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

submitted 7 months ago by berryjam@lemmy.world to c/buildapc@lemmy.world

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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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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 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@lemmy.world 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.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 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.

[–] andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun 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.

[–] berryjam@lemmy.world 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@lemmy.world 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@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

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

[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io 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).