As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, many people find themselves with old electronics and computer parts that become obsolete. This includes internal and external hard disk drives (HDDs). While newer solid state drives (SSDs) offer faster speeds and larger capacities, some may wonder if those old HDDs still have any usefulness or value. Here we’ll examine some potential ways to reuse, repurpose, or sell your old hard drives.
Can you still use an old hard drive?
In many cases, yes, you can still use an older HDD as additional storage space. Although the capacity may be smaller and the speed slower compared to a new drive, an old HDD can be suitable for backups, secondary storage, or housing old files you don’t access frequently but still want to keep. You can install an old HDD into a desktop computer or external enclosure to access the drive. Some points to consider:
- Check the interface – Older HDDs typically use IDE, SATA, or SCSI interfaces. Make sure your computer or external enclosure supports the interface.
- Formatting may be required – You may need to reformat the drive to use a supported file system like NTFS or exFAT.
- Speed and capacity limits – Access times will likely be slower compared to a new HDD or SSD. The storage capacity may also be low by today’s standards.
- No advanced features – Don’t expect new tech like hybrid SSD caching from an older mechanical HDD.
As long as you set proper expectations and the drive is still mechanically sound, an old hard drive can be useful for basic storage needs. But for primary or active storage, a new HDD or SSD will offer much better performance.
Can you repurpose or reuse an old hard drive?
Old HDDs can also find new life by repurposing them for alternative uses beyond general data storage.
Use as an external drive
One of the easiest ways to repurpose an old HDD is to use it as an external drive. An external HDD enclosure that supports the drive’s interface allows you to connect the bare drive to your computer via USB, eSATA, or other connectivity. This lets you access the drive like any external storage device.
DIY NAS storage
With multiple old HDDs, you can aggregate them together into a DIY network-attached storage (NAS) device for shared storage on your home network. There are many free NAS operating systems like FreeNAS and OpenMediaVault that can turn an old computer into a NAS using its old HDDs for drive bays.
Turn into standalone storage
A HDD docking station can turn an old bare hard drive into standalone direct-attached storage. For example, plug the HDD into a dock and access the files like you would with a USB flash drive or external drive. Docks provide quick access without needing to mount the drive into a computer or enclosure.
Computing applications
Older HDDs can be usable for light computing tasks or testing, such as:
- Cheap extra storage for a home server
- Storage for prototyping, tinkering, or testing new software
- A drive for learning how to partition, format, or manage disk storage
While the performance and capacity will be limited, an old HDD may work for various hobbyist computing projects.
Other innovative uses
With some DIY skills, you can repurpose old hard drives for entirely different functions beyond digital data storage.
- Clocks – The platters can become a unique clock face.
- Mirrors – Platters polished on one side can reflect like a mirror.
- Magnets – Magnets can be scavenged from the voice coils.
- Crafts – Platters and components used creatively in various projects.
If you won’t reuse the HDD for its original storage purpose, consider these or other innovative ways to repurpose the components.
Is there monetary value in old hard drives?
For newer drives in good working order, you may be able to sell them and recover some value depending on model, capacity, and demand. Very old or damaged drives likely have little resale value, but selling working drives can offset the cost of upgrading storage.
Sell individually online
eBay and other online marketplaces let you list hard drives for auction or sale at a fixed price. Selling individually allows you to maximize profit per drive. Expect to get more interest and higher prices for name brand HDD models in good condition and higher capacities. You can research completed listings to price competitively.
Sell in bulk locally
You can sell large quantities of mixed brand and capacity HDDs in bulk locally via classified ads or to computer repair shops. Expect to get only a small fraction of the drive’s original value. But this allows you to conveniently unload many old drives at once with minimal effort.
Trade in to an electronics recycler
For larger amounts of old HDDs, ecoATM and other automated kiosks provide cash payment when you deposit electronic devices to be responsibly recycled. Kiosk trade-in values per drive may be low, but this method easily lets you dispose of drives in bulk.
Is it worth keeping old hard drives?
With the many reuse possibilities covered, holding onto old but functioning hard drives can be worth the minimal storage space needed. Even small capacity and IDE interface drives have utility for lightweight data storage needs or DIY tech projects. And NAS devices, external enclosures, and docks allow squeezing continued usefulness out of old internal HDDs.
