Hard Drive

[panard]

I have a machine with only one hard drive bay. Is there any way or product available to mount a 3.5" hard drive externally?

[TechJumper]

I am sure there are many options available, but could you please expand on your query?

Mike

[NDC]

I've had a problem like that a long time ago. What I did was make a hard disk bay because there was just enough space to make one. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif But if there is no way you can do this, there are numerous ways actually. Just get an external HDD case that is either Parallel Port Interface, USB, or SCSI. But stay away from Parallel Port Interface, they are waaaaay to slow! As for USB, you will be able to use it at tolerable speeds for saving data, but just don't run your OS off of it. It will be a big bottle-neck! As for External SCSI HDD case, there would be no loss of performance whatsoever, but the price for the SCSI HDD is gonna cost you too much.

My suggestion would be to just buy a new PC case that has at least 3 HDD bays to expand since it's going to cost about the same as buying an external HDD case to use an additional HDD.

[MrYozo]

Hi Panard and everybody. First of all, I've to express my desagree with all manufacturers that produce products like your computer (only a 3'5 bay, wow!!!,it seem an incredible record). By other way, I suposed that you mean a little computer, a mobile one or something like that. The answer to your question its simply: yes, it exists external devices like hard drives, cdroms and other that will connect to the computer using parallel port. That solves are a lot expensive and extremely slowly if you compare it with his direct connection to a IDE switch. So, in case that you want to connect them to a mobile computer, that will be the right way instead of to buy a special unit for it. In other case, there are a lot of chances to get an extra bay into a standard AT or ATX case:
1st.)Buy another case and change you old one (that will be some difficult if you haven't any idea on how to).
2nd) Be sure that your case haven't another 3'5 bay below the power supply (there are some simply cases that have that configuration of bays).
3rd.)Buy an 5'25 to 3'5 bay adaptor. There is a set of plastic pieces that allow you to put a 3'5 drive into a 5'25 bay).
4th) Be you own producer: Do it yourself. Buy four metal & holed plates ( like mecano ones ) and make a extension of your 3'5 bays by placing it using your unic 3'5 bay holes. By that way, if you've some free space behind that bay, you could have more than two or three more drives. Simply, uh?
5th)Try on buy a extension of metal inner case: most of atx cases uses a modular structure that you can proffit on your own case, if you can stitch it on.
Well, as you see, there are some ways, try what you can...Bye & Good Luck....

[Axel]

I most enjoy Mr Yozo's buy another case idea -

Or better yet - save your money until January - then build a new system from the ground up - don't waste time and money trying to keep ye olde one drive bay system going when it's much more fun and educational to build a new one.

[otheos]

I presume you don't have a 5 1/4 bay empty either, and no space in your case for a hand made bay. In this case.....get rid of your floppy
Whenever you need it (once every 3 months or so) just open the case, plug it in for the 5 minutes you may need it and that's it. Still a desperate measure but I think it's the way to go.

Other idea:

Put the second hard drive outside your case!! Just make sure the cables will be long enough. Since hard drives can be mounted in any position you can improvise and put it wherever you want. (make sure the body of the drive touches the case for grounding). Try the rear if you don't want it to be visible from the front.

Even better: do the above with your floppy istead of your hard drive. Floppy cables are longer anyway, so you will also be benefitted by not having all this excess cable in your case. Yeap, that's what I'd do.

Good luck.