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!

  • CheddahBiscuit@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    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.

      • evidences@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        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.

      • DarkThoughts@fedia.io
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        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@lemmy.worldOP
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        7 months ago

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

        • taiyang@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          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.

    • Nawor3565@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      7 months ago

      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…

      • catloaf@lemm.ee
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        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.