Warning about IDE to SATA Devices

[DRS.Usenet]

I figured I'd drop my old IDE drives in my new computer* with one of
those little $8 devices that plugs on the back of an IDE hard drive
(Sata Host to IDE Drive device). It has a 40 pin female that fits the
drive and a place to plug a standard SATA signal cable. I also had to
get a sata 15 pin to molex so I could power the drive.

The bottom line is that this thing works, but not reliably. I would
NOT recommend this thing!

At first I thought it had to do with getting confused when it came out
of hibernation because sometimes I'd come to the machine and find the
drive letter "gone". Sometimes disk manager would have the drive as
unformatted, sometimes the disk wouldn't be in disk manager. When I
rebooted and went into BIOS after loosing the drive, it wouldn't show
up there (normally has the drive size and info). If I powered-down
again, unplugged the signal cable, powered-up, powered-down, re-
plugged the signal cable, and went back into BIOS, it would "see" the
drive again. I discovered that it would occasionally just "give-
up"... Windows would say (in so many words) "I was trying to copy
this file, and, um, it's not there". Then I'd look and the drive
letter would be gone! Some rebooting and poking around in BIOS always
brought it back, but this was happening many times per day.

And in case you think I just got a bad version of one of these things,
I actually have two of them, and tried them with two different
drives. The two Sata Host to IDE Drive adapters are similar, but not
exactly the same; I bought each from a different supplier on eBay.
The second device actually caused the MFT$ on one of my IDE drives to
become hosed while using one of these little "gems".

So, a word to the wise: steer clear of these things... they're nothing
but trouble.

--Dale--

* My old MB blew and I got a new Dell with ALL SATA (power and
signal). Not a single molex or ribbon cable in it. Grumble,
grumble. I should have read the specs.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I figured I'd drop my old IDE drives in my new computer* with one of
those little $8 devices that plugs on the back of an IDE hard drive
(Sata Host to IDE Drive device). It has a 40 pin female that fits the
drive and a place to plug a standard SATA signal cable. I also had to
get a sata 15 pin to molex so I could power the drive.

The bottom line is that this thing works, but not reliably. I would
NOT recommend this thing!

At first I thought it had to do with getting confused when it came out
of hibernation because sometimes I'd come to the machine and find the
drive letter "gone". Sometimes disk manager would have the drive as
unformatted, sometimes the disk wouldn't be in disk manager. When I
rebooted and went into BIOS after loosing the drive, it wouldn't show
up there (normally has the drive size and info). If I powered-down
again, unplugged the signal cable, powered-up, powered-down, re-
plugged the signal cable, and went back into BIOS, it would "see" the
drive again. I discovered that it would occasionally just "give-
up"... Windows would say (in so many words) "I was trying to copy
this file, and, um, it's not there". Then I'd look and the drive
letter would be gone! Some rebooting and poking around in BIOS always
brought it back, but this was happening many times per day.

And in case you think I just got a bad version of one of these things,
I actually have two of them, and tried them with two different
drives. The two Sata Host to IDE Drive adapters are similar, but not
exactly the same; I bought each from a different supplier on eBay.
The second device actually caused the MFT$ on one of my IDE drives to
become hosed while using one of these little "gems".

So, a word to the wise: steer clear of these things... they're nothing
but trouble.

Care to name the brand and model of disk and converter? Some of these
are reliable, some others are not, and it also depends on what disks
you use each with. I have posted my experiences with several here some
time ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2g4mb7

Arno

 

[Michael Hawes]

Care to name the brand and model of disk and converter? Some of these
are reliable, some others are not, and it also depends on what disks
you use each with. I have posted my experiences with several here some
time ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2g4mb7

Arno

Check for updated drivers. Sounds like a driver problem, lots of device
drivers have problems with hibernation or standby.
Mike.

 

[DRS.Usenet]

Care to name the brand and model of disk and converter? Some of these
are reliable, some others are not, and it also depends on what disks
you use each with. I have posted my experiences with several here some
time ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2g4mb7

Nice report. I'm afraid I won't be able to contribute many specifics,
though. The devices have some model numbers and stuff, but no
manufacturer brand (search "hdd to sata host" on eBay - $8 delivered -
I got what a paid for:a kick in the rear). I used that one with my
Western Digital drive (this is the one where I followed XP's advice
and ran chkdsk and now the drive is toast), and the other device
(similar but not exactly the same, also eBay) was used with a Maxtor
(this is the one where I ignore the suggestion to run chkdsk and just
reboot and/or tinker with bios settings and/or unplug it until it
works again - that lasts a day or 1/2 day, then the drive letter
disappears again).

--Dale--

--Dale--

 

[DRS.Usenet]

Check for updated drivers. Sounds like a driver problem, lots of device
drivers have problems with hibernation or standby.

The devices have no drivers / do not require separate drivers; they
are supposed to be emulating an SATA drive. Of course there are
drivers for the hard drive, but those are just the standard Microsoft
drivers for all hard disks. I wouldn't know where to go to find a
better driver.

--Dale--

 

[Arno Wagner]

The devices have no drivers / do not require separate drivers; they
are supposed to be emulating an SATA drive.
Correct.

Of course there are
drivers for the hard drive, but those are just the standard Microsoft
drivers for all hard disks.

