Upgraded computer - can I use my old IDE drive?

[spasmous2]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

 

[John Doe]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would
like to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there
are no IDE ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE
adapters on the market and was wondering if adding the old disk
through an adapter as a 2nd disk drive (storage only, not boot)
is likely to work.

I think you could look at reviews for an easy answer to that.

And you might get better answers here, too.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Paul]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

Yes, it will work.

I've seen one complaint, about a PCI IDE card not being able to handle
a >500GB disk. I don't know if I believe it or not (it's not a logical
value for problems to appear), or if it was a model specific issue.
IDE drives, as far as I know, went up to 750GB before they stopped issuing
new ones at peak capacity. You may still be able to find IDE drives at
lower capacities, but I don't know if I could find a 750GB or larger one
in IDE right now.

Otherwise, your application requirements aren't stressing the limitations
of the cards or motherboard BIOS. I think a card is likely to do what
you need. As John says, the reviews will tell you everything you need
to know. At least, if a review makes a claim (like, "I couldn't find a
driver"), those are things you can check out in advance, by checking
the manufacturer site. I have a feeling, with your modern new computer,
it's going to be plug and play, and you won't even need to reach for
the driver CD. Cards now have VT6421 or IT8212, and those are likely
to have drivers already in the OS. If it was me, I'd just install it
and try it.

Paul

 

[GMAN]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

I would just get an external IDE enclosure and use it via USB.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

It would work. Be careful that you don't spend more than the storage
is worth doing this, though.

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

Below is a link to to a converter that plugs onto the back of the drive.
One thing to keep in mind is the physical room behind the drive, as
in, is there enough room for the adapter plus the drive with out hitting
something like the power supply or other interface cards.

There are other style of adapters available as well.

A Google search for "IDE to SATA Adapter" minus the quotes will give you
more versions and prices.

Not sure how long the actual link shown below will be active.
http://www.ejectit.com/p-1068-ide-to-sata-adapter-converts-ide-drives-to-sata.aspx

 

[Flasherly]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

I wouldn't buy a MB w/out at least one PATA port, although I was once
given a Promise PCI adapter w/ a HD purchase. Same 4 a Sybia probably
costs $10. Got IDE HD/DVD devices I want to use. Last nite managed to
load an old install of XP on a new MB with its SATA controller
resources blocked out from the OS. Only read about that (F6 insert
floppy) crap up til now. Easiest way is a safe or pre-XP load (binary
rewrite) off the IDE channel between disparate to primary partitions
(dual boot) and then switching to either USB flashstick or HD for the
rest of the MB resources. Never done any slipstreaming. This MB BIOS
sub-menues boot devices sequences, which is kinda nifty for running
active partition arbitrators - gigabyte m61pme-s2.

 

[Flasherly]

I recently obtained a new computer that has SATA drives. I would like
to make use of my old IDE disk for a 2nd disk however there are no IDE
ports. There are PCI ports. I've seen PCI-IDE adapters on the market
and was wondering if adding the old disk through an adapter as a 2nd
disk drive (storage only, not boot) is likely to work. Thanks.

part 2

on the ide channel inter-partitions w/ a seagate 250 i get 7 minute
binary transfers

noway to get around that for xp installs (except f6 and a floppy 4
sata/raid drivers. . .

whereas on the sata, native machine dos transfers, w/ a 1T black
Samsung it's 2 minutes

hence get the bugs out of xp and do a binary copy over to the samsung,
switch the bios to boot sata and done

my old AMD 756 socket asus was better built for speed stuff and never
dropped the ball with any HD speeds, native or otherwise. beginning
to see why some of this cheap gigabyte stuff was cutting corners, mass
produced for a HP or Dell server in its prime 5 yrs ago