But HDD technology and capacity demands eventually outpace the capabilities of aging mechanical drives. When an old HDD’s speed, noise, size, and interface limitations outweigh its usefulness, responsible recycling makes more sense than indefinite storage.
Reasons to keep an old hard drive
- Economical extra storage or backups
- Nostalgia or attachment to the data/drive
- Usefulness for light home lab computing projects
- Intentions to repurpose for a DIY project someday
Reasons to recycle an old hard drive
- Very small capacity by today’s standards
- Obsolete interface like IDE/ATA makes connectivity difficult
- Drive failures, degraded performance, excessive noise
- High power draw relative to storage capacity
- Takes up physical space with minimal current usefulness
Should you destroy an old hard drive?
Physically destroying old HDDs by methods like smashing or shredding is one way to ensure the data inside can never be recovered. But complete destruction is usually unnecessary.
Erasing the drive using software utilities or the HDD controller’s secure erase command removes discernible trace of the data while keeping the drive hardware intact for reuse or recycling. Or you can remove and safely destroy just the drive’s circuit board where some data may linger after drive erasure. Destroying the platters makes future reuse impossible.
Responsibly reusing or recycling old drives is preferable to outright destruction in most cases. But physically destroying drives provides absolute peace of mind that your old data can never be recovered if that is your priority.
Conclusion
While modern solid state drives outclass them on speed and capacity, old mechanical hard disk drives can still offer economical storage space or inventive reuse if they remain mechanically and electronically functional. Simple projects like external enclosures or NAS devices can extend an old HDD’s useful lifespan for basic storage needs. And with some DIY creativity, the drives or their components can take on entirely new purposes beyond digital data storage.
Trading in or selling older but still working HDDs may provide a small return on investment toward new drives. As a last resort, physical destruction provides definitive data sanitization but permanently eliminates future usability. With the right expectations and applications, old hard drives can remain a source of extra value in various forms rather than heading straight to the recycling bin.
Old Hard Drive Value FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about repurposing, reusing, or finding value in old hard disk drives:
Can I convert an old IDE drive to use SATA?
No, the physical interface is part of the hard drive itself and cannot be converted. But you can install an old IDE drive into an external USB enclosure that supports the IDE interface to connect it to a modern computer.
How can I access data on an old hard drive?
Options to access data on an old HDD include:
- Connect it internally to a desktop PC with a compatible interface
- Use it in an external hard drive enclosure or dock
- Network it by building a home NAS device
Are old hard drives worthless?
Not entirely. While their storage and performance may be outdated, old drives still have potential value via:
- Sale/trade-in to recover some monetary value
- Continued use as basic secondary storage
- Repurposing for homelab computing projects
- Reusing for DIY technology or art/craft projects
How much can I sell used hard drives for?
Values depend on factors like capacity, interface, RPMs, and demand. On eBay, external drives tend to sell for $10-$30. Higher capacity SATA drives can sell for $15-$60+. SCSI/SAS drives over 36GB may sell for $25-$100+ to the right buyer.
What should I do with old laptop hard drives?
Laptop 2.5″ HDDs tend to be easy to reuse externally. Good options are to use it for:
- External USB HDD enclosure or dock
- Extra storage in a NAS or server
- An inexpensive backup drive
Can you make an old hard drive into an external hard drive?
Yes, hard drive enclosures allow you to convert internal HDDs into external drives. Look for a compatible enclosure that supports the drive’s interface (SATA, IDE, etc.). Then you can use it like any other external drive.
Are IDE hard drives still usable?
Yes, you can still use an old IDE/ATA drive if you have a desktop PC or external enclosure that supports the IDE interface. Capacity and speed will be limited. But IDE drives can still work as extra storage for older systems or non-demanding uses.
| Hard Drive Type | Potential Value |
|---|---|
| Old IDE drive in working condition | Around $10-$25 resale depending on capacity |
| Higher capacity SATA drive | $15-$60 resale based on size and RPM |
| SCSI/SAS drive larger than 36GB | Up to $100 resale for vintage high capacity drives |
| Non-working drive with intact platters | DIY projects reusing platters as clocks, mirrors, etc |
| Small capacity IDE or SATA drive | Repurposed for hobbyist computing or learning disk management |