- 1). Purchase an IDE-to-USB converter cable. They're readily available at many computer stores, electronics retailers and on the Internet.
- 2). Connect the IDE end of the cable to the IDE connector on the internal hard drive. The IDE connector is long and rectangular, and it has a series of pins sticking up. This connector is located at the back of the internal hard drive. The IDE connector on the cable is the same shape as the one on the hard drive, and it has a series of small holes designed to fit over the pins.
- 3). Attach the power cable to the converter cable and plug it in. The power button is typically located along the side of the cable, and you turn it on by toggling the button to the on position. The green light comes on when the cable is receiving power.
- 4). Insert the USB cable into a free port on your computer. The computer should now recognize the internal hard drive and treat it as an external storage device. To see the drive, just right-cilck on "My Computer" and look at the list of drives. Depending on your computer's configuration, you should see the new hard drive listed as the "E," "F," or "G" drive.
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