Removable hard drive assembly, computer with a removable hard disk drive, method of initializing and operating a removable hard drive

1. A computer hard drive assembly, comprising:

a removable cartridge having a hard drive device and a first connector with data and power terminals connected to said hard drive device;

a drive assembly for fixedly mounting to a computer case, said drive assembly having an opening formed therein for receiving said removable cartridge and a second connector with data and power terminals for mating with said first connector; and

a programmable processing device electronically connected to said hard drive device, said programmable processing device being configured to process information items for transmission between said hard drive device and the computer, and having means for reading an identification from the hard drive, modifying the identification; and indicating to the computer that the hard drive device is a removable device.

2. The hard drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said removable cartridge includes a plastic casing substantially completely encasing said hard drive device, with said first connector projecting out of said plastic casing.

3. The hard drive assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said plastic casing and said opening formed in said drive assembly have mutually corresponding dimensions to allow said removable device to be inserted into said opening and to snugly fit in said drive assembly.

4. The hard drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said drive assembly includes a power connector for connection to a standard power connector inside the computer case and for supplying power to said removable cartridge when said removable cartridge is inserted in said drive assembly.

5. The hard drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said drive assembly includes a signal connector for connection to a standardized data signal connector inside the computer case and for enabling data communication between said hard drive device and a drive controller of the computer when said removable cartridge is inserted in said drive assembly.

6. The hard drive assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said standardized data signal connector is a connector selected from the group consisting of IDE connectors, EIDE connectors, ATA connectors, and serial ATA connectors.

7. The hard drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said drive assembly is dimensioned for installation in a 3½ inch or a 5¼ inch drive bay of a personal computer device.

8. The hard drive assembly according to claim 1 , which further comprises at least one LED mounted to a face plate of the computer case in a vicinity of said drive assembly and connected to provide visual signals concerning a functionality of the hard drive assembly.

9. A computer device, comprising:

a computer system formed with at least one standard drive bay and including a power supply and a drive controller conforming to the ATA standard;

a drive assembly fixedly mounted in said drive bay and connected to said power supply and to said drive controller, said drive assembly having an opening formed therein;

at least one removable cartridge having a hard drive device and being dimensioned for insertion into said opening formed in said drive assembly; and

a printed circuit board electronically connected between said hard drive device and said drive controller of the system host, said printed circuit board being programmed to modify an identification of the hard drive device and to said system host that said hard drive device is a removable drive.

10. The computer according to claim 9 , wherein said printed circuit board is mounted adjacent said opening in said drive assembly.

11. The computer according to claim 9 , wherein said removable cartridge has a first connector with data and power terminals connected to said hard drive device, said drive assembly has a second connector with data and power terminals for mating with said first connector when said removable assembly is inserted into said opening in said drive assembly.

12. A method of initializing a removable hard drive assembly, which comprises:

providing a drive assembly mounted to a computer and fixedly connected to a power supply and to a drive controller of the computer, and a removable cartridge having a hard drive device selectively insertable in and connectable to the drive assembly, wherein the hard drive device is identified to the computer by an ID buffer;

on power-up:

querying whether or not the hard drive device is connected in the drive assembly;

if the hard drive device is not found, returning a default ID buffer in response to the query indicating that the drive device was not found, but that the drive device is a removable device;

if the hard drive device is found, reading an ID buffer from the hard drive device, modifying the ID buffer read from the hard drive device to mark the hard drive device as a removable drive, and returning the modified ID buffer in response to the query.

13. A method of operating a hard drive assembly, which comprises:

providing a drive assembly mounted to a host computer and fixedly connected to a power supply and to a drive controller of the host computer, and a removable cartridge having a hard drive device selectively insertable in and connectable to the drive assembly, the hard drive device having stored thereon an ID buffer with a data item identifying the hard drive as a non-removable, fixed drive device;

modifying the ID buffer stored on the hard drive device to form a modified ID buffer identifying the hard drive device as a removable drive device; and

presenting the modified ID buffer to the host computer.

14. The method according to claim 13 , which further comprises:

upon receiving a request from the host computer for an ID buffer, testing whether or not the removable hard drive assembly has been changed from an assembly last inserted in the drive assembly, and

if the removable hard drive assembly has not been changed, presenting a modified ID buffer saved in the drive assembly;

if the removable hard drive assembly has been changed, reading the ID buffer from the hard drive device, modifying the ID buffer read from the hard drive device to mark the hard drive device as a removable drive, and returning the modified ID buffer to the host computer.

15. The method according to claim 13 , which further comprises:

cyclically testing whether or not the host computer has issued a drive command for writing to or reading from the hard drive device; and

upon receiving a drive command from the host computer, querying whether or not the removable drive device is connected in the drive assembly, and:

if the hard drive device is not found, setting a status flag indicating that no drive device is present in the drive assembly and returning an error signal;

if the hard drive device is found, executing the drive command with the hard drive device and returning a “command completed successfully” signal.