Questions: SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter Limitations?

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 32

Hello all concerned,

I have a Vantec SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter, which I have successfully used to inspect and modify other HDD's (2.5" with WIn XP and Win 2000 sw), and 3.5" HDD's with Win XP Home.

However, I have a problem getting my OLDER 3.5" HDD's with Win 95 being recognized. For example, I have an Caviar 2850 drive (yep, 850 MB).

My host system is Win XP Home. But the drive is just not recognized EXCEPT in Control Panel > System > Hard Disk as a USB Device, but it doesn't show up using Windows Explorer in the device listing (directory), where I would expect it to be shown up in.

I do have the jumper for SINGLE drive installed; it does work (boots up) in an old system box.

The drive MAY have been formatted, then using the EZ-Bios setup before having Win 95 installed to it.

I wonder if that can be a problem? I sort of kinda thought that the IDE to USB adapter would recognize the drive by it's basic characteristics and at least show up as a drive!!

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks,

Bob

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

I suspect that you'll need a standard IDE format, for things to work the way you want.
that MickeyMouse format is only recognized when the drive boots up a system.
There is code in the boot sector to make the drive readable.
It's not recognized in a passive manner of access. (as a slave, for instance)

Does that make any sense? After eight beers, I'm not sure either. Laughing

Good Luck,
the old Doctor ( Hic! )

goretsky · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

Hello,

If the hard disk has alternate modes for jumpering as master, you might want to try using those.

If none of them work, then it could be that your Vantec SATA/ IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter supports UDMA access mode only, and the Western Digital Caviar 2850 only uses PIO or DMA modes which are not recognized by the Vantec adapter.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

pcrattail · Joined: Jun 11, 2004 Posts: 406

Every one of the 2 different "converters",
I have all state...... "the drive to be inserted, must be set on "master". Please consult the hard drive manufacturer for proper procedures".

I would wager a guess that this would be your case also.

I was also reminded that XP will also sometimes "goof up" when dealing with "drive letters". You may have to "force" XP to assign the drive a letter.
(Control Panel / Performance and Maintenance / Administrative Tools / Computer Management (once there go down to ...... Storage / Disk Managment) it should be listed there (now you can assign a drive letter)).

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

Guys! Guys! Guys!

Read the man's post!

TeeDee · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

It might be worth trying 'Administrative tools/Computer Management/Disk Management' to see if it shows as a 'foreign' disk - if if does, then you may be able to import it to the system.

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 32

Many thanks to all !

Hi, just to add a little closure to my problem (HDD Testing). I finally got a little suspicious when testing the HDD out of my Maxtor 3200 "One touch" USB External drive 320 Gbyte.

Sometimes the drive would show up and sometimes not . .mostly not!

Lo & Behold, using a DVM on the power leads of the Vantec adapter, the +5vDC was present, but the +12 vDC (needed for the HDD drive motor) was (is) flaky, depending on how the power cable is twisted a "little" bit!

As an aside my Maxtor 3100 refused to be recognized as backup device (another warning about single source backup devices). So, I removed it from it;s case & power supply, reveling a Maxtor 6L320R0 HDD

Well, at least I have a candidate for another internal drive, but it's only 320 Gbyte! <smile when think of my FIRST HDD that was 40 Mbyte and cost $400)

Bob

[quote="Bearly1227"]Hello all concerned,

I have a Vantec SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter, which I have successfully used to inspect and modify other HDD's (2.5" with WIn XP and Win 2000 sw), and 3.5" HDD's with Win XP Home.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA