Hot!! IDE TO USB 2.0 DRIVE 2.5"/3.5"/5.25" ADAPTER PC/MAC $15 shipped

[DefDC]

Originally posted by: skisteven1
my plan:

I'm not out of drive slots in my computer, but I am out of connections. So, I figure use the internal molex for power, mount the drives in my case, and run several of these usb cables out of the case to the usb connectors in the back. Windows will read them as removable drives, but they'll still be there all the time.

good idea? bad idea?

btw, I've thought of adding a PCI based ATA controller card -- no room :-(

Not a bad idea. I have lots of desk space, so I have one plugged in as a semi-permanent drive. Works fine!

 

[sleepeeg3]

WIsh I saw this the other day. Would have saved me $7 bucks.

 

[Devil2U]

Good Deal.
I have been interested in picking one of these up. Best price I've ever seen.

 

[skisteven1]

Originally posted by: DefDC

Originally posted by: skisteven1
my plan:

I'm not out of drive slots in my computer, but I am out of connections. So, I figure use the internal molex for power, mount the drives in my case, and run several of these usb cables out of the case to the usb connectors in the back. Windows will read them as removable drives, but they'll still be there all the time.

good idea? bad idea?

btw, I've thought of adding a PCI based ATA controller card -- no room :-(

Not a bad idea. I have lots of desk space, so I have one plugged in as a semi-permanent drive. Works fine!

no case or anything though? doesn't get dusty or bumped around?

 

[Greg04]

Originally posted by: mikeford
I don't quite see the point in this, with no case. I guess its easier to plug in a bare drive using the USB instead of opening the case and borrowing one of the IDE cables, or putting an IDE card in, but its still an odd bit. Also not clear does it come with the 2.5 notebook drive adapter?

Yeah, I thought that too, but I think it hits the nail on the head for people doing diagnostic work. There, a case would just be a pain in the neck, this is a nice simple niche tool.

 

[skisteven1]

Originally posted by: Greg04

Originally posted by: mikeford
I don't quite see the point in this, with no case. I guess its easier to plug in a bare drive using the USB instead of opening the case and borrowing one of the IDE cables, or putting an IDE card in, but its still an odd bit. Also not clear does it come with the 2.5 notebook drive adapter?

Yeah, I thought that too, but I think it hits the nail on the head for people doing diagnostic work. There, a case would just be a pain in the neck, this is a nice simple niche tool.

Bingo. I've found that with my case, when I'm doing diagnostic work for people, or swapping things in and out all the time, I end up just using the bottom half of the case (not the covering part) -- which is annoying, but this is basically the same thing.

 

[Robor]

This is a really cool tool. Just picked up one myself. Thanks badbulldog!

 

[mikeford]

Funny how some deals wax and wane, now I am starting to think I want one, but thats just my hoarding nature.

 

[skisteven1]

Originally posted by: mikeford
Funny how some deals wax and wane, now I am starting to think I want one, but thats just my hoarding nature.

keep in mind that while this is a pretty good deal, you can pick things like this up on very regular basis for like 25 bucks. so if the day comes when you need it, it won't cost you a whole lot more.

 

[DefDC]

Originally posted by: skisteven1

Originally posted by: DefDC

Originally posted by: skisteven1
my plan:

I'm not out of drive slots in my computer, but I am out of connections. So, I figure use the internal molex for power, mount the drives in my case, and run several of these usb cables out of the case to the usb connectors in the back. Windows will read them as removable drives, but they'll still be there all the time.

good idea? bad idea?

btw, I've thought of adding a PCI based ATA controller card -- no room :-(

Not a bad idea. I have lots of desk space, so I have one plugged in as a semi-permanent drive. Works fine!

no case or anything though? doesn't get dusty or bumped around?

Nah.. That's what I was saying, I have a lot of desk room. I'm sure it's not too much more dust than the INSIDE of my computers...

 

[Moffat Cafe]

thanks badbulldog, I've got one on order

 

[LightningStrikes]

Just rang one up...

Great for quick back up and diagnostics.

Thanks Op.

-LS

 

[11thHour]

It lets the hd run cooler than from within an un-fanned hd encloser as well. I've had my hd enclosure taken apart to use it like this for a while, w/o even knowing these were available.

I like the on/off switch of the disassembled enclosure though.

