unallocated Space. THEN you start the Install on this HDD. The process will Create a new Partition and Format it for you, then load Windows onto the drive..

 

[Tarun123]

Can I put the hdd into my dads computer and will my work still be on the hdd

 

[Paperdoc]

YES! You can mount and connect that HDD in another computer that is already working. As long as the HDD itself is OK, you will be able to see and access all its contents. As mentioned above, you MAY need an adapter or two for physical mounting and power supply.

 

[Tarun123]

What adapter should I buy

 

[Paperdoc]

This adapter kit:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817998226&cm_re=adapter_2%u00bd%22_drive_to_3%u00bd%22-_-17-998-226-_-Product

contains a metal bracket you use to mount a 2½" laptop-size HDD in a 3½" HDD slot in a desktop machine. Actually, it would allow you to mount two devices of that size (laptop HDD and SSD, for example) in one slot. It also contains 2 SATA data connector cables (to connect drive to mobo SATA port) and a Y-adapter that converts a standard SATA power output from the PSU into two such connectors.

IF your Dad's machine does not have an unused SATA power plug but DOES have an unused 4-pin Molex power output plug, you can use this adapter:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200061&cm_re=Adapter%2c_4-pin_Molex_to_SATA_power-_-12-200-061-_-Product

to convert Molex power to SATA power connector.