external USB HD enclosure

[tony4704]

I have to backup my friends laptop hard drive because the dell restore option doesnt seem to backup personal files. Can someone recommend a good external USB enclosure that fits both regular and laptop hard drives? Thanks.

 

[Davidh373]

This is a laptop one I use

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-014-_-Product

Unfortunately it comes with a y cable for NO REASON, but it works.

I can't personally attest to the quality of this but it appears well reviewed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-138-_-Product

 

[Slugbait]

Yeah, disc restoration has nothing to do with data preservation.

But I digress...I've never heard of such an enclosure. You can buy 2.5 or 3.5, but I don't believe any can do both.

However, you could go with a docking station instead. Newegg has about 70 or 80 to choose from.

 

[Davidh373]

OH! He did want it to fit both. Sorry man, i'm sure it exists somewheres but I've never heard of it.

 

[corkyg]

This should meet all your requirements.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817392029

 

[muscles|]

Make sure to try to get a case that also supports eSATA.

eSATA blows usb transfer rates out of the water.

May not need it for this instance, but having it is always a good move.

-muscles|

 

[tony4704]

Thanks guys, really appreciate it!

 

[tony4704]

Well i bought the VANTEC NST-D100S2 Plastic 2.5" & 3.5" USB 2.0 Hard Drive

and my WD600BEVS doesnt seem to fit it???? any ideas why? its a sata drive.

 

[RebateMonger]

and my WD600BEVS doesnt seem to fit it???? any ideas why? its a sata drive.

What, exactly, doesn't fit?

 

[corkyg]

Make sure you have it facing the right way. SATA connec tors are standard. That should not happen. Peer down inside, and look at the drive connectors and make sure they meet. It will only connect one way.

That is a 2.5-in drive, right? Make sure it does not have a laptop adapter connected. And, that it is totally removed from the laptop caddy.

 

[tony4704]

Make sure you have it facing the right way. SATA connec tors are standard. That should not happen. Peer down inside, and look at the drive connectors and make sure they meet. It will only connect one way.

That is a 2.5-in drive, right? Make sure it does not have a laptop adapter connected. And, that it is totally removed from the laptop caddy.

LOL that was it, I didnt even notice that laptop adapter on there! Thank you...worked like a charm.

 

[tony4704]

Quick question too, now that I have the HD loaded, where would the location of the users files be? It loaded 3 drives: HP_RECOVERY, and 2 data drives (one with doc. and settings and windows folders and one with a bunch of garbage folders and another windows folder). I Cant seem to find the users files though such as my music, my pictures, etc.

 

[RebateMonger]

In XP, the standard "My Documents", etc. folders are located in:

\Documents and Settings\UserName\My Documents\

There's a separate "UserName" folder for each User on the computer.

 

[tony4704]

Stupid windows and its security. Its not copying any of the files over saying i dont have permission even though i changed the ownership of the folder to my username. I dont want to go file by file and change the permissions. That seems to be the only way that it copies though. If I go to each file and change to my username then I can copy it off the drive.

 

[Davidh373]

Isn't there some security setting in control panel to change all write permissions at once? Odd if there isn't...

 

[mfenn]

Isn't there some security setting in control panel to change all write permissions at once? Odd if there isn't...

Yeah, there is. You have to go into the advanced view and make sure to check the "apply to all subcontainers and objects" box.

 

[samgau]

YOu could always boot with a linux live cd such as ubuntu or fedora