Using a Full Sized HDD in a Laptop
by Bray in Circuits > Computers
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Using a Full Sized HDD in a Laptop
In brief: How to wire a regular full sized desktop hard drive up to work with your laptop.
I have had a bunch of times when you need to use a hard drive designed for a Laptop in a desktop system, say for formatting, or copying massive amounts of files. Laptop drives are by spec. 2.5inch wide, while desktop drives are 3.5 inch wide. This isn't a problem for the average user because we have these nice 3.5 to 2.5inch adapters, however what if you wanted to put a full scale drive into a laptop? You're screwed. Of course, in most cases you couldn't even fit the full drive into the laptop just due to it's actual size, not just the different adapter.
But why do this, it's going to be so ugly! Easy... because I have a pile of 3.5 inch drives, and all my 2.5 inch drives are dead. I personally don't care how it looks, assuming it works.
The pinout between a 40 pin ide (standard) and 44 pin ide (for laptops) are identical except for the last 2 columns on the connector:
pin 41 +5v (Logic)
pin 42 +5V (Motor)
pin 43 Ground (Return)
pin 44 TYPE- (0=ATA)
These actually won't be used to power a standard sized drive due to the increased voltage needed over a 2.5" drive, plus 3.5" drives typically require +12v as well. We will just be ignoring these extra pins, and taking power from somewhere else.
I have had a bunch of times when you need to use a hard drive designed for a Laptop in a desktop system, say for formatting, or copying massive amounts of files. Laptop drives are by spec. 2.5inch wide, while desktop drives are 3.5 inch wide. This isn't a problem for the average user because we have these nice 3.5 to 2.5inch adapters, however what if you wanted to put a full scale drive into a laptop? You're screwed. Of course, in most cases you couldn't even fit the full drive into the laptop just due to it's actual size, not just the different adapter.
But why do this, it's going to be so ugly! Easy... because I have a pile of 3.5 inch drives, and all my 2.5 inch drives are dead. I personally don't care how it looks, assuming it works.
The pinout between a 40 pin ide (standard) and 44 pin ide (for laptops) are identical except for the last 2 columns on the connector:
pin 41 +5v (Logic)
pin 42 +5V (Motor)
pin 43 Ground (Return)
pin 44 TYPE- (0=ATA)
These actually won't be used to power a standard sized drive due to the increased voltage needed over a 2.5" drive, plus 3.5" drives typically require +12v as well. We will just be ignoring these extra pins, and taking power from somewhere else.
Making the PCB
I had a really basic PCB layout I made in Eagle, but my laser printer ran out of toner, so I ended up having to hand draw out all 80 traces with a sharpie. The 2.5" interface was pulled off of a dead 2.5" disk, this just squeezes over the PCB I burned.
As I recall, the first 20 columns of pins are exactly like the full sized cable, the last two are for the +5v dc for the "fun-sized" drive. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the +12v dc which fill size drives need, only +5v dc. I made solder points for them, but the weren't actually used.
As I recall, the first 20 columns of pins are exactly like the full sized cable, the last two are for the +5v dc for the "fun-sized" drive. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the +12v dc which fill size drives need, only +5v dc. I made solder points for them, but the weren't actually used.
Power and Wiring
I butchered a power splitter and put a longer cable in between the ends, so now I use another system to power the drive. Horribly inconvenient, maybe. Horribly effective, you bet.
Smoke Test
After crossing my fingers, I turned both the laptop and the PC I was leaching power from.
Hey, my Linux booted! Time to go root you hoes.
Hope you enjoyed reading my instructable!
Hey, my Linux booted! Time to go root you hoes.
Hope you enjoyed reading my instructable!