using an internal SATA drive as eSATA?

[theslug]

I have an internal SATA drive that I want to keep outside the computer as a backup drive. My P35/ICH9R motherboard came with a bracket that does SATA to eSATA and Molex power to SATA power.

The bracket looks like this. That's two eSATA ports on the sides and Molex in the middle. The cables are an eSATA to SATA data cable and Molex to SATA power cable.

Once the bracket is installed, can I safely hook up the drive to the eSATA-SATA data cable and the Molex-SATA power cable, while the computer is already on?

Thanks

 

[ElBurro]

The serial ATA standard does include a hot swappable spec so it should not be a problem.

 

[mooseracing]

If it is an eSata cable to SATA mobo, I high doubt it will work unless the port on the mobo is labeled e-sata. It will work as a drive just not hot swappable

 

[pjkenned]

I do this on my P45 Gigabyte board. I would however suggest just buying an ESATA enclosure as they are cheap and you won't leave the PCB exposed.

 

[California Roll]

I do exactly what OP is doing. I use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817153071 in lieu of an enclosure or plugging the drive directly into the esata port.

I have about 10 internal sata drives that I use exclusively externally (video editing and backups). I can hot swap drives as much as I want. I always use the "safely remove hardware" icon in my taskbar before I swap drives tho.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: California Roll
I do exactly what OP is doing. I use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817153071 in lieu of an enclosure or plugging the drive directly into the esata port.

These are what I'm using now, too. So far, so good. My SATA controllers (Silicon Image chipset on PCI or PCI-E cards) don't give me a "safely remove hardware" option, but hot-swap just fine.

 

[California Roll]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: California Roll
I do exactly what OP is doing. I use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817153071 in lieu of an enclosure or plugging the drive directly into the esata port.

These are what I'm using now, too. So far, so good. My SATA controllers (Silicon Image chipset on PCI or PCI-E cards) don't give me a "safely remove hardware" option, but hot-swap just fine.

Mine didn't initially either, there was something I had to do for it show up. I think it was turning AHCI on in my mobo bios settings for my sata controller and something in windows also. I'll see if I can dig up the writeup I saw for this.

 

[RebateMonger]

n.m.

 

[theslug]

So is it safe (i.e. won't fry the drive) to plug in the molex-sata power cable to the drive while the computer is turned on?

 

[heymrdj]

You will have to have AHCI drivers for your motherboard installed into your Windows installation for the hotswap system to work. You have to do this (i'm not certain, but pretty sure) at the installation of your Windows OS, and it cannot be done on an existing installation.

 

[theslug]

yeah, I've read up on AHCI. (actually it can be done even once windows is installed with a procedure posted at pcper.com)

I'm just wondering about the physical connection.

 

[Pembar]

I have a P35/ICH9R motherboard too and I can tell you that it worked for me. I do have a separate eSATA connection on my motherboard which I use for my eSATA enclosure. At the same time, I have something like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817989001

that I use to hotswap, and this is connected directly to the SATA port on my motherboard.

I had to set up AHCI up and use the "hotswap" utility (google it) though. But it does work fine.

 

[hanspeter]

It is not only about hot swapping, but also about signal levels - to better support the long cables. Fortunately, ICH9 supports it.

 

[tonij1960]

I was trying to hook up my sata drive externally with a sata to esata cable.It would work if it was connected to the internal power supply but not if it was connected to an external supply.It was providing the correct voltages and the drive was spinning.What was wrong?