Again correct.

I wouldn't know where to go to find a
better driver.

This is not a driver issue. It is the converter's manufacturers
broken implementation of their translation algorithm.

Arno

 

[Arno Wagner]

Nice report. I'm afraid I won't be able to contribute many specifics,
though. The devices have some model numbers and stuff, but no
manufacturer brand (search "hdd to sata host" on eBay - $8 delivered -
I got what a paid for:a kick in the rear). I used that one with my
Western Digital drive (this is the one where I followed XP's advice
and ran chkdsk and now the drive is toast), and the other device
(similar but not exactly the same, also eBay) was used with a Maxtor
(this is the one where I ignore the suggestion to run chkdsk and just
reboot and/or tinker with bios settings and/or unplug it until it
works again - that lasts a day or 1/2 day, then the drive letter
disappears again).

I think these things are way to unreliable or it is way to hard
to find a reliable one. I have two old ones that work and that
I use when needed, but apart from that, I think getting a new
SATA disk is the only reliable solution. They are not that
expensive.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

The devices have no drivers / do not require separate drivers; they
are supposed to be emulating an SATA drive.

Of course there are drivers for the hard drive,

That now includes a PATA->SATA converter.
Some drivers may not respond to that well.

but those are just the standard Microsoft drivers for all hard disks.

Ehm, no. Drivers for (S)ATA controllers.
Some drivers may work better with them then others.

I wouldn't know where to go to find a better driver.

So *you* are screwed. Doesn't mean everyone is.

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

This is not a driver issue. It is the converter's manufacturers
broken implementation of their translation algorithm.

Not the dongle manufacturer - the manufacturer of the converter chip
they stick on their PCB. I think when discussing the performance of
these dongles, the ID of the chip used is more pertinent information
than the name of the company that has assembled the PCB.

I've used four of these converters. Two were el-cheapos (sub $10 types)
of differing types and two were more expensive (UKP25.) All worked
initially, but one cheapie failed after a few weeks and was replaced
under warranty. The two cheapies had noticeably poor soldering; the
more expensive ones were much better made. See

<http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.comp.homebuilt/browse_thread/thread
/c2d517947cde337/bbdec29f5a02dea9?hl=en&lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#bbdec29f5a02dea
9>

The cheapies are anonymous - "Best Connectivity" and "Made in China" on
the packaging, a barcode of 5055183034316. One is a bare PCB, the other
is housed in a translucent plastic case that impairs the ability of the
40-way connector to fit fully onto the drive. Both have JMicron chips.

The more expensive ones are made by Roline and have part number
11.03.1570. The spec says they have a Silicon Image chipset. They have
a non-transparent plastic housing, so I cannot check the chip. Pic at:

http://www.roline-bg.com/product.php?lang=eng&id=11.03.1570-20

I made some speed measurements. See:

<http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.comp.homebuilt/browse_thread/thread
/ed2c5b835ff4aea5/8ca04a06dd8fe355?hl=en&lnk=st&q=&rnum=2#8ca04a06dd8fe3
55>

The design of all is similar - floppy power connector, SATA connector,
couple of LEDs, converter chip, a clock crystal, some circuitry to drop
5V from the floppy power connector down to 3.3V, some discrete
componentry.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Not the dongle manufacturer - the manufacturer of the converter chip
they stick on their PCB.

Well, yes, obviously. The converter is the chip, the rest is just
packaging and wiring (mostly).

I think when discussing the performance of
these dongles, the ID of the chip used is more pertinent information
than the name of the company that has assembled the PCB.
Definitely.

I've used four of these converters. Two were el-cheapos (sub $10 types)
of differing types and two were more expensive (UKP25.) All worked
initially, but one cheapie failed after a few weeks and was replaced
under warranty. The two cheapies had noticeably poor soldering; the
more expensive ones were much better made. See

I had one ElCheapo recently that was incompentntly repaired: Seems
an SATA decoupling capacitor had fallen off and was replaced with
a pice of wire. Did not even bother getting a warranty replacement,
I think I am done with this type of converter.

<http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.comp.homebuilt/browse_thread/thread
/c2d517947cde337/bbdec29f5a02dea9?hl=en&lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#bbdec29f5a02dea
9>

The cheapies are anonymous - "Best Connectivity" and "Made in China" on
the packaging, a barcode of 5055183034316. One is a bare PCB, the other
is housed in a translucent plastic case that impairs the ability of the
40-way connector to fit fully onto the drive. Both have JMicron chips.

The more expensive ones are made by Roline and have part number
11.03.1570. The spec says they have a Silicon Image chipset.

Ahhh, that was the damaged one I got. And no, it does not have a
silicon image chip, at least mine did not.

They have
a non-transparent plastic housing, so I cannot check the chip. Pic at:

I made some speed measurements. See:

The design of all is similar - floppy power connector, SATA connector,
couple of LEDs, converter chip, a clock crystal, some circuitry to drop
5V from the floppy power connector down to 3.3V, some discrete
componentry.

By now I would say, that nobody tries to make these thinks reliable.
They are more of an addity. Prehaps the manufacturers think that
people that care will buy SATA disks instead. Unfortunately that
seems to be the only reasonable thing to do.

Arno