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Can I use the HDD from my laptop in a self-built PC? (self.buildapc)

submitted 7 months ago by berryjam to c/buildapc

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Laptop battery recently died, and I'm planning a new PC build anyway, so I'm wondering: can I just remove the HDD from my laptop and connect it to the motherboard? Would I need any extra parts or hardware? I'm guessing no, but it's hard to research on my phone. Any guidance is appreciated :) thanks!

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[–] CheddahBiscuit 13 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Laptops use a 2.5 inch HDD, most desktop cases are designed to hold a 3.5 inch HDD. You may need a special bracket to hold the drive if the case you plan to use only has 3.5 inch bays.

Some modern cases do also include a 2.5 inch mounting spot due to SSDs using a 2.5 inch form factor.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 7 months ago (4 children)

You'd be surprised how many of us just have the drive dangling in there freely because fuck it.

[–] evidences 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

With a spinning drive you really don't want to do that, head crashes are a real thing and will kill a drive. With an SSD fuck it just yeet the drive into the case.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

This is true. Spinning platter just dangling could end up getting fucked if it smacks against itself. Like tilting a 360 while running a game would scratch up the disc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

I did this in a very similar case to OP once. Worked without issues. 2.5" HDDs are so tiny and usually low RPM that it doesn't really matter that much. But there's also a bunch of cheap solutions you can use, like rubber bands or even just some foam to lay it on (did that with 3.5" HDDs).

[–] berryjam 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Both these comments are super helpful ❤️ I might just let it dangle until I can copy off my data lol

[–] taiyang 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If you're just copying data, just make it external. The usb housing for those things are pretty cheap and can be useful in the future.

[–] berryjam 2 points 7 months ago

Oh that's a good idea, I'll look into it !

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

I have 5 hard drives in my case which has room for three. And I've never had an issue.

[–] Psaldorn 4 points 7 months ago

Or double sided tape in a pinch

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If you were really lazy, you could also just cover the bottom circuit board of the drive with some electrical tape and just balance it on the jungle of wires running throughout the case.

Not that I would have any experience doing that...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

You don't even need to do that. Unless you're pressing and rubbing the board against the chassis, any minor air gap and natural oxidation layer on each side is going to be more than enough for what's probably only 5 V tops.