A hard drive dock can be internal or external and protects and safely uses a hard drive. Internal docks are a metal shell with screw holes, while external docks have full drive control hardware and an enclosure. Both dissipate static electricity and allow for easy insertion of drives.
A hard drive dock can refer to two different things, one inside a computer and one outside. Each of these elements performs the same function in a completely different way. They protect a hard drive and provide a means to safely use the hardware. The inner docks are little more than a metal shell; external docks have full drive control hardware and a cable to allow interfacing with a computer.
Hard drives store information on magnetic disks called platters. These platters spin very fast inside the unit. The rotation and vibration generated by a standard hard drive will cause it to move if unprotected and build up a static charge. To keep the drive in one place and safely dissipate static electricity, computers will use a hard drive dock.
An internal hard drive dock appears to be simply a cradle with screw holes. These docks are typically “U” shaped with several holes in the side. There are many more holes than you’d find on a standard hard drive, which has four. These additional holes allow drives from any manufacturer to fit into a single universal dock.
Putting a drive into one of these bays is generally considered a straightforward affair. Drives can be inserted into the dock so that the end with the cable connections is towards the motherboard and the flat end is away from it. The four screws thread through the dock wall and into the unit, securing it in place. The metal screws are in contact with the inside of the unit and the metal housing; this allows the static generated by the drive to dissipate in the computer chassis.
An external hard drive dock holds a standard hard drive inside an enclosure. The design of outer cases varies widely, but generally falls into two groups. In the first, two metal guides are screwed to the unit, which is then inserted into the casing. Small cables are hooked into the back of the drive, so it’s all screwed together, making the drive inaccessible while the computer is running. This type of enclosure is common for external hard drive docks that have only one drive in them.
The other type is similar to an internal hard drive dock, but without the rest of the computer. The drive slides into a bay and receives normal connections. The unit can be on rails or clipped into place. The enclosure usually has a door, which can be opened and closed while the dock is in operation, giving access to the unit. These types of hard drive docks often have room for more than one drive.
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