So, I got a new hard drive... (computer tech question)

[King Kool]

Aaaand... because my computer is a piece of crap and has no room, the new hard drive is hooked up, resting on the bottom of my tower. I was going to pad it with some styrofoam rounds from CD spindles, but I only have one. I want to pad it with something, but I also hope that nothing bumps it. I'd move it to an external enclosure, but I'd have to connect it by USB, and screw that, that won't be fast enough for what I need.

Soooo.... what should I do about this?

[Elomin Sha]

Wedge it with books, paper, cats, little children.

[King Kool]

Well, yes, I've thought of that, but I can't really think of a material to wedge it with that won't make it overheat or damage it, possibly. I could tape it to the bottom, but that sounds like a bad idea.

[Darkobra]

A long-term method is a whole new case. It's time consuming, a little pricey but you won't regret it. If you're struggling to find room for a hard drive, it also makes me wonder how clogged your computer is and how hot that thing can get with a reduced air flow.

[Elomin Sha]

If you have spare nerf darts balance the HDD on them.

[Ptangmatik]

if you can, get some extra long cables so that while it is in operation, you can whip it around your head so that the gyroscopic force will keep the spinning stable.

Or, y'know, duct tape it to the top of your tower then put an average-sized book on top

[King Kool]

I like the nerf dart idea.

If I was going to get a new case for a crappy Compaq, I'd just get a whole new computer anyway. That's not really in the cards right now.

[Lord Chrusher]

If it is a small case from a computer maker like Compaq the motherboard may have a non standard size which would lead to all sorts of fun installing it in a new case.

[King Kool]

Yeah, that is out of the question.

[UNHchabo]

A few options that come to mind:
-If you have an unused 5.25" slot, there are adapters you can buy so that you can securely hold a hard drive in there.
-If you have the right tools, you could tap screw holes so that you could mount a drive cage at the bottom of the case.
-You could use rubber bands to suspend the drive in the case.
-You could just lie the drive on the floor of the case, and try not to jostle or kick your case.

Anyway, try to make sure that whatever option you go with, that the airflow through the case is decent, and that the drive won't heat up too badly. Google has found (contrary to previous wisdom) that moderate heat isn't really an indicator of hard drive failure, but you don't want to subject it to extreme heat.

[tamaness]

double-sided foam tape has worked for me in this situation in the past. It's not too hard to remove if you have to replace the drive, it's non-conductive, and it dampens vibrations that would otherwise transmit through the case.

[ewhac]

-If you have an unused 5.25" slot, there are adapters you can buy so that you can securely hold a hard drive in there.

^^ This.

What will overheat your drive is not "insulation" per se. What will overheat it is insufficient air moving across it. Drive bays are positioned so that they get some airflow from the cooling fan, so you should use or re-use an existing drive bay where possible.

Without knowing more about your PC's case, it's difficult to make further suggestions.

[tamaness]

Compaq cases don't generally have a spare 5.25" bay. If they do, get an adapter kit. If not, secure your drive as best you can.

[Tufty]

Double-sided tape, yes. Styrofoam packing, no, terrible idea. Just leaving it and not kicking your case comes to mind as well

[King Kool]

I don't know why I said "styrofoam." It's regular foam. Like, a Nerf dart.

I might get some brackets to hold it up or something. Maybe even another fan.

[Ptangmatik]

I wonder if you couldn't buy a drive mount (or rip one out an old case) and drill holes for it through the top of your current case (using the HDD as a guide as to where they should go if it consists of 2 independadnt sides and avoiding the PSU and its assorted cables), bolt that on to the outside of your case then screw your HDD into that? It's probably what I'd do.

[King Kool]

Could I rest it in a pool noodle? Like, one that's chopped in half, maybe?

[Metcarfre]

Why this obsession with foam implements?

[King Kool]

Well, there's an obsession with not having to do any drilling or much more shopping. The foam is for padding, though the thermal issue I should also deal with.

[Tufty]

With enough Sellotape, no problem is insurmountable.