Don't rush to throw it away hard disks, left over after a computer upgrade or hard drives that have failed - you can always find a new use for them. For example, make a mirror, a clock, a safe for storing cash, network storage and other useful things.
The purposes for which old hard drives can be used depend on whether they are in working order or not. It is curious that a functioning hard drive has many fewer uses than a non-functioning one.
Portable storage
If HDD is in working condition, it can be turned into a portable drive. To do this, just buy an external container for hard drive and place the hard drive in it. Depending on the size of the drive, a power adapter may be required, for example if the drive is 3.5" while 2.5" drives usually do not require an adapter.
Home cloud server
If you already have an external drive and don't need another, you can use a working hard drive to create your own network-attached drive so you can access the data on the drive from any device connected to your Wi-Fi networks. If you are not ready to spend extra money, you can build your own network storage device based on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer.
How to use non-working hard drives
A faulty hard drive cannot be used for data storage, but its physical components may have other uses. Before starting work, you will need to disassemble it into “spare parts”. The process is demonstrated in the video below.
Magnetic knife bar
Hard disks contain large neodymium magnets that can be used to create a magnetic knife holder. All you need is a strip, magnets, glue and a set of common tools.
Mirror
Optical disks located in the hard drive can serve as an excellent mirror. The discs must be removed very carefully to avoid chips and scratches. They can then be placed in the office, used as a signal or pocket mirror.
Wind chimes
From optical disks You can create not only mirrors, but also other cute little things, for example, wind chimes. To make them you will need the actual optical discs, the hard drive case, a metal fastening ring and a cord with which the structural elements will be connected.
Secret safe
Creative uses can be found not only for the components of the hard drive, but also for its case, for example, using it as a safe for storing money. It's quite easy to make - just remove all the components from the case and screw the lid to one of the upper corners housing using a bolt. As a result, you will have a rotating container where you can put money.
You have purchased a new, fast solid state drive(SSD), and the old one is lying idle? Give him new task and use as external storage data. To do this, you only need a case with a SATA controller; it is available for both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch models. The latter require a power supply, while compact drives have enough power supply via a USB port.
Labor intensity: average, costs: 600 rubles.
Mini NAS on the router
In all home network do you need access to the same data? To do this, you don't need expensive and bulky network attached storage (NAS) - a USB drive can do this task if it's connected to your router. Newer devices are equipped with a corresponding port.
First you need to format the USB drive from Windows OS in file system NTFS and then just connect it to the router. Moreover, the latter must have a USB port and support the corresponding functionality. Now, typing 192.168.1.1 (or similar) into your browser's address bar will take you to the router's user interface.
Go to the " USB Settings | General access to the storage device" (for TP-Link routers, for other devices the names of menu items may differ) and make sure that the disk starts.
To access data on your home network, it will be enough to Windows Explorer type an address like “\\192.168.1.1\Volume1”. A permanent connection is achieved by right-clicking on the folder to which you plan to allow access and selecting “Connect” network drive».
Labor intensity: low, costs: no
Flash drive instead of password
For a small USB flash drive there is also practical use. For example, when you log into Windows, you can unlock your computer without entering a password. To do this, you will need the Rohos Logon Key tool (1450 rubles), Predator (650 rubles) or the free USBLogon (http://www.rohos.ru/products/rohos-logon-free/).
After installation, you need to select the connected USB drive and configure security settings. After entering the password Windows flash drive ready to go. Unfortunately, working with USBLogon is complicated by the German-language interface, but even without knowledge of German it is easy to understand.
Labor intensity: average, costs: no
Flash drive for emergencies
When your computer no longer works the way it should, a bootable USB flash drive comes to the rescue. The Sardu tool (http://www.sarducd.it/) installs up to 20 different antivirus programs, and in addition, makes available different versions Linux and other first aid software.
> Preparation: in the left sidebar the selected software is listed by category. Check the boxes next to the required programs. We recommend choosing several antiviruses and Linux version(eg Ubuntu).
