Cornice screw type?

[samuel1]

Howdy everyone,

I need to unscrew a screw type I've never seen before on a Cornice 8GB mini HDD :

D: do any of you know what type of screwdriver I need to use for that?

Also, do any of you know what type of connector this is? I am lead to believe it's a "ZIF" of some sort, but I don't have any experience with those, and I'd simply like to get a whatever-that-is-to-USB adapter:

Tremendously appreciated~ !

 

[StarTech]

Run a search for Y screwdrivers. You will probably find a combined torx/Y/star/hex set in fleebay

 

[corkyg]

Sounds a lot like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Silverhill-Scr.../dp/B0018688GS

 

[samuel1]

You're right! Thank you both very much.

Any similar insights as to the connector depicted in the second and third photographs?

 

[StarTech]

Not sure about the connector. What are you trying to find out?

 

[samuel1]

I am trying to find out what the connector is called so that I can get a whatever-that-thing-is-to-USB adapter.

 

[Cerb]

Your local hardware stores should have the screws, possibly even in bit sets, though sets may not have them small enough (I had to buy a T6, FI, last time I wanted to nab magnets).

The connector is a fairly common ZIF type. You will find that practically every internal connector inside portable devices uses them. The exposed pads on the end of the ribbons cable lay on the pins, and then the extra loose piece is flipped over (as in the last pic), and pushed in to lock. They are also nice because you have very little risk of damage by pulling the cable to remove it (it unlocks when you do).

If it is a 1.8" drive, you can get cable adapters to normal PATA (should be 50-pin IDE ZIF). Not sure if 1" use the same cables.

 

[samuel1]

Thank you, Cerb!

Problem is, it's hard to find specifically an 18-pin ZIF to USB adapter. Most auctions or websites are vague on how many pins the ZIF connector has.

Example eBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-IDE-1...ultDomain_0&hash=item5643dfc3e7#ht_4898wt_882

That thing clearly has way more than 18 pins, so it won't work. I find that nearly every auction/site I find I have to zoom in and count the number of pins. Is that normal? I feel like I am doing something wrong.

 

[Schmide]

18 pins?

Could it be a CE-ATA?

Edit: So you would need this?

http://www.amazon.com/Inch-SATA-Serial-ATA-Adapter-BOARD/dp/B003MMS4VA Notice the combo at the bottom.

Edit2: Even better? http://www.amazon.com/ZIF-1-8-IDE-2-5-Adapter/dp/B006GWUWJ0/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

 

[samuel1]

Schmide,

Those look great -- but they seem to suffer from the same problem in that they don't say how many pins the ZIF connector is.

If you look at my photo of the Cornice HDD, it looks like there are 18 pins. On the two devices you linked me to, it looks like there's at least double that:

So, I don't think it'll work if I plug it in because the pin count doesn't match. Am I wrong?

 

[samuel1]

Bad form to respond after my own post, I am certain -- but I would love to get to the bottom of this ZIF-number-of-pins confusion.

If I plug in an 18-pin ZIF to a 40-pin ZIF adapter -- won't I have some real trouble there?

 

[StarTech]

I suspect you will fry it. Have you though about contacting one of the adapter sellers in Amazon or fleabay ? They may point you in the right direction.

 

[samuel1]

Sure -- but most of them are Chinese sellers and either: (1) don't respond; or (2) provide me with some kind of unintelligible answer like "40-pin ok free shipping thank u."

Very helpful.

 

[StarTech]

Did not think of that !

 

[samuel1]

That's the unfortunate situation. Here's a video of a guy plugging it into a computer. Clearly, it's possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF5vVyphqGU

This guy hasn't responded to me, either.

 

[heymrdj]

That Cornice drive is a CE-ATA 18 pin interface if it is truly 18 pin. I can't see the pics here, but count well. Cornice made a 20 pin drive (though I think they were only 1-1.5GB) and while it spoke in IDE it was not compatible with any ATA connection and was a custom (proprietary) interface. If it's 18 pin, you can use a CE-ATA to SATA adapter.

 

[StarTech]

Here is an old post in another site going thru the same pain. Not sure will be of any help

http://forum.hddguru.com/ata-adapter-t11001.html

 

[samuel1]

heymrdj --

Thank you. I count 18 pins.

What I cannot find anywhere on this planet is a "CE-ATA to USB adapter" ~ is this really so rare?

 

[Schmide]

That's the unfortunate situation. Here's a video of a guy plugging it into a computer. Clearly, it's possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF5vVyphqGU

This guy hasn't responded to me, either.

All that techno, and no tripod. Sad.

 

[samuel1]

Agreed -- so... let's plug in this CE-ATA device into a USB port.

How can we get that done?

 

[samuel1]

I think there has to be another name for it other than "CE-ATA to USB adapter." Even a simple Google search pretty much brings up nothing to that effect. ZIF 18-pin to USB similarly brings up practically nothing.

haLp!1

 

[heymrdj]

Can you get by without converting it to USB, but read it as raw IDE or SATA? Other than that you would have to attempt to daisy chain adapters (like CE-ATA to IDE and IDE to USB). The proprietary device they were stuck in typically did the work of transcoding the data from the micro drive to the computer via USB, which was one of the reasons speeds were so darn slow (poor cheap processors in the things).

 

[sm625]

What do you need this thing for? Isnt it completely obsolete? Wouldnt a newer USB 2.0 8GB thumb drive be better than that thing?

 

[heymrdj]

What do you need this thing for? Isnt it completely obsolete? Wouldnt a newer USB 2.0 8GB thumb drive be better than that thing?

I imagine he's trying to rescue data.

 

[corkyg]

I think he's doing it just for the fun of doing it.