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

On Aug 18, 5:32*pm, B...@hotmail.com wrote:
> 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

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


NT

On Aug 19, 1:53*am, NT <meow2...@care2.com> wrote:
> On Aug 18, 5:32*pm, B...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > 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
>
> USB drive enclosure. Hot swap by unplugging the usb first, not the
> pata cable.
>
> NT

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


NT

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> 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

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/applicati...952&CatId=3770

Others of various prices and capabilities can be found at;
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...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.

On Aug 19, 5:58*am, "GlowingBlueMist" <zap...@truely.invalid> wrote:
> B...@hotmail.com wrote:
> > 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
>
> 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/applicati...m-details.asp?...
>
> Others of various prices and capabilities can be found at;http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...ry_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.


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