Hard Drive Cage Missing -- Now What?

1624 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by the_beast, Nov 25, 2009

STDSkillz

Discussion Starter · Nov 24, 2009

Hello fellow OCNers,

I come to you in the search of creativity that's sorely lacking on my part. You see, I want to give my friend an old eMachine computer that's collecting dust in my basement. Everything is fine with it, except that it needs a hard drive. I was going to buy a hard drive from NewEgg and install it for him. However, as you can see below, it's also missing another critical element: the hard drive cage.

I can't blame the missing hard drive cage on anyone else but myself, as I seemed to have misplaced it. After searching for a couple of hours, I have come to the conclusion that it's never to be seen again. SO, I do quite want to give this computer to my friend, but it might be difficult without a hard drive cage. Do you guys have any idea how can I install a hard drive in this chassis when its hard drive cage is missing? I don't care if it's a tacky solution or mod--just as long as it works

Thanks for any input, guys.

Skillz

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the_beast

· #2 · Nov 24, 2009

The drive will fit above the card reader. Will get little airflow though.

The best bet would be to buy (or make) a set of 5.25" to 3.5" brackets and mount the disk above the optical drive.

Give the hsf a bit of a clean before you give it to him though eh?

Reactions: 1

eflyguy

· #3 · Nov 24, 2009

Get a 3.5->5.25" bracket ($5) and mount it here..

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porschedrifter

· #4 · Nov 24, 2009

Well step A. really should be to find the gremlins that keep stealing your computer parts.

xdanisx

· #5 · Nov 24, 2009

Just rest the HDD on the bottom till you get a brakcet... or glue I guess...

BlackOmega

· #6 · Nov 24, 2009

Duct Tape!!!

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STDSkillz

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 24, 2009

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_beast

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Give the hsf a bit of a clean before you give it to him though eh?

Yeah, I'll tidy things up for him--don't worry

Quote:

Originally Posted by eflyguy

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Get a 3.5->5.25" bracket ($5) and mount it here..

Can you find any cheap ones on Newegg? The only cheap one I could find was this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811993004

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschedrifter

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Well step A. really should be to find the gremlins that keep stealing your computer parts.

Inorite? I need to get this place fumigated or something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackOmega

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Duct Tape!!!

Now there's a man who speaks my language.

If that link I provided above is the best that I could get from Newegg, let me know and I'll get that for my friend. Thanks again, guys.

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eflyguy

· #8 · Nov 24, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by STDSkillz

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Can you find any cheap ones on Newegg? The only cheap one I could find was this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811993004

What a rip-off!! That bracket is $3.50 @ Microcenter!
http://microcenter.com/single_produc...uct_id=0316762

If you're buying the drive as well, call them - I bet they would match the price. That is the regular price, not a sale, even..
..a

(who loves having two Microcenters, and two Fry's, within easy drive..)

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Raptor_Jesus

· #9 · Nov 24, 2009

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STDSkillz

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by eflyguy

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What a rip-off!! That bracket is $3.50 @ Microcenter!
http://microcenter.com/single_produc...uct_id=0316762

If you're buying the drive as well, call them - I bet they would match the price. That is the regular price, not a sale, even..
..a

(who loves having two Microcenters, and two Fry's, within easy drive..)

Thanks for the Microcenter tip. The drive is actually just as cheap at Microcenter, but the shipping is more. All in all, I save a little under $2 if I go with them. But hey, I'll take whatever I can get.

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Dilyn

· #11 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_beast

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The drive will fit above the card reader. Will get little airflow though.

The best bet would be to buy (or make) a set of 5.25" to 3.5" brackets and mount the disk above the optical drive.

Give the hsf a bit of a clean before you give it to him though eh?

This.

I slapped my hard drive in my floppy drive bay and it stays relatively cool. Who needs airflow to the hard drive anyways...

Pulled out the hard drive cage so I could get better airflow for the rest of my computer from the front to the back. Works quite nicely.
Although I keep my hard drive cages (I have one from my eMachines case and another from my current case). You just seem to let them run rampant though.

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jlchavis0844

· #12 · Nov 25, 2009

double sided foam tape. The foam will dampen any vibration from the HD and it will allow for better airflow to the HD at the bottom on the case.

STDSkillz

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 25, 2009

Are you talking about taping it to the bottom of the floppy holder? As such:

My only concern is that I'm shipping this to my friend, so it needs to be fairly sturdy to survive the shipping process. Maybe I could duct tape it in addition of the foam tape...Is there any harm if you apply duct tape to the bottom of a hard drive?

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FragaGeddon

· #14 · Nov 25, 2009

Go to your local hard ware store and get some steal strapping, the one that has the holes in it.

Raptor_Jesus

· #15 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilyn

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This.

I slapped my hard drive in my floppy drive bay and it stays relatively cool. Who needs airflow to the hard drive anyways...

Pulled out the hard drive cage so I could get better airflow for the rest of my computer from the front to the back. Works quite nicely.
Although I keep my hard drive cages (I have one from my eMachines case and another from my current case). You just seem to let them run rampant though.

If you are running WD Blacks, then you need some form of airflow moving over them. I noticed a significant temp drop when there was no airflow (no case), and when there was airflow (re-installed in the case with front fans). It was cooler to the touch, and HDTune reported much lower temps.

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Dilyn

· #16 · Nov 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor_Jesus

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If you are running WD Blacks, then you need some form of airflow moving over them. I noticed a significant temp drop when there was no airflow (no case), and when there was airflow (re-installed in the case with front fans). It was cooler to the touch, and HDTune reported much lower temps.

It's extremely cool to the touch

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FragaGeddon

· #17 · Nov 25, 2009

Well if you are shipping it to your friend, just don't mount it. Get some velcro and then ship him the hard drive in a smaller box, then just have him plug it in and mount it. But put the velcro on the case and hard drive, so he just has to attach it.

the_beast

· #18 · Nov 25, 2009

I would not mount a HDD (which vibrates and warms up) with normal foam tape. If you can't see a data sheet for the adhesive that says it will hold above 60 Celsius it WILL fall off sooner rather than later. Not to mention the fact that adhesives should NEVER be loaded in tension - they are extremely weak when used in this fashion. If you tape it to the bottom of the drive bay then expect it to fall off (even if the case is not used) at some point and ruin the HDD.

If you want to avoid a solid mount for noise reasons the best way of doing so uses string or cord - avoid elastic as this too will perish and break in time.

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