- 1). Purchase a hard drive enclosure that matches the specifications for your old laptop drive. If you haven't removed it from the computer yet, you can find the details by clicking "Start," right-clicking "My Computer," selecting "Properties," then clicking "Device Manager." Look for an entry that says "controllers" and click next to it to expand the category. There are two types of hard drives used in laptops today: IDE and SATA. Find which controller is present on your computer; that is the type of drive enclosure you should buy. If the drive is already removed from the laptop, read the label to determine the type (or take it to the electronics store where you plan to purchase the enclosure).
- 2). Remove the old hard drive from your laptop, if you haven't already done so. Power off the laptop and unplug the power cord from the machine. Find the access panel for the hard drive and open it. Disconnect the power and data cables from the drive. Install your new drive by attaching the power and data cables and closing the access panel. You will need your computer's restore disks to reinstall your operating system and programs.
- 3). Install the old drive in the enclosure. Use the screws provided with the enclosure to secure the drive in place. Attach the power and data cables to the back of the drive and close the case of the enclosure. Depending on the power requirements of your drive, you may be able to run it from a USB cable connection or you may need to plug it into a separate power source. Follow the instructions included with the enclosure.
- 4). Plug the enclosure into your computer. Check to make sure all your data is still intact. If you wish, you can use it as a backup in the current state, or you can format the drive for other uses. To format the drive, first back up any data you wish to keep, then click "Start" and "My Computer," then find the new drive icon for your new external drive. Right-click the drive icon and select "Format," then click "OK" to begin formatting. This erases all data on the drive.
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