Drive cases are convenient tools for businesses because the portability of external drives allow multiple computers to share the same drive. An external hard drive can move from computer to computer to back-up all of your employees important data. Drive cases are also made for optical drives, so employees can share a CD-R or DVD-R drive, saving the expense of purchasing a drive for every computer.

Drives cases allow you to turn any internal drive into an external drive. The case then plugs into a USB port. External drives can be purchased which do not require a drive case, but purchasing the drive and drive case separately is the most efficient way to set-up external drives for your business. Assembly is as easy as popping the drive into the case. Consider the following options when shopping for drive cases:

1. Purchase drive cases to turn internal hard drives into external hard drives.

2. Make external optical drives with drive cases.

3. Find drive cases to plug multiple external drives into one computer.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a drive cases provider for external hard drive enclosures

When you want to turn an internal hard drive into an external hard drive with drive cases you have two options: 3.5 inch internal desktop hard drives and 2.5 inch internal laptop hard drives. Desktop hard drives are cheaper per gigabyte, but are larger and must be plugged into an external power source. External laptop hard drives are more compact and can be powered directly by USB and do not require an AC plug-in. Make sure to get the right type of drive case, either IDE or serial ATA, for your hard drive.

I recommend: eXtremePCGear.com and Directron.com offer 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch drive cases for both IDE and serial ATA hard drives.

Use drive cases to make external optical drives

As with hard drives, optical drives can be IDE or serial ATA, so make sure to purchase the right type of enclosure for your drive. All optical drive enclosures will hold CD, DVD, CD-R and DVD-R drives. For optical drives, you'll need a 5.25 inch enclosure.

I recommend: Meritline.com and Newegg offer the 5.25 inch enclosures needed for optical drives.

Hook up multiple external drives to one computer with drive cases

The most efficient way to connect multiple external drives to one computer is with an external drive array. An external array plugs into a USB port and allows you to easily place drives in and pull them out as needed.

I recommend: PCNation and Server Supply offer external drive arrays that hold two drives to external drive arrays, holding as many as six drives.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look at a drive cases list from providers for an aluminum drive case. Aluminum drive cases protect drives better than plastic cases. Also look over drive cases information to find drive cases which radiate heat away from the drive and prevent overheating.