Use my spare 40gb 2.5 hdd externally???[:)]

[heresjono]

I have a Fujitsu MHT2040AT 40GB 4200RPM Laptop Hard Drive, sitting spare (replaced in my PCG-K315M by a ), and i was wondering if it is possible to simply house it externally. My thoughts include ( assuming it is possible);

Do I need a housing with its own PSU, or a double headed usb/firewire cable?
Does it require any addition software/drivers?
If I simply format the drive (it contains my old C/D and Recovery partitions) will it function at a capacity close to the stated 40gb and can i expect decent performance?

Sorry for the barrage of Qs, but they all encompass the same matter.
Oh 1 more thing(sorry:smileymonkey:), in TuneUp2006(excellent btw, may i add) there is an option to activate UDMA66 transfer support increasing the transfer speeds, my HDs seem to support this, but is it a safe option, and will it make them (either int or ext.) work faster without compromising stability?
Thank-you all for your ongoing patience and quality of support.:smileymonkey::smileyhappy:

[kee-lo_]

Yeah you can get enclosures at http://www.expansys.co.uk - expect to pay around £40 ish

Have you made your recovery DVDs?

[heresjono]

Yeah, i made a set of recovery CDs with the original drive ( the now spare) and now a set off my new drive too (DVDs), and also the current drive has its own Recovery Partition too.

Do u know anything about this bit tho

 activate UDMA66 transfer support increasing the transfer speeds

(I wrote a reply about the STE too somewhere...)

[kee-lo_]

That's cool

No idea about the UDMA66, does it actually do what it says on the tin?

[heresjono]

Im not sure, not tried it yet cause i didnt understand it fully. It seems too good to be true, but it clearly states in TuneUp2006 that switching from 33 to 66 will increase transfer speeds...
Seems like something for nothing altho it does say " ...if your hd supports this..."
Ill give it a try and let u know, dunno wat benchmarks would indicate it tho

[waterside]

AFAIK, to use UDMA66 you need to have the right motherboard/BIOS/IDE driver/HDD and cable combination. If all these support the higher tranfer speed, you're onto a winner.

The cable for UDMA66 (and 100 for that matter) has 80 conductors rather than 40. The extra ones aren't more signal wires, they are in fact all grounded and help to prevent crosstalk at the higher data rate.

BTW, I believe the best place for a spare Fujitsu HDD is in the bin... Don't store anything on it you haven't got backed up elsewhere 🙂

[kee-lo_]

Yep back up regularly!

[heresjono]

BTW, I believe the best place for a spare Fujitsu HDD is in the bin... Don't store anything on it you haven't got backed up elsewhere 🙂

WOW!! was i suprised to read that! only being as it is the drive that originally shipped in my VAIO, it has since been replaced with a hitachi model. Although, i am now considering scrapping the fujitsu altogether anyway. Then housing the hitachi ext., and fitting a hitachi travelstar 7k100 int. (also considering a seagate momentum but they seen slightly slightly slower on read/write/search benchmarks n a tich more power thirsty, the price will prob decide tho)

[kee-lo_]

You want a drive with low tempretures, like in the 40s when high use, then you'll get better speed