IDE HDD -> USB External (?)

[KFC]

No , Im not here to preach of how to convert an old IDE Harddrive into an USB Harddrive that can be used externally but rather a question of how.

Since there are some Tech meisters here, does anyone perhaps know how it would be achieved?
(Checked google but ... didnt find tutorial)

[Wesley]

No , Im not here to preach of how to convert an old IDE Harddrive into an USB Harddrive that can be used externally but rather a question of how.

Since there are some Tech meisters here, does anyone perhaps know how it would be achieved?
(Checked google but ... didnt find tutorial)

You are looking for this: the Vantec nexstar3 (http://www.prophecy.co.za/vantec-nexstar3-nst360u2bkotb-usb20-external-p-29515.html)

http://www.prophecy.co.za/images/EE-V360iUKB.gif

[KFC]

Nope.
I meant... Opening the HDD, connecting a USB cable to some part of the inside device.. and ... make it a normal HDD that does not run over IDE no SATA but USB. Like a massive flash drive.

[wir]

Isn't that what that nexstar does?

Or do you want to know how to do it manually?

[CrashHelmut]

You still need a chip to bridge the comms between the IDE/SATA interface and the USB host. (That is what you'll find inside when you pop open an external hard drive enclosure).

No commercial hard drive will ship with this chip on it's controller board, as it is hardly cost effective, so you will need to supply this yourself (there are adapters available, but I doubt you'll find it easily in SA).

Then you still need to consider how you are going to supply the required 12V and 5V power sources.

[KFC]

Isn't that what that nexstar does?

Or do you want to know how to do it manually?

Yes. Manually. With not buying small transformers for $40 and no External HDDs but to just connect a cable to one of the nods INTERNALLY.

[Wesley]

Yes. Manually. With not buying small transformers for $40 and no External HDDs but to just connect a cable to one of the nods INTERNALLY.

In a nutshell, you can't. IDE and SATA are two very different technologies, and you cant convert an old IDE drive to a SATA. The way data is manipulated is different, and you would need your own EEPROM chips and BIOS and stuffz. It may be possible for an expert, but its impossible for us mortals.

And USB is designed to work better with memory chips as opposed to proper physical drives.

[KFC]

You still need a chip to bridge the comms between the IDE/SATA interface and the USB host. (That is what you'll find inside when you pop open an external hard drive enclosure).

No commercial hard drive will ship with this chip on it's controller board, as it is hardly cost effective, so you will need to supply this yourself (there are adapters available, but I doubt you'll find it easily in SA).

Then you still need to consider how you are going to supply the required 12V and 5V power sources.

Ah thanks :) Oh well. I guess it wount work then :P


In a nutshell, you can't. IDE and SATA are two very different technologies, and you cant convert an old IDE drive to a SATA. The way data is manipulated is different, and you would need your own EEPROM chips and BIOS and stuffz. It may be possible for an expert, but its impossible for us mortals.

No no no. Sorry. Not SATA->IDE connection
Its as CrashHelmut stated above: Its impossible.

[Wesley]

No no no. Sorry. Not SATA->IDE connection
Its as CrashHelmut stated above: Its impossible.

Replace all instances of "SATA" to "USB". I am drugged, my bad.

[Chevron]

Not to mention that the power draw would be too much for one usb port to handle. You'd need a 5400rpm hard drive and power from two ports.

[Banlam]

You can get relatively cheap adaptors (read less than R100, can't remember exact price) one's which you can just plug into the back of the HDD, this is without a case.

[Ch@pS]

Just get a 2.5Inch laptop drive and enclosure, its cheap, powered solely of one USB port, and will Run at +/- 10mb/s. I have two, a 60GB and 120GB.