Switching enclosures for an external HD?

[adk]

So I specifically ask for a FW external Hard drive for xmas, and of course pops decides to save the $15 and get me a USB one. So now I'm either stuck with slow speed or I have to buy a new enclosure. My question is, would there be any issues with switching the enclosure on a hard drive that was meant to be external?

My exact model can be found here if it helps: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154613

 

[bigboy99]

So I specifically ask for a FW external Hard drive for xmas, and of course pops decides to save the $15 and get me a USB one. So now I'm either stuck with slow speed or I have to buy a new enclosure. My question is, would there be any issues with switching the enclosure on a hard drive that was meant to be external?

My exact model can be found here if it helps: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154613

The drives are all the same. It's the interface that is different. Newegg will probably exhange the unit (as it's a Xmas gift) for one with firewire or both firewire & USB 2.0. You pay the difference.

 

[adk]

The problem is I'm not sure if it was purchased from newegg. I mean, I assume this is just a basic IDE drive in Fantom Drive's box. But is there any way to tell by looking at the plug if it's IDE or SATA (or something else)?

 

[mrichmon]

The problem is I'm not sure if it was purchased from newegg. I mean, I assume this is just a basic IDE drive in Fantom Drive's box. But is there any way to tell by looking at the plug if it's IDE or SATA (or something else)?

Yes, if you open up the enclosure and look at the back of the drive it will have either an IDE or a SATA connector. Halfway down http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Technology_Attachment an IDE cable and connector is illustrated under the heading "Parallel ATA Interface". An IDE connector is about 2.5

An SATA drive will have a connector similar to the ones illustrated on this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

Other pictures of IDE versus SATA connectors can be found at http://www.dreamstime.com/blackideconnector-image332017.

Generally however, you are probably better off just returning the entire unit and replacing it with an enclosure that provides the external interface you need.

 

[adk]

Generally however, you are probably better off just returning the entire unit and replacing it with an enclosure that provides the external interface you need.

Bah. I live dangerously.

Another conclusion I've found is PATA (IDE) = Fat Cable, SATA= thin cable.

 

[topgunn]

What computer do you have? If it has USB2, it will be nearly as fast as firewire.

I also think that returning the unit for a firewire drive would be better than buying another enclosure. You will spend more buying the new enclosure and you then have a useless USB enclosure lying around.

 

[adk]

What computer do you have? If it has USB2, it will be nearly as fast as firewire.

I also think that returning the unit for a firewire drive would be better than buying another enclosure. You will spend more buying the new enclosure and you then have a useless USB enclosure lying around.

even if USB2 was as fast as it said it was, I still need firewire to be able to boot from it. Can't return it, don't know where it was purchased (gift)