- Dream Cheeky
How To Use A Laptop Hard Drive In An Xbox 360 Slim?
Replace Xbox HDD with Laptop HDD
Although I said that technical skills are not required to do this, you should understand that hard drives are what we’re referring to. They also have file systems. The Xbox doesn’t accept FAT32 formats. The Xbox will accept a hard drive in this format. You will need to format the drive to NTFS format.
Step 1: Install the HDD on your laptop/PC.
Step 2: Open File Explorer to locate the HDD. It will show a drive name if it is new. However, it won’t show any storage allocated. This is an indicator that it needs to be formatted.
Step 3: Right-click the drive to open a menu. Select Format.
Step 4: An open dialogue will display the Capacity and File system. The File system is the only thing you need to be concerned about. Select NTFS in the drop-down menu. If the Capacity displays the exact storage units for the drive, then you can leave it as is. Otherwise, click the drop-down menu to select it. It is possible that you will need to allocate the exact amount in bytes for the Allocation unit size. It should be given a proper name in the Volume label.
Step 5: Click on Start and check the Quick Format box. It will take some time for the formatting to complete before you can use it in your Xbox 360 slim.
Then, you can install it in the console.
Step 1: Remove the screws from the Xbox panel until the insides are visible.
Step 2: Look at the side of the native hard drive. You will see a small hatch at the top. To remove the drive, press it. It can also be pulled from the side.
Step 3: Attach the drive to a back cover. To reveal the real deal, unscrew all screws.
Step 4: Install the new hard drive. It should be a 2.5-inch laptop drive. Larger ones won’t work.
Step 5: Slide it back in to connect it to the connecting cable. This is where you might encounter a problem. Although it might fit snugly, you will not be able to pull the drive outward to use for other purposes. You can either purchase a hard drive cover or you can just throw it away.
You can pull the small latch on the end to open the cover and take out your hard drive. It is inexpensive. You could also DIY the entire thing. I used a piece of folded cardboard to cover it. It was large and had a small section sticking out from the HDD chamber. The extended cardboard was handy for removing the HDD whenever I needed it.
Step 6: Plug everything in and start the Xbox. I will be grateful if you see the hard drive in native storage.
Also read: How To Connect Xbox To Laptop?
Use an External Docking Station
External docking stations are available if your Xbox won’t allow you to place the HDD inside its intestines. This docking station is very affordable, but you will need to be an expert with a screwdriver.
Step 1: Purchase a 2.5-inch external docking system and keep the Phillips screwdriver close by.
Step 2: Next, open the docking station. You will see two cables. One is for data, the other for powering it.
Step 3: Insert the laptop drive into your station and plug in the correct cable.
Step 4: Screw on the top cover
Step 5: Save your game files to your computer or laptop and then use them later on your Xbox. This allows you to play games that were copied from your PC.
What Hard Drives Should You Use?
When it comes to this, I don’t have many favorites. Any hard drive from any manufacturer could be used, but it should only be a 2.5-inch SATA HDD laptop. The Xbox will not accept any other hard drives. This one is even smaller than the HDD on the original console. This is why I added the steps to raise its height.
FAQs
How Do I Copy My Game Data To My New Hard Drive?
It’s simple. FATXplorer can be used to view the files. Copy the files you want to copy and paste them onto your new hard drive. Now you should be all set.
Is It Possible To Use A Laptop HDD with Xbox 360?
You can use your laptop’s HDD with no compatibility issues by using a “SATA-to-USB adapter” for Xbox 360. Laptops come with 2.5-inch hard drives, so you can use them on your 360 consoles like an external hard drive.
Can I Use Any Hard Disk For Xbox 360 Slim?
Only 2.5 inch hard drives with custom enclosures are currently available to store all your games on the 360 Slim gaming consoles.
How Can You Connect A Hard Disk To An Xbox 360?
Purchase an external SATA-to-USB adapter, and connect your 2.5 inch HDD to any Xbox 360 USB interface to make your console recognize it as an external storage device.
