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Thread ID: 130408 2013-04-09 04:19:00 Docking station heads up linw (53) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1336087 2013-04-09 04:19:00 Had an IDE ext HDD enclosure fail, and two IDE to USB bits of junk failed as well so I thought I would buy an IDE/SATA docking station.

Long story short, I discovered that the IDE WD drive pin array is 5mm wider than Seagate and Samsung. The dock I bought would take the narrow array but not the wider WD one. Naturally, that was the one I wanted!

Wonder if all SATA sockets line up??
linw (53)
1336088 2013-04-09 08:14:00 I get the feeling you're talking about IDE laptop drives, where a couple of pins at one end of the row are for power, not for data.

If not, then you're reporting something I've never observed with 3.5 inch drives.
Paul.Cov (425)
1336089 2013-04-09 08:23:00 I have never encountered anything like that.

5mm is quite a difference too, if it is a laptop drive double check to make sure any adapters have been taken off. I remember some old drives in Toshiba laptops had some very subtle plates that looked like they were part of the drive. Closer inspection revealed they were not. Had me fooled though.
The Error Guy (14052)
1336090 2013-04-09 10:51:00 All the SATA drives I have are the same distance in their connectors no matter what the brand or sizing.

Samsung & Seagate IDE are identical, don't have any WD IDE drives.

Laptop 2.5" IDE are different to 3.5" IDE spacing though.

A Docking station is on the "I'll get one one day" list instead of the other adaptors I have.
wainuitech (129)
1336091 2013-04-10 02:56:00 Talking about 3.5" IDE drives. Yep, Seagate and Samsung are the same (narrow) but the WD one is the wider one. The problem is caused by WD having 5 drive select pins instead of four. linw (53)
1336092 2013-04-10 03:07:00 Talking about 3.5" IDE drives. Yep, Seagate and Samsung are the same (narrow) but the WD one is the wider one. The problem is caused by WD having 5 drive select pins instead of four.

That sounds incredibly weird. A quick google doesn't bring anything up. You sure the pins aren't bent or something, unless you pull those IDE cables off perfectly parallel you can bend the whole row of pins up and down. If they're both out slightly then it could add upto the 5 mil difference you're seeing.

PS from memory WD IDE's need to have the jumper set to master for them to work. If you get it connected and it doesnt work ;)
The Error Guy (14052)
1336093 2013-04-10 04:21:00 The sides of both drives are lined up. The WD has 5 select pins on the right. linw (53)
1336094 2013-04-10 06:58:00 In my docking station the power supply block can slide back and forth about 5mm to accommodate the differences in WD and Seagate/Samsung drives. Rod J (451)
1336095 2013-04-10 12:23:00 It's the central plastic "key" that you have to get lined up, then the pins will be correct not the edges of the connector plug and socket (male & female). zqwerty (97)
1336096 2013-04-10 22:00:00 The sides of both drives are lined up. The WD has 5 select pins on the right.

Wouldnt be too surprised. IDE's are pretty old now, and are designed for cables, not HD docks
1101 (13337)
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