I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
if any of you have any reccomendations for one that works well. I've
always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
many of them only function 'sometimes'.
"Fenrir Enterprises" <info@fenrironline.com> wrote in message
news:46ba9cc6.63789828@newsgroups.bellsouth.net...
>I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
> on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
> SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
> enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
> was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
> PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
> and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
> if any of you have any recommendations for one that works well. I've
> always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
> many of them only function 'sometimes'.
"Steve Midgley" <smidgley@com.net> wrote in message
news:7-2dnUJYBoXVMCfbnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@comcast.com...
> "Fenrir Enterprises" <info@fenrironline.com> wrote in message
> news:46ba9cc6.63789828@newsgroups.bellsouth.net...
>>I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
>> on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
>> SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
>> enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
>> was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
>> PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
>> and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
>> if any of you have any recommendations for one that works well. I've
>> always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
>> many of them only function 'sometimes'.
>
> I have one similar to this that I use every day: http://tinyurl.com/3aetxe
>
> This seller does take other forms of payment.
>
> SCM
$ 9.95 plus 8.95 shipping is a bit pricey. Try Google or Amazon.com.
>I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
>on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
>SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
>enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
>was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
>PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
>and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
>if any of you have any reccomendations for one that works well. I've
>always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
>many of them only function 'sometimes'.
Cyberguys has one that is both IDE and Sata. It also has a laptop ide
connector built into it. I paid like $18 plus shipping, and I'm quite
happy with it.
Fenrir Enterprises wrote:
> I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
> on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
> SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
> enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
> was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
> PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
> and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
> if any of you have any reccomendations for one that works well. I've
> always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
> many of them only function 'sometimes'.
There are issues with these.
Older models work well enough with hard drives. Newer ones will work
with CD drives as well. The affordable ones are no specs, no vendor,
no support, no warranty, no manual, no nothing devices. There's no way
to tell what you're getting.
They're not very rugged. It's pretty easy to break your hard drive or
the adapter if you bang it around on the desk for a while. And if you
knock it loose while it's running, you may lose your data or worse.
The power supplies that they come with have a reputaion for unreliability.
They read data well enough, but if you expect to use a drive tester
utility thru them, YMMV. I bought one to test hard drives at swap meets
and have been largely disappointed in my abiltiy to do so.
Most have no way to power a 2.5" drive. And most laptop drives
exceed the power supply spec on a USB port. Depending on the drive,
adapter,
usb port on your laptop, you may or may not be able to run one.
My experience has been that most of my laptops won't run most of the
2.5" drives that I have. Results have been better on desktops.
USB ports are supposed to be protected against overload...supposed to
be. But I've been unwilling to risk my expensive laptop by plugging
on an unknown/untested swapmeet hard drive.
Which brings me to the bait/switch going on on EBAY. There is at least
one model adapter that does allow you to add power to a 2.5" drive.
Found one on ebay at a good price and bought it. They shipped me
the cheapo adapter without power capability. Took Paypal intervention
to get my money back. So I emailed another vendor with the same ad.
They admitted that their auction information was "old" and they were not,
in fact, shipping the advertised drive...and weren't going to fix the ad.
Buyer beware.
Suggest you use an external enclosure if at all possible.
mike
Go to E-Bay and do a search on "USB IDE SATA Tri" and you will find it.
Fenrir Enterprises wrote:
> I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
> on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
> SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
> enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
> was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
> PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
> and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
> if any of you have any reccomendations for one that works well. I've
> always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
> many of them only function 'sometimes'.
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:10:28 GMT, mike <spamme9@gmail.com> wrote:
>There are issues with these.
>Older models work well enough with hard drives. Newer ones will work
>with CD drives as well. The affordable ones are no specs, no vendor,
>no support, no warranty, no manual, no nothing devices. There's no way
>to tell what you're getting.
CD support isn't really needed, though it would probably be far
cheaper than buying an external CD drive, so could be convenient.
>They're not very rugged. It's pretty easy to break your hard drive or
>the adapter if you bang it around on the desk for a while. And if you
>knock it loose while it's running, you may lose your data or worse.
>The power supplies that they come with have a reputaion for unreliability.
>They read data well enough, but if you expect to use a drive tester
>utility thru them, YMMV. I bought one to test hard drives at swap meets
>and have been largely disappointed in my abiltiy to do so.
>Most have no way to power a 2.5" drive. And most laptop drives
>exceed the power supply spec on a USB port. Depending on the drive,
>adapter, usb port on your laptop, you may or may not be able to run one.
This is more for being able to pull a drive and retrieve data off of
it if Windows has crashed, or to be able to virus scan it. I do wonder
whether doing this would affect the bootability of a drive (as Acronis
tells me that if I mirror a drive, it's not reccomended to plug it
into the computer as a secondary drive).
>My experience has been that most of my laptops won't run most of the
>2.5" drives that I have. Results have been better on desktops.
>USB ports are supposed to be protected against overload...supposed to
>be. But I've been unwilling to risk my expensive laptop by plugging
>on an unknown/untested swapmeet hard drive.
I'm searching for one that has external AC power. I've seen far too
many non-Flash USB drives overload laptop hubs.
What you will find ... and likely all that you will find, unless you buy
a case ... is external power for 3.5" and SATA drives and USB power for
2.5" IDE drives.
Fenrir Enterprises wrote:
>
> I'm searching for one that has external AC power. I've seen far too
> many non-Flash USB drives overload laptop hubs.
>
> --
>
> http://www.FenrirOnline.com
>
> Computer services, custom metal etching,
> arts, crafts, and much more.
This one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156102
is the best I've tried, works with laptop and desktop, IDE and SATA
drives. Used it quite a bit. Little pricier than some I bought, but they
don't work anymore, either.
Fenrir Enterprises wrote:
> I remember awhile back someone here mentioned a connector they bought
> on eBay that allowed you to connect most modern hard drives (IDE and
> SATA, both desktop and notebook sizes) via USB. It wasn't an
> enclosure, it was just the connector + external AC power cord. And it
> was a pretty decent price, but it was PayPal only (and I don't use
> PayPal). I've been needing something like this lately. I've searched
> and found a few stores that have similar cables, but I was wondering
> if any of you have any reccomendations for one that works well. I've
> always been wary of USB converters for any kind of peripheral since
> many of them only function 'sometimes'.
USB hard drive connector 
Linear Mode
