Everytime I try to turn on the computer it makes 3 shorts beeps then a
quick 0.5 second pause before 2 more beeps for a total of 5 beeps. I
think it's because my computer processor died on me.

Anyway, I want to retrieve all my files, and I have been told that all
my files are on my hard drive, which should still be ok. So I am
thinking of trashing my computer and just keeping the hard drive.

My question is, is it possible for me to remove the hard drive and
transform it into an external USB hard drive by buying some sort of
casing? I need to know exactly what I can buy, and it must be
available on Canadian sites like futureshop.ca or bestbuy.ca.

I have a 20.4GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA Hard Drive, Factory Install from Dell.

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Request for Question Clarification by leapinglizard-ga on 21 Apr 2006 09:21 PDT

What you are looking for is called a hard drive enclosure. How about this one?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1734042&CatId=1204

Here is a full selection.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1204

Does that answer your question?

leapinglizard

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Clarification of Question by truffie-ga on 22 Apr 2006 01:28 PDT

Will this fit my hard drive though? I know what it is called, but I
also know that some of them are meant for laptop hard drives, and I
want to make sure that this is for a standard desktop PC hard drive.
If you can confirm this, please post it as the answer. Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by truffie-ga on 25 Apr 2006 22:38 PDT

hello leaping lizard?

for a desktop PC you need a 3.5" hard drive caddy as opposed to 2.5"
used in laptops.  make sure it is either aluminium or if plastic it
has and inbuilt fan.  they are very easy to put togather - see
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/computers/1926952.html
check that the connector is right for your PC - either USB1.1 if an
old one or USB 2.0 or firewire and whether it is IDE or SATA (IDE is
cheaper and normally sufficient)