How to Convert a NES Game Cartridge Into an External Hard Drive

Have you ever wanted to turn that old boring looking hard drive into something unique and stylish? This instructable is just the thing you're looking for! This tutorial will show you how to turn an old Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game into a portable hard drive.

Completing this project will cost roughly $50 and will consume about 2 hours of your time.

Step 1: Gather Supplies

To complete this project you will need (from left to right in picture):

1. Coarse Sand Paper - $1-$2 found at Home Depot
2. NES Game Cartridge - $5 on EBay
3. External Hard drive (WD HD320 GB) - $40-$100 depending on capacity (must be thinner than 0.5")
4. Small Flathead Screwdriver - $1-$3 found at Home Depot
5. X-Acto Knife - $1-$2 found at Hobby Lobby
6. Box Cutter - $2-$3 found at Home Depot
7. Super Glue - $2-$3 found at Hobby Lobby
8. Needle Nose Pliers - $5-$20 found at Home Depot

Step 2: Cartridge Disassembly

Steps 2 -4 will guide you through the disassembly of the game cartridge.

Using flathead screwdriver, remove screws from the backside of the cartridge

***Tip - Some games have different types (security or flathead) or numbers of screws (anywhere from 3-5). For this game we had only 3 screws which were all flathead.***

Step 3: Cartridge Disassembly

Pop both fastening tabs apart

***Tip - Some games will have 5 screws instead of the two top tabs***

Step 4: Cartridge Disassembly

Once all screws have been removed, split the two pieces of the cartridge has shown in the picture, also remove the internal circuit board (outlined in picture) from the left half of the cartridge.

****Tip – Be careful with the circuit board, if the game was not damaged the circuit board can still be used.***

Step 5: Hard Drive Disassembly

Steps 5-9 will vary from user to user depending on the hard drive purchased. The device used in this tutorial was a Western Digital 320 GB hard drive and costs around $40 new.

Step 6: Hard Drive Disassembly

Use flathead screwdriver to pry open both sides of the protective casing

***Tip - Each hard drive is different, for the one we used, use moderate force when prying, if you see the plastic casing flex and begin to stretch and turn white, use less force.***

Step 7: Hard Drive Disassembly

Once the hard drive is release from the outside casing, the hard drive and the black surrounding piece should slide easily out of the grey casing

Step 8: Hard Drive Disassembly

Remove hard drive from its surrounding black plastic casing and the 4 rubber pads (see picture). Also set aside 2 of the rubber pads for reassembly.

Step 9: Hard Drive Disassembly

Slide the metal casing away from the hard drive.

Step 10: Cartridge Modification

Steps 10 -17 will be performed in order to ensure that the hard drive fits properly into the game cartridge. Be careful of plastic shrapnel!

With the X-Acto knife and box cutter, remove all the plastic tabs in the yellow boxes

***Tip – Other tools can be used such as Dremmel and hot powered knifes, for this set of instructions we believed the more basic the better.***

Step 11: Cartridge Modification

With the X-Acto knife, remove the right peg (keep this piece for reassembly) and the center screw hole, keep this piece for reassembly (see picture).

Step 12: Cartridge Modification

Using the coarse grit sand paper, sand the surfaces where plastic was removed to a smooth finish.

*** Tip – You do not have to sand everything flat, this just helps with fitting.***

Step 13: Cartridge Modification

Position the hard drive at the right edge of the cartridge (see picture).

Step 14: Cartridge Modification

Once you have the hard drive in the best fit position, next make two marks on the side of the game casing where you will make the cuts for the USB connector

***Tip- To ensure the best fit, measure the height of the USB connector and measure that distance down on the case to allow for the right amount of clearance***

Step 15: Cartridge Modification

Once cut, set the hard drive into the game and check for fitment issues.

***Tip – The fine grit sand paper works well here, as it takes little material off and cleans up the finished cut.***

Step 16: Cartridge Modification

Prepare the two plastic pegs to help support the hard drive

***Tip - Be careful with the super glue as you can glue your fingers together***

Step 17: Cartridge Disassembly

Pop both fastening tabs apart

***Tip - Some games will have 5 screws instead of the two top tabs***

Step 18: Cartridge Reassembly

With the hard drive finally mated with the backside of the game cartridge, all that is left to do is reattach the front face.
Using the small flathead screwdriver, re-install two screws from the disassembly process. The third screw will no longer fit due to the presence of the hard drive inside.