Using Old Hard Drive as a third data drive on new computer?

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tallen234

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Ok,i've seen this question posted quite a bit and it typically leads to a complicated answer that Ok,i've seen this question posted quite a bit and it typically leads to a complicated answer that leads me to not want to try it....but my circumstances are slightly different.

My current computer (8 year old Dell XPS running Windows 10) is getting long in the tooth. In the next few weeks I plan to buy an Alienware Aurora (from Dell) with all the bells and whistles including a SSD and a 7200 2TB drive included.

On my old computer Windows 10 is installed on a SSD as a boot drive and I have a large HD where I have most of my programs and data. I do not care about any of the programs on my old computer (I can reinstall the ones that I care about), but I would like to keep the data (pictures, documents, music files, etc.). I was just thinking about installing the hard drive into the new build as a third drive or buying an external hard drive to transfer the files to. What would be the easiest solution?

Thanks!
 
Solution
Kisianik


No problem, next time when posting please provide basic info, helps a lot.

Back to your issue.

Your motherboard has 4 SATA connectors and no IDE, plus you mention WD RED (I have 3 or 4 like this, very good choice for cheap, LOL, I have WD Gold as well)

Dell-Studio-XPS-435T-9000-System-Motherboard-6CNNM.jpg


Anyway, you ordered Aurora with SSD and one regular hard drive, correct?
Aurora...
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delaro

delaro

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Turn on the PC, set it up and allow it to fully update.
Turn off PC
Install drive
Transfer what you want to save to somewhere else then format and your good to go, yeah it's going to be slower than the new ones but it's still usable. I'm still using a WD Black that is 10 years old, it's gone through 3 complete system rebuilds and will probably go through 3 more.
 
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mgallo848

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It's possible your 8yr old hard drive is an IDE drive and not sata. If it's an IDE drive it most likely won't be able to plug into the new system.

I would but a 1tb external HDD. They are fairly cheap nowadays and it doesn't hurt to have a backup of your personal things. Back then, HDD had an avg life expectancy of about 5yrs so using that old HDD as a backup is probably not a good idea.
 
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delaro

delaro

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I think the last XPS units to use IDE were the 420's around 2007-2009 and using LGA775. That port was reserved for the Floppy or Optical while the two SATA ports were for Storage and sometimes DVD. If it's 8 years old then LGA1156 and it wouldn't even have a IDE interface. As far as drive life, you couldn't be more wrong ATA drives can last 30+ years, in fact, I can show you a college and a DAM that still run HAVAC systems off an old 386 PC.
 
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mgallo848

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I still own old 80gb hard drives from 2002 ish that still work but that doesn't change the fact that consumer grade HDD's from 10 years ago had an avg life expectancy of 5 years.

Here's a study using 25,000 hard drives to complete this test. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2062254/25-000-drive-study-shines-a-light-on-how-long-hard-drives-actually-last.html
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Enough guesses.

If OP wants some help, OP MUST post XPS model number, then we would know what HDD he has IDE or SATA.
Aurora has 4 HDD bays, so if it is SATA, nothing to worry, just move DATA drive from one PC to another, if IDE, OP would have to buy either internal or external IDE to SATA adapter.

If OP is not going to post, we can not guess anything else.
 
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tallen234

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Hey guys,

I just checked in. SOrry for the delay. I have a XPS 435T/9000 (with a 2.67 gigahertz Intel Core i7 920). I installed a WD Red 3TB NAS Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD30EFRX about 5 years ago. This is the drive that has most of my data.
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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No problem, next time when posting please provide basic info, helps a lot.

Back to your issue.

Your motherboard has 4 SATA connectors and no IDE, plus you mention WD RED (I have 3 or 4 like this, very good choice for cheap, LOL, I have WD Gold as well)

Dell-Studio-XPS-435T-9000-System-Motherboard-6CNNM.jpg


Anyway, you ordered Aurora with SSD and one regular hard drive, correct?
Aurora has, as I mentioned above, 4 hard drive slots, and quick look at Aurora R 5 (previous generation)
motherboard confirms that you have 4 SATA ports on motherboard

s-l1000.jpg


You would need SATA cables from XPS. Insert your RED drive into Aurora empty hard drive slot, use your old cable to connect to motherboard, I presume Aurora PSU should have extra power connectors, this is it.

You done.

Anything else I can help you with?
 
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tallen234

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Thank you. So, for my situation, it is "plug and play" because I am not trying to migrate windows or programs.

(on the plus side, I should be able to get 6 Gb/s now!)





 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Yes, you just insert your RED HDD into Aurora case hard drive slot, attach SATA cable and power cable and you are done.
Regarding HDD speed, yes, it will be faster, but not as fast as (probably, I don't know what HDD Dell will insert for you) Dell HDD, because RED has slow 5,400RPM speed (but, it will outlast Dell supplied HDD).

Good Luck with Alienware.

 
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tallen234

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I'm not sure if I should start a new thread or not. However, I just realized that the new computer only has one 3.5" HD Bay that will be taken up by the new hard drive. So here are my options (and I am not sure if #1 is possible)

1. Is there a way to temporarily plug it in through a a sata cable and power cable and leave the old hard drive on the floor of the new computer (or on the desk) in order to transfer the files to the new computer.

2. Or should I use a large USB flash drive to transfer files a bit at a time?

3. Or should I try to network the computers and transfer through file sharing.

4. OR, should I install my new hard drive in the old computer and transfer the files to the new drive.

5. Or buy an external hard drive.....

I have about 500-750 GB of data to transfer.

Thanks!

 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Please drop here a link to your model. Or at least to Dell configuration page (if such exists).
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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You have chosen 3.5 or 2.5 hard drive?

Since you are asking this question I presume you ordered 3.5 HDD.

I found something very interesting, but it will require purchasing parts on eBay - substituting 2.5 HDD mounnts for 3.5 ones.
This solution will work, if we can find that part, only if you have only 1 video card installed in Aurora and you are not planing to install the second one.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/exchange-the-2-5-casings-in-the-bottom-of-the-R5-for-two-3-5/td-p/5624718

Let me know about number of GPUs you have and which HDD you actually ordered to install in Aurora, 2.5 or 3.5.

Edit. Do you have Aurora already, or it is still in the mail?
Where SSD is installed?
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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If SSD installed into 3.5 slot, exchanging 2.5 bay (I strongly suspect that Aurora R5 parts are the same as R7, as Dell is trying to same money by keeping parts the same) to 3.5 would be possible.

I don't want to guess anymore, and I am sorry for previous miss.

Now one thing at the time.

You always can get external enclosure for old hard drive if you prefer this solution.
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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You welcome.

I would not advise you about external enclosure, I was searching for something like this for myself and present material quality is far from the past.
I would strongly advise to select something simple, without fan, and have household small fan outside for cooling.

I am using Thermltake 80mm USB fan for my external hard drives https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Mobile-Adjustable-External-Cooling/dp/B00080G0BK I have 2 of those and both working very good for the past 2 - 5 years.
 
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