> Creating a flash drive: On the right sidebar, click on the USB drive symbol. You can start creating bootable flash drive.
> Emergency use: To use a bootable flash drive in the event of an “accident”, you need to change the boot sequence from drives in BIOS Setup.
In this case, you should set the boot priority from USB to HDD. Then select from the list the necessary program. Don't forget to undo changes to the BIOS after "repairing" your computer.
Photo: manufacturing companies, racum/Flickr.com
Things that fail are not always trash. You just need to figure out how to replace their intended purpose and use it in a new way. For example, an old hard drive. At first glance, it is a waste material that must be recycled. But if you look closely, you can find many creative ideas for its further use.
Watch
If you get creative, you could end up with a table clock that resembles a classic mechanical clock. You only need to spend very little for all this beauty. In addition to the hard drive, you need to stock up on screws, a screwdriver, superglue and a heat gun. You will also need a drill and a drill bit. The hard drive is disassembled and all elements are removed from it.
To make the product not only functional, but also beautiful, surround the plate with LEDs. A strip of LED strip is attached to the chamber wall using super glue.
Grinder
In order to make a sharpening machine, you need to take a screwdriver and sandpaper. The manufacturing method is really very simple. All unnecessary components, represented by magnets, are removed from the disks. This is done using a screwdriver. Afterwards the disk is removed, and a circle is cut to its size.
Important! Power is not provided by a regular outlet. You will need a power supply. In order for it to start without motherboard, you need to cut off the copper wire and plug it into the connector, connect it to the black and green wires.
At the end, the emery wheel is glued to the disk, fixed and connected to the power supply.
Portable storage
A portable storage device is simply made from a hard drive. To do this, take a container and place a hard drive in it. For designs larger than 2.5 inches, you will need to buy a power adapter.
A working hard drive can be used as a cloud server. This requires a single-board computer and the skill of even a novice IT specialist. The end result will be a device that will provide access to all computer data from gadgets connected to one Wi-Fi router.
Hard drives contain an element called neodymium magnet. It is quite large, so it can attract a lot of different things. With its help, you can create a stand that will hold knives in the air. To do this, you will have to take a bar, a magnet, glue and simple tools such as a screwdriver and a knife.
Wind chimes
One of the cute things you can create from a disc is a doorbell. Before this, you can take the disks, the case, the usual fastening ring made of metal, and also the cord. Put all this together and you get a real work of art.
Secret safe
In standard small-sized apartments there is not enough space to install a secret safe for jewelry or money. But you can make such a useful thing with your own hands from an old hard drive. It is necessary to remove the components from its body, and then attach the cover with a small bolt to the corner. The container will open by turning.
For this device, in addition to the hard drive, you need to take a basin, make a hole in it, stock up on a lid from a tin, the tin itself, and bicycle spokes. First you need to make three holes in the disk on the lid. Next, the bicycle spokes are soldered to the resulting device, and a kind of box is made from the can. The lid is connected to the structure, the middle is removed from it. You can pour fuel into the hole. All this is placed in a basin and sugar is added. At the end, the alcohol is ignited and the disc is turned on.
Flash drive
If you want to surprise your friends with an interesting and unusual gigantic flash drive, you can use an old hard drive. First you need to remove the mounting screws with the disk and cover. Next, select a USB splitter that is suitable in size. It snaps into place central disk, and the connection is lubricated with superglue. At the end, a flash drive is attached and the lid is assembled.
In this publication, we will look at what can be made using an unnecessary old hard drive.
Neodymium magnets in a computer
First you need to unscrew several screws that secure the housing parts. Under the cover we see a neodymium magnet. Hard drives use very powerful magnets that can lift up to 1,300 times their own weight.
All modern drives always have two magnetic head block limiters and, accordingly, 2 neodymium magnets. To remove the 2nd magnet, you need to unscrew another screw and remove it together with the holder or first unscrew the block of magnetic heads and then pry it off with a screwdriver.
