Most reliable method to connect internal HD externally?

[we3fan]

Hi guys,

I was wondering what is the most reliable way to connect an internal Hard Disk externally via USB with the best chance your PC to detect the HD?
1. USB to SATA Adapter
2. USB External Enclosure
3. USB Docking Station
Assuming all 3 are made with good quality (not poor and not excellent), which one of the 3 has the best chance to detect the HD?

Thanks in advance.

[falther]

I suggest to use an external eSATA enclosure - there are some available which
include eSATA + USB 3.0. You can use that if your computer has its own eSATA
port (most of todays modern computers + notebooks offer that).

It should definitely have an own power adapter = usually an enclosure for 3,5"
SATA hdd.

Advantage: It will (should) be recognised from all Windows systems starting with
Windows Vista. It has its own power supply and this is somehow a protection for
this drive, if there is a power (adapter) problem of the PC.

Exception: Some older systems still might be installed in compatible (IDE) mode.
Such systems will recognise an external eSATA system only if its connected prior
starting the system.

Those systems set up in AHCI mode (todays default mode) should recognise it
automatically (even when connected while computer is turned on).

**
But .....:
Windows usually doesnt recognise / include drives containing a different Windows
system. One has sometimes to set it "online" and in most cases one has to define
a drive letter for each partition.

This procedure is only necessary once for this hdd on a computer, but for a different
computer it might be necessary again.

Here is the explanation of MS:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... =windows-7

and .....:
you might need to double confirm the access to some folders - usually the user folder if the
external hdd is out of an other Windows system. The access needs to be confirmed as administrator
and then one has to wait until the upper green bar has finished to grow and to show the folder
contents - if you start any other action on the computer you work with (dont wait) you interrupt
the access to the folder - and have to start the access/opening again - which takes quite some time
again - depending on the data volume (and tree structure).

drives folders enctrypted with MS encryption can only be accessed if you know the password.

+++
falther

[we3fan]

Thanks guys,

Spildit, that's an interesting idea, do you mean to directly plug the HD on the motherboard of a desktop PC or a laptop PC?

I was hoping for something small in size but thinking about a motherboard - it is thin but it can be 30×25 (cm) wide depending of type and brand.

But I can definitely try this method, maybe I can buy cheaper and basic components to make safe and reliable HD backup storage.

Right now I only have 1 PC - an older laptop with USB 2.0 ports.

Do I need to buy:
1. Desktop case
2. Smallest size possible Motherboard with 2-4 SATA ports (to connect 2-4 HDs)
3. Fan probably
4. Power supply
5. Processor maybe?
I guess I will have to build a basic PC myself to accomplish this.

[we3fan]

I guess the only way for me to use this direct method is to buy or make a full working desktop PC.

In fact I have an old working desktop which is in great condition but I stopped using it some time ago, it is very old and these are the specs:

Motherboard: Matsonic MS9007C
Motherboard Socket423
Intel845 1A/6P/1CNR 1500MB SOUND ATX mehr...
RAM max.: 1536 MB
Chipsatz: Intel 845
PCI: 6
Audio: AC'97
RAM Typ: PC100; PC133
Front Side Bus: 400 MHz

It has 2 IDE ports I think, but no SATA ports.

Can I buy and add a PCI Express SATA Card or something to make my old desktop directly read SATA HDs?

Strange, I never thought I would use that old desktop again, had been turned off and scaring mice in the garage for years.

Thanks for your time guys.

[syntaxerror]

I can see "old" and "old" can be two different things after all
My "old" PC uses "old" RAM, but that's DDR-SDRAM (PC-3200)!

Yours uses PC-133, IIRC that's what came sometime after EDO-DRAM! (20 years ago??)
Wow.

It has 2 IDE ports I think, but no SATA ports.

Can I buy and add a PCI Express SATA Card or something to make my old desktop directly read SATA HDs?

Yes, you can, but -- noooo, NOT PCI Express!!
You need PCI 33 MHz bus instead. (PCI 66 MHz bus will be PCI-X, that's already too recent for your old box!)

ebay search for SATA PCI -express works great. The minus means "do NOT show results that contain both PCI and Express".

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

I guess the only way for me to use this direct method is to buy or make a full working desktop PC.

In fact I have an old working desktop which is in great condition but I stopped using it some time ago, it is very old and these are the specs:

Motherboard: Matsonic MS9007C
Motherboard Socket423
Intel845 1A/6P/1CNR 1500MB SOUND ATX mehr...
RAM max.: 1536 MB
Chipsatz: Intel 845
PCI: 6
Audio: AC'97
RAM Typ: PC100; PC133
Front Side Bus: 400 MHz

It has 2 IDE ports I think, but no SATA ports.

Can I buy and add a PCI Express SATA Card or something to make my old desktop directly read SATA HDs?

Strange, I never thought I would use that old desktop again, had been turned off and scaring mice in the garage for years.

Thanks for your time guys.

Hi ,
You Have Two Choices

1 : PCI [ Sata Adapter]
2 : IDE To Sata Adapter

[we3fan]

Thanks guys, I'll see what I can do.