Converting internal SATA to external drive?

[sticks435]

I just picked up a new 750GB Western Digital Black, and was going to use my existing 500GB Blue drive to replace my USB 2.0 Maxtor External Drive. What's the best way to go about this? The current external drive pretty much never gets disconnected, so would it be easier to just connect both of the HDD's as internal?

I plan on using the 500GB drive for large file storage/streaming, such as MP3's, video's, and backups/images. Would it be safer to have it as an external drive, as far as data corruption/system issues go? If so, how would I convert it? My case/mobo doesn't have eSATA connectors. Is it possible to enable ACHI and hotswap an internal drive?

 

[Gillbot]

If you never disconnect it, just use it internally. Otherwise, hop on newegg and grab a 3.5" Sata-USB case and pop it in there.

 

[sticks435]

Yea, I think I've disconnected it once in the last 4 or 5 years, and that was because I got a new work laptop, and copied everything to it before they wiped the laptop. Good thing too, becaues they couldn't recover my data from the online backup we use.

On another note, my new laptop does have eSATA, so is there anything special I would need to do if I wanted to use my new HHD with it?