Converting external HD from IDE to SATA

[dar124]

Hello, hopefully someone here on the forum can give me some suggestions. I'm in the process of setting up a couple of external HD's to backup my WHS 2011 server. Right now I'm not exactly sure how I'll do the backups. I'll either divide up the data on the server between the drives or I'll make one of the drives a duplicate of the other (essentially having a backup of the backup).

The issue that I'm having is with the 2nd external HD case (pics below). I was pretty much given the case and would like to use it if possible, but it's for an IDE HD. I've been trying to figure out how to convert it so I can use it with a SATA HD. I initially looked online for IDE drives, but the largest that I found were 500GB. That wont help me much with around 4TB of storage to backup. I also found this IDE-SATA Adapter but wasnt sure if it would fit into the HD enclosure. And then I'd need to find / make a short IDE ribbon cable that would fit inside there along with the adapter.

Am I wasting my time and money by trying to do this?? Or is there something simple that I'm missing. I'd like to use this case, but dont want to spend more money on it than I could get a newer SATA case for.

I'd appreciate any input / suggestions. Thanks

 

[dragonstongue]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276554&csid=_61
somehting like so. I know there are kits to convert to E-sata, or you could get the dongle to convert from ide to sata and keep them as internal drives.

I was looking at this awhile back, I got a headache, and gave up, unlucky for me, my towerstor unit lasted all of 30uses and 2 years cheap ass electronics these days

 

[dar124]

I have one of those adapters, but with its own power supply and the length of all the cables, etc that would definitely be too much to all fit into the HD enclosure.

My intent was to buy a couple 2TB or 3TB SATA HD's and keep them in external enclosures so that after I run a backup the drives can easily be disconnected and moved somewhere safe (one of them possibly off site) to be stored until I need to run another back up. I got this Fantom Drive enclosure and was hoping to cheaply convert it to SATA so that it can be easily connected / disconnected and could be used with the larger size SATA drives.

 

[ninjaturtle]

Am I wasting my time and money by trying to do this??

It will be cheaper and less of a hassle to buy a new dedicated external case for SATA HDDs.

Just pick what interface you need and check the maximum capacity HDD it can hold.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Here are some other options.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

This one can can work with any capacity drives as it is a straight pass thru to your internal SATA ports.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817993048

 

[dragonstongue]

if you had one of those things that can convert ide to sata calls or vice versa, you might be able to use that external case you got, but its probably just easier to get a proper case for it.

However, depending on the adapter located inside of said unit, you might have enough space to do what you need/want to do with it. I notice some of them have little corner holes, so it would just be a matter of unscrewing the card inside of the external case, and screwing the new card in.

Think I do not like about alot of these external drives, alot of them seem to be made cheaply, and the little PCB in them for whatever reason just dies out, not sure why, but $45 every year or 2 when the drive inside of it is still perfectly fine totally sux

 

[dar124]

Ok, so after going back and forth for a while I have decided to try to convert this HD case for a SATA HD. I dont think that there will be much risk. All I need to buy is the IDE / SATA adapter and a new SATA HD (both of which I will be able to use if this conversion doesnt work out). I think that it'll be fun to try. If it works I'll have a 2nd external HD and if it doesnt I wont have lost too much because the case wouldnt have been of much use to me with a smaller IDE HD. So I'm going create a bit of a work log here and post some pics of my attempt to convert this case.

So far I have purchased & received this IDE / SATA adapter.


Adapter SATA connections

Adapter IDE connections

Now the length of the HD plus the adapter is too long to fit into the tray and make the power / data connections.

So I need to make the existing HD tray longer. I am in the process of cutting the tray and welding in an additional piece approximately 2" long to allow the HD & adapter to fit inside of the enclosure. I will then need to make an adapter for the outside of the case.

I will post back shortly with more pics.

 

[dar124]

So I've got the tray cut and welded back together. My next step is to paint it and start putting it back together. I'm also going to try to use a scrap piece of black plastic at the end of the case to make up for the extended HD tray.

Extended HD tray

Plastic extension

 

[dragonstongue]

very nice sir, lets us know how it works when you start using it, now that its modded to allow a longer adapter, this is good, you can change the adapter as you need

 

[dar124]

And now the HD tray after being painted.

And with the board re-installed.

So now I've just got to work on putting together the black plastic pieces at the end of the case to make up for the extended tray.