Actually I was more thinking about these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...er=BESTMATCH&Description=usb+ide+sata+adapter
Or for ease of use, the TinyURL version of the above:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yktu4g4
But both are good, and your suggestion might make the OP feel more secure,
with the drive protected inside an enclosure.
To the OP - be sure that you choose an enclosure or cable that will accept
your drive. Most of the cables accept both 2.5" and 3.5" drives of both
persuasions, IDE/PATA and SATA. Many enclosures accept both IDE/PATA and
SATA too, but many accept only one type, and AFAIK all enclosures accept
only one drive size.
And just to roil the waters a bit more, here's an example of a dock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ESTMATCH&Description=usb+drive+dock&x=20&y=28
Or in TinyURL form,
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yhsh74u
The docks I've seen all take only SATA, but they all take either 2.5" or
3.5" drives.