I'm trying to cobble together an unused dell 400SC box as a DVR, and found that I don't have the 3.5" drive rails. is it OK to just leave the hard drive lying on the bottom of the drive cage, without rails attached? it's either that or pay $10 for a pair of drive rails on ebay...or any creative ways to mount the drive? I've heard of using rubber bands to suspend it, but I've also heard if they break and the drive fell it could ruin the drive.
and if anyone has this particular case, any clue how to remove a 5.25" drive? the green drive rail thingies refuse to come loose, and I at the very least want to replace the optical drive...
Full Version: hard drive without drive rails
Maybe someone who has a higher end dell would give it to you. They ususally come with an extra set of the green rails.
To remove the 5.25 drive I think all you have to do is push both sides of the green rails inward and pull out the drive.
I don't have a dell with the green rails in front of me so I'm not 100% sure.
To remove the 5.25 drive I think all you have to do is push both sides of the green rails inward and pull out the drive.
I don't have a dell with the green rails in front of me so I'm not 100% sure.
I am pretty sure I have an extra set of the hard drive rails for a 400SC that I could send you for shipping. However, it won't hurt anything for your drive to lay loose as long as you don't short it out and don't move it alot. I have at least one drive laying in the bottom of my 400SC at the moment, since there aren't enough bays in it for everything I have in it.
If you do want to soft mount it though, a lot of folks at SPCR use an item called stretch magic that can be found at joann's or michaels.
I've attached many a drive with zip ties just to hold them in place. If the computer is going to be moved, like from one house to another, I'd remove the drive in that instance. If you're moving from room to room just be careful not to knock it around too much.
QUOTE(dasnufus @ 10-21-06, 6:47am) 
Maybe someone who has a higher end dell would give it to you.
I just realized we have another dell machine, I didn't realize it might have the same brackets. I'll take a look today!
QUOTE(NARC @ 10-21-06, 8:39am)
If you do want to soft mount it though, a lot of folks at SPCR use an item called stretch magic that can be found at joann's or michaels.
don't have stretch magic, but do have elastic cord. I'll try it out, I've been wanting to ever since hearing about the rubber band method.
Rubber bands dry and crack. I've had many crumble in my fingers due to system builders that use them to tie up loose cables & PSU connectors.
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