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Thread ID: 136647	2014-03-26 09:22:00	laptop IDE to USB	linw (53)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1371335	2014-03-26 09:22:00	Trying to read an old lappie IDE drive. I have an adaptor as here www.trademe.co.nz but nothing happens when I plug the drive into the USB port. No ding dong and no perceptible motor spin up. There is +5V on pin 42 of the 44 pin adaptor so one would think it would spin up. Maybe not enough juice from the USB port?? Any ideas? Another poser - is that adaptor with no drive attached supposed to trigger the ding dong??	linw (53)
1371336	2014-03-26 16:14:00	Does it appear in disk management??	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1371337	2014-03-26 19:44:00	No. It would need the ding dong for that I'm figuring. Guess the adaptor could be crook. Can you feel the platters spin on these 2.5 drives? Can't feel anything vibrating.	linw (53)
1371338	2014-03-26 20:05:00	Just tried it on mine, I have a similar adaptor, used an old IDE lappy drive. Without the drive the adaptor on its own did detect ( ding dong) but did take longer than when it had the drive attached to the adaptor (about 2 minutes), but with drive less than 15 seconds. You should be able to feel or at least hear the platters spinning. Make sure the adaptor is not going through a Hub, most don't like it. Use a rear USB port, on some computers the front ones don't work to good.	wainuitech (129)
1371339	2014-03-26 20:15:00	Using a rear port, no sign of detection of the adaptor on its own, even after 5 min. Seems to indicate a failed adaptor. Wonder what is in these things? Still strange that the drive doesn't appear to spin up if there is 5V on the appropriate pin. The drive should be OK as it was taken out of a working laptop. Think I will re-buy an adaptor and take it from there. Thanks for efforts on my behalf. Cheers.	linw (53)
1371340	2014-03-26 20:50:00	Does it use an external power supply and how does it connect to the drive if so? Not all 2.5" drives can run off a USB port, sometimes there is not enough power as you suggested.	dugimodo (138)
1371341	2014-03-26 21:15:00	We have a similar device at work. Im assuming yours is the same, it looks just the same From the photo, there may be a cable missing ? On mine: For all the drives, the HD needs to be plugged into that external power pack, even the small 2.5" IDE drives On mione , From the power pack , there will be a small 2 pin connector that actually plus into the other end of the USB adaptor If the drive doesnt spin up, it will never work. Put your ear on it & you will hear if its spinning or not, dont try & move it around if its 'on' Also, its very easy to plug ion the 2.5" IDE's the wrong way around. You might have the drive ass about face .?	1101 (13337)
1371342	2014-03-26 22:39:00	Try an adapter that just converts the plug to a standard IDE one then you can plug it in to your computer internally, bypassing the added hassle of USB. This will also work much better with recovery software or low level tools if you need to use them.	Agent_24 (57)
1371343	2014-03-28 03:29:00	Thanks again for all your helpful replies. Today I received another one of those adaptors from TM (great next day service). Plugged it in and it worked straight off. Yippee. So something is wrong in the original one. No idea what that may be or what is in those things. May be time for some internal disassembling/smashing!! @Dugi. No ext pwr on these ones. The new one is even working from a front port. Must admit, I would be happier with guaranteed ext pwr. @1101. Mine must be different from yours - no pwr plug. I was extra careful about the orientation and relied on the blanked socket pin to align with the missing pin. @Agent. Must say I looked at those adaptors. As you say, more versatile and reliable but need to open up the PC!! If this new one fails I will get one of those. Cheers.	linw (53)
1371344	2014-03-28 09:09:00	For those with time on their hands, here is what is inside my malfunctioning SATA to IDE doofer. The discolouring doesn't show up to the naked eye but there are two things I noted. The first is the blemish on the main chip which I thought might have been a heat blow out pin prick but after a closer look, maybe not. Could even be a hot soldering iron touch. The second is a blob of solder top right but, after flicking it off, it doesn't seem like it would have shorted anything out. Quite surprised to see what seems to be quite a complicated circuit.	linw (53)
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