The uses of neodymium magnets are almost limitless. For clamps and fasteners, toys and entertainment, cleaning engine and transmission oil, searching for treasures and lost iron objects under water, making engines and generators, restoring the magnetic properties of other magnets and much, much more.
Mini sandpaper made from a hard drive
To do this, you first need to transfer the dimensions of the disk onto sandpaper; this can be conveniently done using a compass. You should use fine-grain sandpaper so as not to overload the engine. So, cut out the outer diameter with scissors and the inner diameter with a stationery knife.
Glue the sandpaper where possible using glue. But in order not to wait for a long time for the glue to dry and so that you can easily change the sandpaper, you can use double-sided tape.
The emery is already ready. We connect it to the connector from computer unit food and use it. Despite its small dimensions, this sanding machine is quite powerful. Its power is enough to sharpen screwdrivers, pencils, chisels and carving knives.
How to eliminate PC noise
Often old computer cases make a lot of noise. One of the reasons for this problem is the direct mounting of the hard drive to the PC case. When reading information, the disk develops enormous speeds and, accordingly, a slight vibration appears, which is transmitted to the entire computer case. A small manufacturing defect, poor soldering or a screw not tightened completely in the case lid will always remind you of this.
To fix this problem we just need to cut 4 rubber strips. This could be old bicycle tubes, deflated children's balls, or a piece of silicone car mat. We screw the ribbons to the hard drive and attach it to a new place just below the DVD-ROM or even instead.
Overall, an excellent result is obtained, since all vibrations are absorbed by the rubber bands. This device can also be called an anti-shock. If you accidentally kick your PC, it will have no effect on the hard drive.
If you have an unnecessary, old, or maybe non-working hard drive lying around at home and, in addition, you like to do interesting nonsense, then you are in the right place. Today we will look at one more, besides the main, use of a hard drive. There is nothing sensible or useful in this, but I hope you will find it interesting.
What do we do with an old hard drive?
The hard drive rotates at breakneck speed during operation. Process work hard The disk can be found in the article What do you think will happen if the disk is spun up to breakneck speed and let go for a walk around the world? This is exactly what our old hard drive will do. The following describes the process that precedes this fun.
Preparing an old hard drive
To prepare an old hard drive for this event, you need to remove its cover and remove the hard drive head, which is used to read information. If everything is done correctly, the hard drive should look like this:
As you can see, removing the magnetic disk itself is no longer a problem. This is exactly the result we need to achieve: the magnetic disk should freely come off its burrow, but this does not need to be done yet. When the time comes, he will get down from there himself.
What do we do next?
After that, we need to connect power to our old hard drive. This should be done from the computer's power supply. If we connect power to the hard drive and supply electricity to the power supply, our drive will start spinning. This is what we are trying to achieve. Now slowly lower the hard drive to the floor and begin to gently tilt it so that the open side is closer to the floor. Somewhere in a perpendicular position (plus or minus a few degrees), the disk will be able to fly off its hole. You can help him with this. Here, make sure that the direction of rotation of the disk does not coincide with your location. As soon as the disc comes off, it will speed out of sight across the floor.
The principle is probably clear. It's like toy cars, the wheels of which need to be charged in reverse motion, after which they will go quite far. It’s the same here: we charge our disk with kinetic energy and lower it to the floor. But unlike a toy car, you need to be a little careful. Since some hard drives can spin up to 15,000 rpm, you have something like a cutting wheel in front of you. Therefore, there is no need to place fragile objects or close friends along the route old tough disk.
But you shouldn’t worry too much about safety. The untwisted disk runs perfectly straight, so you can choose its trajectory yourself and not be afraid that it will turn in the wrong direction. We did not observe any destructive actions in relation to the floor and wall (the only thing in my case that was not afraid of coming face to face with the disk).
This is how you can make a new toy out of an old hard drive.