 

[ThroatPunch]

It's cheaper than an HDD case, but I don't like the idea of my harddrive just sitting without anything protecting it

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: ThroatPunch
It's cheaper than an HDD case, but I don't like the idea of my harddrive just sitting without anything protecting it

The point isn't to use a disk with it permanently--it's best suited as a diagnostic tool to allow you to quickly and temporarily hook up an internal disk externally without having to open your chassis or take the time to install it into an enclosure. DEFINITELY increases a laptop's usefulness as part of a field diagnostic kit for hardware issues, and it fits in any pouch in the laptop bag. :thumbsup:

 

[ThroatPunch]

Originally posted by: AStar617

Originally posted by: ThroatPunch
It's cheaper than an HDD case, but I don't like the idea of my harddrive just sitting without anything protecting it

The point isn't to use a disk with it permanently--it's best suited as a diagnostic tool to allow you to quickly and temporarily hook up an internal disk externally without having to open your chassis or take the time to install it into an enclosure. DEFINITELY increases a laptop's usefulness as part of a field diagnostic kit for hardware issues, and it fits in any pouch in the laptop bag. :thumbsup:

Sounds like a useful way to utilize it. The only reason I first thought that is because someone had been telling me about this a week ago. He told me he was gonna use it instead of having a more expensive external, but you can make your own external with an enclosure and cheap hdd....guess he doesn't know how to do that?

 

[mainomega]

Thanks OP... in for 1.
I already have and enclosure with fan... but found using just the hardware a lot easier

 

[Oscar1613]

Originally posted by: AStar617

Originally posted by: mikeford
I don't quite see the point in this, with no case. I guess its easier to plug in a bare drive using the USB instead of opening the case and borrowing one of the IDE cables, or putting an IDE card in...

Exactly.

Also not clear does it come with the 2.5 notebook drive adapter?

It does, read the description again, and also look at the picture of the contents. The little green PCB with IDE and molex on 1 side and a single connector on the other is for 2.5" disks.

where do you connect the molex to for a laptop? does that power adapter have the molex on it?

 

[mikeford]

All laptop drive adapters I have seen have spots on one end for IDE and power and 2.5 drive plugs into the other end.

This is the sort of thing I wait to actually see at a swapmeet or store, then decide if I like it.

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: Oscar1613

Originally posted by: AStar617

Originally posted by: mikeford
I don't quite see the point in this, with no case. I guess its easier to plug in a bare drive using the USB instead of opening the case and borrowing one of the IDE cables, or putting an IDE card in...

Exactly.

Also not clear does it come with the 2.5 notebook drive adapter?

It does, read the description again, and also look at the picture of the contents. The little green PCB with IDE and molex on 1 side and a single connector on the other is for 2.5" disks.

where do you connect the molex to for a laptop? does that power adapter have the molex on it?

Yes. The power adapter has a molex connector on the end; you can't see it well because it's black like the rest of the cord.

 

[MTwain]

Has anyone else had trouble with this? Win 2000, sp4.

The USB mass storage device appears in dev mgr but both of two HDDs, set to master, do not appear in "MyComputer".

From the instructions - "For new HDD: Before connecting USB Enclosure, please partition and format your HDD into FAT16 or FAT32. If your HDD partition is NTFS, UNIX, please let your HDD be FAT16 or FAT32 before connecting USB Enclosure. " The directions on the small instructions 'driver" cd repeatedly refer to a USB Enclosure. Hmm.

Does that mean it will not mount a NTFS drive? - looks that way to me...
The quality of the entire device is mediorce - which would not be an issue at all if the thing just worked as advertised.

 

[imported_Decaf]

Got mine today and spent a good deal of time working with it. The good news is I got it to work with my drives (which are all NTFS) under WinXP.
The bad news is it is quite finnicky about working at all. Sometimes WinXP reports an unknown device. Sometimes it sees a USB device, but it doesn't show up in explorer. These problems caused me to reboot several times.
On my system, it takes quite a long time for the system to recognize and report the device, long enough that it's easy to give up and disconnect it too soon.
Anyway, for the money it's a good buy.
I was able to back up my C drive using Ghost, while I surfed the net. That process took a little more than twice as long as it takes when the backup drive is connected to the motherboard.

 

[MattressTester]

Yeah, I received mine yesterday and there are some issues. According to the instructions (found on the 3" CD) the drive has to be FAT32 or FAT16. Did work with two of my old FAT32 HDD's. I haven't tried it with a NTFS drive yet. I couldn't get it to work with optical drives - AOpen DVD1648/AAP PRO or a Lite-On LTR-52327s. Made sure all drives were set as "master" but that didn't help. All around poor quality. Some of the connections appear soldered by hand. Not worth the trouble to return. Been using an AMC external enclosure from NewEgg for the last year or two and haven't had any problems - works with whatever - even a Sony DVD-RW. Only good thing about this adapter - when it does work it is fairly fast.

 

[MTwain]

I'm going to (try to) return mine. Failing on a 3rd hdd, a FAT32 Quantum. It is just too shoddy. POS does not always refer to Point-of-Sale.
What a waste of time. :thumbsdown:
It's no great bargain if it doesn't work (no disrespect to the OP).

I hope you don't ever need that Ghost Image, Decaf - seems like one would want something just slightly better for C drive backups. Murphy's Law just waiting to happen. Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen (and ladies as the case may be).

 

[DefDC]

Dont forget to go to "manage -> Disk Management" and see if the drive is sitting there with no drive letter. Many time I have to assign a drive letter and then it works like a charm!