3.5 Inch SATA HDD on 2007 Mac Mini

[snipecaik]

I have an old mac mini (a1176) which I recently installed windows on, and I thought it would make a perfect home server. To do this the preferred option would be to install a 3.5 inch 4tb WD NAS HDD, this is preferred to installing 2, 2.5 inch drives (by removing the disk drive), as a 3.5 inch drive would be more durable and cost efficient.
I need to know if this is possible, I am prepared to remove the disk drive, and if it is required I would have the hard drive outside of the mac case. Although for convenience I would prefer it be placed in the case.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I have an old mac mini (a1176) which I recently installed windows on, and I thought it would make a perfect home server. To do this the preferred option would be to install a 3.5 inch 4tb WD NAS HDD, this is preferred to installing 2, 2.5 inch drives (by removing the disk drive), as a 3.5 inch drive would be more durable and cost efficient.
I need to know if this is possible, I am prepared to remove the disk drive, and if it is required I would have the hard drive outside of the mac case. Although for convenience I would prefer it be placed in the case.

I'm afraid there's really no space for a 3.5" HDD.

You might as well buy a 3.5" SATA dock or something and run it externally over USB or Firewire for storage.

 

[jbarley]

To do this the preferred option would be to install a 3.5 inch 4tb WD NAS HDD

"Network-attached-storage" pretty much indicates an external unit.

 

[Celerondon]

Okay I am a little confused.

The OP wants to "install a 3.5 inch 4tb WD NAS HDD" somewhere. Keysofanxiety thought that snipecaik wanted to install it inside of the mini. On the other hand, jbarley figures that we should all know that NAS means external. Both seem correct.

What was the question again?

 

[Weaselboy]

Okay I am a little confused.

The OP wants to "install a 3.5 inch 4tb WD NAS HDD" somewhere. Keysofanxiety thought that snipecaik wanted to install it inside of the mini. On the other hand, jbarley figures that we should all know that NAS means external. Both seem correct.

What was the question again?

I think OP is referring to this WD drive that is confusingly called the "WD Red 4TB NAS Desktop Hard Disk Drive." So it would seem OP wants to install a 3.5" drive inside the Mini.

 

[jamesdmc]

I suggest installing Leopard or Snow Leopard on it, connecting an external 3.5" drive to it via USB or firewire, and using it as a server that way. That's what I'm doing with my 2007 mini running 10.6.8.

The mini is in the basement hardwired to the router. A 4TB 3.5" HDD sits in a hard drive dock (not even a true enclosure; never got around to buying one) connected via USB. The Apple TV 3 is upstairs hardwired to the same router. Via homesharing, it works like a champ and was easy to set up.