SATA firewire enclosures

[Dazzer]

I'm interested in a SATA firewire enclosure - I've seen a Safecom one. As seen here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5-IDE-SATA-to-USB-2-0-Firewire-HDD-Enclosure-Caddy_W0QQitemZ200157249864QQihZ010QQcategoryZ86758QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) on ebay and on at least one UK retailer though it's out of stock.

Are these reliable enclosures? Do they work with SATA and firewire OK? Are there any other models I should consider?

I've tried using an PCI SATA card but oddly my PC just doesn't recognise it in 2000 or XP. It's a Newlink SATA card. And an enclosure would be more portable.

Dazzer

[Freakitchen]

I had nothing but trouble with my Safecom enclosure, eventually it went in the bin! Buying cheap isn't the best option with enclosures if you want a reliable drive. Unfortunately, good enclosures are difficult to find in the UK.

I'd suggest going with this Antec enclosure

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-000-AN

It's not Firewire, but it *is* eSATA and USB2 capable, both of which are pretty similar to the performance of firewire.

[Dazzer]

Thanks FK.

I'm using both my SATA ports in my PC, so will I need a third port ie a SATA PCI card. I just installed the replacement Newlink card and it blue screened. At least the PC recognised it this time, but I've had to take it out because it seems to interfere with the bios and only gets half way through loading W2k before I get a blue screen.

If I do need a third Sata port - any suggestions for a reliable card. Or is it there's a step in the installation - like rejigging the bios - that it doesn't make clear in the Newlink's install guide.

Dazzer

[Freakitchen]

Not sure of an immediate fix on that SATA card. Did you ever achieve a successful boot with that card installed, i.e., so that you could install its drivers, or did It cause a bluescreen from the word go?

You don't *need* a third SATA port to run a SATA drive in that external enclosure, USB2 is more than adequate - eSATA is just slightly faster.

[Dazzer]

I got as far as installing the drivers, yes, but I let the install find the driver on the disk, whereas, as I found deep in the install guide, I should have cancelled the automatic install and done it manually.

I installed the drivers manually having removed the card. That's the only way I can get the computer to boot past the blue screen. But it still blue screens when the card is back in. I'm not sure how to properly uninstall the card as it doesn't appear as a SATA SCSI raid in the device list. There is a USB controller, that has a no drivers installed error. I'm wondering if it's coming up as that.

It's all a bit baffling.

You help's much appreciated,

Dazzer

[Chazell29]

Yeah, as Freakkitchen recommened, the eSATA work well and will give you the full speed of the internal SATA port.