| Hard Drive Caddy's (sometimes also referred to as | | | | of an old PC. When you are using a salvaged Hard |
| HDD cases or enclosures) are growing in popularity all | | | | Disk Drive then if you are using an IDE, ATA or PATA |
| the time. Not surprising really given how easy they are | | | | Hard Disk Drives then you need to make sure that the |
| to use and the relatively low cost of the caddies. | | | | jumper settings on the hard disk drive are set to |
| Hard drive enclosures tend to be used in two different | | | | "master" and not "cable select" or "slave". If you don't |
| situations: | | | | get the jumper settings correct then the caddy won't |
| 1. To recover data from a salvaged hard drive and | | | | be recognised when connected to the PC. |
| then to reuse the hard drive in the caddy to create a | | | | Whilst you might expect the hard disk drives to be set |
| back up solution. | | | | to "master" as by default its not always the case so |
| 2. Used in conjunction with a new hard disk drive you | | | | its definitely worth checking the disk before you use a |
| can create your own back up solution cheaper than | | | | caddy. If you need to change the jumper settings it's |
| you would by buying a "packaged" solution from some | | | | easy to do and only takes a few seconds. Most Hard |
| of the leading brands. | | | | Disk Drive manufactures will have put a self |
| If you've bought a new PC then you must either | | | | explanatory label on top of the hard drive showing |
| ensure the hard disk drive in your old PC is removed | | | | how the jumper needs to be set up to create the |
| and destroyed before you take it to a re-cycling | | | | "master" "slave" and "cable select" options. |
| centre or alternatively take it out, pop it into a caddy, | | | | Jumpers are just metal pins that have small black |
| format the disk and create yourself a handy and | | | | plastic sleeves that slot on them. |
| inexpensive back up solution. Whilst the hard disk | | | | Hard disk drive caddy's usually connect to your PC via |
| you've salvaged might only be small in comparison to | | | | a USB cable but there are options available that also |
| your new PC a salvaged 120GB hard disk drive will | | | | support Firewire and e-SATA. For most USB 2.0 is all |
| hold up to 30,000 songs, 150 hours of video, or 25,000 | | | | that's needed not least because you'll pay a premium |
| photos. Given you've got to remove the hard drive | | | | for a caddy with a range of connection options. |
| anyway it seems a real shame not to make use of it! | | | | When the caddy is connected to your PC via a USB |
| If you do use an enclosure with a new hard disk then | | | | cable it works in pretty much the same way that a |
| you could install say a 1.5TB hard disk into the caddy | | | | USB flash drive works – a new drive letter is |
| thus making yourself an inexpensive back up monster. | | | | dynamically created and you can then copy, save, |
| For many the true benefit of a HDD caddy is that it | | | | drag and drop data to the hard disk drive. |
| enables you recover data from a hard disk taken out | | | | |