In order to expand the storage on your desktop computer, you may want to consider adding a laptop hard drive. This process is fairly simple and can be done in a few minutes with the right tools.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps necessary for how to hook up laptop hard drive to desktop.
Keep in mind that there are many different ways to do this, so be sure to consult your desktop’s manual if you have any questions. With that said, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Methods
The first thing you’ll need to do is gather the required materials. For this project, you’ll need a laptop hard drive, a desktop computer, and a Phillips head screwdriver.
Once you have all of these items, you’re ready to get started.
Next, locate the spot on your desktop where you want to install the hard drive. This will vary depending on the make and model of your computer, but it is typically located on the back panel.
Once you have found the correct spot, remove the screws that are holding the cover in place.
After the cover is removed, locate the hard drive bay. This is where you will install the laptop hard drive. Again, the exact location of the bay will vary depending on your computer, but it is typically located near the top of the case.
Once you have found the hard drive bay, insert the laptop hard drive into it. Make sure that the connectors on the drive are facing the correct way so that you can connect them to the motherboard.
How To Hook Up Laptop Hard Drive To Desktop?
If you’re looking to increase the storage capacity of your desktop computer, or you simply want to repurpose an old laptop hard drive, connecting it to your desktop is a relatively simple process.
In order to do this, you will need an external hard drive enclosure into which you can insert the laptop hard drive. Then, you can connect the enclosure to your desktop computer via USB.
Before you begin, it’s important to note that you will need to format the laptop hard drive before it can be used with your desktop computer.
This is because different operating systems use different file formats, and the files on a laptop hard drive are likely formatted for a Windows operating system.
As such, you will need to format the drive for use with your desktop’s operating system. For more information on how to do this, see our article on How to Format a Drive in Windows.
Once you have everything you need, follow the instructions below to hook up your laptop hard drive to your desktop computer.
1. Turn off your desktop computer and unplug all of the cables from the back.
2. Find an available USB port on your desktop computer and insert the USB cable for the hard drive enclosure into it.
3. Open the hard drive enclosure and insert the laptop hard drive. Make sure that the hard drive is properly secured inside the enclosure.
4. Close the hard drive enclosure and plug the power cable into it.
5. Plug the USB cable from the hard drive enclosure into your desktop computer.
6. Turn on your desktop computer and wait for it to boot up.
7. Once your desktop computer is up and running, open File Explorer and look for the hard drive. It should be listed under This PC.
8. Right-click on the hard drive and select Format.
9. Choose a file format for the hard drive and click Start.
10. Wait for the formatting process to complete and then you can start using the hard drive with your desktop computer.
Things That Could Go Wrong And How To Fix Them:
- Your laptop’s hard drive might not be compatible with your desktop’s motherboard. In this case, you’ll need to purchase an adapter or a new hard drive.
- If you’re using an older laptop, its hard drive might not have the correct connector. In this case, you’ll need to buy an adapter.
- You might not have enough space on your desktop’s hard drive to accommodate your laptop’s hard drive. In this case, you’ll need to either delete some files from your desktop or purchase a larger hard drive.
- Your laptop’s hard drive might be password protected. In this case, you’ll need to remove the password before you can use the hard drive on your desktop.
How To Back Up Your Computer Before Starting?
If you’re planning on transferring your laptop’s hard drive to your desktop, it’s important to back up all of your data first. This way, you can be sure that none of your files will be lost during the transfer process.
There are a few different ways to backup your data, so choose the method that works best for you.
One way to backup your data is to use an external hard drive. Simply connect your external hard drive to your laptop and copy all of your files onto it.
Once everything is backed up, disconnect the hard drive and connect it to your desktop. You can then transfer the files from the external hard drive to your desktop’s hard drive.
Another way to backup your data is to use cloud storage. There are many different cloud storage services available, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud.
Simply upload all of your files to your chosen service and then download them onto your desktop’s hard drive.
Once you have backed-up all of your data, you’re ready to start transferring your laptop’s hard drive to your desktop. Follow the instructions below to get started.
Read More: How To Remove Stripped Screw From Laptop Motherboard?
Instructions:
1. Shut down your laptop and unplug it from any power source.
2. Remove the battery (if possible).
3. Find the hard drive compartment on your laptop. This will likely be located underneath the laptop.
4. Carefully remove the hard drive from the compartment and disconnect it from any cables that are attached to it.
5. Find an available SATA port on your desktop’s motherboard.
6. Connect the hard drive to the SATA port using a SATA cable.
7. Secure the hard drive in place by screwing it into the chassis (if possible).
8. Replace the battery (if applicable) and reattach any cables that were disconnected earlier.
9. Plug your laptop into a power source and turn it on.
10. Follow the prompts to boot into your operating system. You should now have access to all of the files on your laptop’s hard drive.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Our step-by-step guide on how to hook up laptop hard drive to desktop. If you follow these simple instructions, you should be able to get your old laptop’s data transferred over without any trouble at all.
FAQs
Q 1. Can you plug a laptop hard drive into a desktop?
A. Yes, you can plug a laptop hard drive into a desktop computer. However, you will need to have an available SATA port on your motherboard and you will need to use a SATA cable to connect the two devices.
Q 2. How do I connect my laptop hard drive to my desktop via USB?
A. In order to connect your laptop hard drive to your desktop via USB, you will need to purchase a USB-to-SATA adapter. Once you have the adapter, simply connect the hard drive to the adapter and then connect the adapter to an available USB port on your desktop.
