What device will let my Laptop Hot Swap & Read both Desktop HDs and Laptop HDs?

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B__P

My primary system is my laptop.
I have many many hard drives that have data on them that I need to
recover - both HD's from old Desktop systems and HD's from old Laptop
systems. The Desktop systems are MAINLY IDE but some SATA and I
really don't now what the laptop HD's are.


Is there something I can plug into my laptop that will let me Hot Swap
the drives and read the all? Or if not all, what can I get that will
let me Hot Swap and read MOST of my HD's?

I would appreciate any help on this that you can give me.
I am unsure what to search the net for to even look for help.

Thank you much
Peebles, BonnE
 
My primary system is my laptop.
I have many many hard drives that have data on them that I need to
recover - both HD's from old Desktop systems and HD's from old Laptop
systems.  The Desktop systems are MAINLY IDE but some SATA and I
really don't now what the laptop HD's are.

Is there something I can plug into my laptop that will let me Hot Swap
the drives and read the all?  Or if not all, what can I get that will
let me Hot Swap and read MOST of my HD's?

I would appreciate any help on this that you can give me.
I am unsure what to search the net for to even look for help.

Thank you much
Peebles, BonnE
Click to expand...

USB drive enclosure. Hot swap by unplugging the usb first, not the
pata cable.


NT
 
USB drive enclosure. Hot swap by unplugging the usb first, not the
pata cable.

NT
Click to expand...

Laptop drives were P-ATA for a long time, you just need an adaptor
cable to use their smaller connector.


NT
 
My primary system is my laptop.
I have many many hard drives that have data on them that I need to
recover - both HD's from old Desktop systems and HD's from old Laptop
systems. The Desktop systems are MAINLY IDE but some SATA and I
really don't now what the laptop HD's are.


Is there something I can plug into my laptop that will let me Hot Swap
the drives and read the all? Or if not all, what can I get that will
let me Hot Swap and read MOST of my HD's?

I would appreciate any help on this that you can give me.
I am unsure what to search the net for to even look for help.

Thank you much
Peebles, BonnE
Click to expand...

Hot swapping older PATA (IDE) model drives was usually not supported unless
using special chassis or enclosures such as was used in servers. With that
said you can get an almost hot swap solution using one of the various USB to
hard drive adaptors.

While USB enclosures can be located to handle PATA and SATA drives of
various sizes they usually are tailored to one specific drive type. That
and the fact that most were not designed to be swapping drives but rather
were designed to handle one drive and then the case gets screwed together.

The option that I use to recover data from a drive or use a drive as a
temporary backup and then remove and store the drive is the USB to Hard
drive adaptor cable. Many adapter cables can handle drives of multiple
types and sizes. One has to read the info about the adaptor to make sure it
can handle both PATA (IDE) and SATA drives if that is your desire. Many do
not have the necessary connector to handle the laptop sized drives as well.

The thing to remember with the adaptor cable method is to make sure that you
purchase one that includes the "optional" power adaptor module. The USB
port is not able to power many of the older or larger drives by itself. The
cheaper adaptor cables don't tell you this in the advertisements but may
mention it in passing on the documentation, if any, that comes with the
adaptor.

Here is a link to one such adapter cable can handle both the PATA and SATA
drives of various sizes and comes with the power adapter.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3249952&CatId=3770

Others of various prices and capabilities can be found at;
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3770

Note: While these adaptor cables have multiple connectors they can only be
hooked to one drive at a time. Not all kits are the same, some do not come
supplied with all required power adapter cables/plugs for both IDE and SATA
but just one or the other, expecting you to supply what is missing.
 
Hot swapping older PATA (IDE) model drives was usually not supported unless
using special chassis or enclosures such as was used in servers.  With that
said you can get an almost hot swap solution using one of the various USBto
hard drive adaptors.

While USB enclosures can be located to handle PATA and SATA drives of
various sizes they usually are tailored to one specific drive type.  That
and the fact that most were not designed to be swapping drives but rather
were designed to handle one drive and then the case gets screwed together..

The option that I use to recover data from a drive or use a drive as a
temporary backup and then remove and store the drive is the USB to Hard
drive adaptor cable.  Many adapter cables can handle drives of multiple
types and sizes.  One has to read the info about the adaptor to make sure it
can handle both PATA (IDE) and SATA drives if that is your desire.  Many do
not have the necessary connector to handle the laptop sized drives as well.

The thing to remember with the adaptor cable method is to make sure that you
purchase one that includes the "optional" power adaptor module.  The USB
port is not able to power many of the older or larger drives by itself.  The
cheaper adaptor cables don't tell you this in the advertisements but may
mention it in passing on the documentation, if any, that comes with the
adaptor.

Here is a link to one such adapter cable can handle both the PATA and SATA
drives of various sizes and comes with the power adapter.http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?...

Others of various prices and capabilities can be found at;http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Cat...

Note: While these adaptor cables have multiple connectors they can only be
hooked to one drive at a time.  Not all kits are the same, some do not come
supplied with all required power adapter cables/plugs for both IDE and SATA
but just one or the other, expecting you to supply what is missing.
Click to expand...


You can power a drive from the computer's molex connector. Or any usb
hdd enclosure that contains a 3.5" pata drive will include a power
supply to feed the hdd. The 2.5" usb hdd adaptors are another matter,
these are generally usb-only powered.


NT
 
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