I have an older hard drive (maybe 8 years) that I was hoping to view with my Windows 7 computer, but I now see that the internal of this new computer does not have even one connection for older drives (the long ribbon part). Is there something that I can do/buy otherwise to get access to this hard drive that won't cost me fortune?
Re: New Computer; Old hard drive... can they join?
I forgot to mention that it doesn't have to be made internal... for instance if there happens to be a shell the drive can be hooked into that has a USB port for connecting an internal as if it's an external.
(Actually, if that's never been done before it doesn't sound like a very bad idea!)
Re: New Computer; Old hard drive... can they join?
I didn't notice one (although I have been used to the IDE cables always coming attached. That may be why I missed it if it's there... I don't feel like opening the case again at the moment.)
What I noticed as unused was one of the smaller opaque connectors that have been in systems for decades, and a few connectors near the size of the opaque one that are thin black which I assume have taken the place the old IDE. (This was my first time opening a much newer model. I'm not familiar with newer technology yet.)
I assume given its age that this drive is 3.5 inch, so it looks like none of the enclosures you showed me would work. As for the adapter you posted, it appears as simple as plugging the drive into the product and joining a USB between it and the hard drive.
If you are using an IDE or ATA Hard Disks with an enclosure then it’s important that you set the jumper settings on the disk to “master” and not cable select or slave.
Re: New Computer; Old hard drive... can they join?
You say that as if you think I know what I am doing. :laugh:
(I know... I should look it up.)
I'm a jittery person who fears the near-worst before it happens. So, naturally, I read the reviews on the product mentioned above and among the 300 I see 14 1-star "The case got hot fast and it destroyed my drive! Beware!" reviews.
You'd think I was someone who should switch to decaf. Probably would be true if I actually drank coffee.
What computer make and model do you have? Like was previously stated, many motherboards still come with an IDE header (my Gigabyte board has one -- I have am IDE CD/DVD player hooked up to it).
Re: New Computer; Old hard drive... can they join?
It's a Dell Inspiron 560. But it doesn't really matter anymore.
The enclosure came in an it worked great, so the issue is solved.
(I'm shocked at just how tight a fit it is. I almost didn't get the drive fitted into the rack that holds the cables, and even then with the screws tightened almost to the degree of stripping them the rack slid only part of the way in as if it got stuck. I couldn't see anything obvious causing it to get stuck, though.)
But anyway, thanks for the great help yet again!
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