i got 3 total, 120 320 and 512 GB laptop HDDs, i there any real use for them? i have usb to sata adapters so i could use them as off site backup, but is there any other use you could think of?

>>2595820 (OP)

no use, go to a e-recycling place and have them shred it up. 

they're probably worn out, if you like magnets you can rip them apart and get the platter magnets out, platter is also a highly reflective mirror.

>>2595820 (OP)

 Buy a battery powered used solar panel , a motherboard and wire it up . Job done

HDDs are probably the most reliable backup format so if you have any valuable data, that would be a good use for them. If not, then you could stuff them full of your favorite games, movies, music, etc to protect them from internet decay. I've seen some of my favorite stuff become hard to get, especially obscure media that doesn't have a vocal fan base. But nobody can DMCA your HDDs. At least, not yet...

stuff them full of video, chilli recipes and porn then bury it in a bucket, mini time capsule for future treasure hunts

>>2595820 (OP)

>download some Linux ISOs

>put them in a password protected zip file

>make the key just 30 random characters

>name the files something like homemade_sex_vids.zip

>leave them around town

>make perverts waste their time

>>2595820 (OP)

>image

I'd love to hear all of those spinning up at the same time.

>>2595820 (OP)

Redundant backup is always good and when I upgrade a drive that's what it gets used for.



Alternate option I also use is loading them with a variety of OS in case of need. That does not conflict with using them for backup and makes the backup bootable.

build a giant space telescope main mirror with all of the discs

>>2595820 (OP)

Get an old laptop with a bad hdd (i had 3) and put one in. Install void linux. Now you have an extra pc

>>2595820 (OP)

Make a server sell the space buy some ssd profit

>>2595820 (OP)

>Install Linux.

>Run photorec on the drives.

>See what kind of degen previously owned the drives.

>>2595820 (OP)

Give the stolen cable boxes back Tyrone.

>>2595820 (OP)

Encrypted backup and give them to friends and family to store so it's offsite in case the feds get you

>>2595820 (OP)

scrap them

you don't want to use a second hand storage device

make a huge raid 0 array and make /g/ seethe

>>2595820 (OP)

Data is important, back up anything you think will be destroyed to time/relevance to be reposted on the internet. You can do RAID like >>2598782 said too but because they're different size that means you won't be able to fully utilize them. Post model names and date of manufacturing please, it's important and I can tell you whether or not they'll live for long. A lot of "new" hard drives are actually refurbished old ones, WD even charges mark ups now on "higher end" models that are simply just the same one with extra firmware.
