NES Hard Drive
Written by RadioC1ash
NES Cartridge External Hard Drive
After seeing the writeup on Etsy's "Innovative HD Case" on October 6, I decided I just had to have one! This is an adaptation of that hard drive case mod using an old NES cartridge.
I determined at once that I wouldn't put a hole in the side for the usb connector, but rather use the open end of the cartridge to achieve a much cleaner look. This required that I do a bit more modification that was involved in the original (I assume, I haven't seen a mod guide for it), in order to get everything fitting correctly.
I settled on the Super Mario / Duck Hunt cartridge as one that's highly recognizable while also being an easily replaceable cart. I didn't want to wreck my copy of Silent Service or Final Fantasy right at first. Although I'm completely open to it, it's not like they're rare or anything.
Mod Specs:
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Super Mario / Duck Hunt Case
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60 GB Hard Drive
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USB 2.0 Interface
Supplies:
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1 2.5” laptop hard drive
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1 2.5” hard drive to usb adapter or a donor drive enclosure
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1 NES Cartridge
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1 Hot Glue Gun
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1 Dremel
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1 Black Sharpie
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1 3.8mm GamBit
Mod Process:
First things first, I needed to get the case apart. Which, as it turns out, is no mean feat. These carts have this really interesting security bit that's pretty much impossible to find, save for the internet. It's a 3.8mm reverse Torx which, I've found is sold under the name “GameBit”by several different companies. There are two sizes, so make sure to get the 3.8mm for this project.
So, yeah, waited a week or so, and finally, GameBit in hand, I was ready to move forward. The tool itself seemed sturdy enough at first, but on closer inspection I found that the top is kind of smashed or stripped a bit. Kind of crummy, but it still works if you apply enough pressure. So, I did, in the end, manage to get the case apart and remove the original guts.
On the inside of the cart are all these little nubbs, supports I suppose, and the three screw receptacles. I placed the donor board from my external hard drive enclosure into the case and identified everything that needed to be trimmed.
To start with all of the nubbins and the center screw receptacles needed to be completely removed. Secondly, the top left corner of the donor board was still a bit to long, so I had to dremel out the corner of the little pinch rail at the top of one side of the cart (you know, the bit you pull on to get the cart out of the NES), and even thin out a little of the one on the other side. Lastly, at the bottom edge of the cartridge case, where the original game board used to fit through, I had to cut out a space for the hard drive to pass through.
Later on I decided to add a tiny hole in the top for the activity / power LEDs. Instead of drilling two hole, one for each LED, I put one in between the two LEDs and filled it with hot glue. The glue pushed through to the inside of the case forming a convex collector for the light from both LEDs so that when the activity light flashed, the one light on the outside of the case just blinks brighter. I dig it pretty well.
Put her all together and you've got yourself a very nice looking littler external hard drive. Now I just need to dig up one of those black plastic sleeves to keep it in and I'll be set!
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I'll put extra pictures and updates on my website.
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