How To...

[MrDravenX]

I have multiple old HDD that I would like to see what is on them. Since they are old they have old connections on them with the long thin grey cable. Is there an easy way to see what is on them without having to connect them to an old computer?

[rjfvillarosa]

Try a USB adapter, they have loads of uses:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=204049

[glc]

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020&cat=HDD

[id_ifu]

Hello.

You said you have an old hard drive, so I'm assuming the drives have IDE connection. If you plan to continually use the drive to rummage through old files then I would suggest you use an enclosure. ICY DOCK has bunch of then, but not much category for IDE drives. I use this one for my old drives that were on my Pentium 4.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198021&Tpk=MB452UKGF-1AB

What is great about this enclosure is that you can use both SATA and IDE drives, but you have to buy a separate tray unit to use the SATA drive.

This way, you can constantly swap your old hard drives for data without having to transfer them or connect them to your motherboard. You can just connect by USB.

If you have SCSI or internal USB, then a converter for those might be more appropriate.

[glc]

The adapter I linked is not a housing, it's a "dongle" that will accept both 2.5" and 3.5" IDE drives and SATA drives. It's also a fraction of the price of a housing.

[id_ifu]

The adapter I linked is not a housing, it's a "dongle" that will accept both 2.5" and 3.5" IDE drives and SATA drives. It's also a fraction of the price of a housing.

:D

Yeah, this is true. I just wanted to provide a different alternative. I still use lots of IDE drive and I categorized them to different items (music, video, and pictures) so it helped me to organize them better. I thought this might be a good way as well because you have something to carry around drives and keep dust out.

[MrDravenX]

I plan on selling them but want to wipe the drives clean first. They are IDE drives.

[id_ifu]

oh! :eek:

If that's the case, then what glc recommended is a better approach.

Do people still purchase IDE drives?

I thought SATA would have taken over by now.

[glc]

There will be a market for IDE replacements and upgrades for older machines for quite a while yet.

[MrDravenX]

Alright, thanks. I will look into it when I get a chance.