HDD Question

[Kim-n-Dean]

I have an EIDE hard drive from another machine that I'm trying to read. It's a boot drive from an older computer. When I install it on my current machine (SATA, XP Pro), the little bubble pops up stating that it has recognized it, but it doesn't display in "My Computer". It is listed in the Windows disk management utility as a "healthy" drive, but without a drive letter and all settings are grayed out.

In the past, I've been able to retrieve info from old drives by just sticking them on whatever IDE cable was available. I could see the drive and get whatever info I wanted...

...and master/slave settings are correct...


EDIT: As already stated above. All settings are grayed out (unavailable). I can NOT assign a drive letter!

[Nick_Ninja]

Does the BIOS recognize the drive?

[~Barn~]

Have you tried changing the BIOS boot order, to default to this one first?

[Kim-n-Dean]

Does the BIOS recognize the drive?

I figured since it's recognized in the disk management that the BIOS does see it. I'll make sure.

[Kim-n-Dean]

Have you tried changing the BIOS boot order, to default to this one first?

That old drive won't be able to boot this machine. That's the problem with the drive anyway. It won't boot and there's info that I need off of it.

[Nick_Ninja]

Get one of these. Hook it up through USB. that way there is no issue with it wanting to boot to the disk. You can get one at Micro Center or New Egg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156102

[Kim-n-Dean]

Get one of these. Hook it up through USB. that way there is no issue with it wanting to boot to the disk. You can get one at Micro Center or New Egg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156102

I'm not trying to boot it, just trying to read it.

That device is exactly what I'm looking for. I have mobile drives that I would like to take a look at too. I'm off to Micro Center!!

[Kim-n-Dean]

BTW - What powers the 3.5 drives? I was looking at the website and I don't see any power connections for any of the ports...

[Nick_Ninja]

BTW - What powers the 3.5 drives? I was looking at the website and I don't see any power connections for any of the ports...

The HD adapter is powered through an AC adapter (not shown).

[Kim-n-Dean]

Okay, from reading some more, it looks like it comes with a power adapter for the 3.5 drives. They just don't show it anywhere, I hope...

[~Barn~]

The whole device looks like it has a power supply that will load whatever is connected to it.

That thing is pretty cool! How much is it?

EDIT: Nevermind the cost, I see the link.

[Nick_Ninja]

Okay, from reading some more, it looks like it comes with a power adapter for the 3.5 drives. They just don't show it anywhere, I hope...

I have one sitting here in front of me. It has a 3.5 drive connected. The USB connection and the AC connection make the drive accessable.

[Nick_Ninja]

The whole device looks like it has a power supply that will load whatever is connected to it.

That thing is pretty cool! How much is it?

$20 @ Micro Center

[Kim-n-Dean]

Yeah, for the mobile drives.

There needs to be separate power supply for the drives, though. Just like in the computer, one data cable and a power cable. I guess it comes with the power adapters, they just don't show it.

[Nick_Ninja]

Hook the AC adapter plug directly into the HD and not into the drive adapter.

[Kim-n-Dean]

Hook the AC adapter plug directly into the HD and not into the drive adapter.

Exactly!! They should show it on their website.

[TurboGizzmo]

Get one of these. Hook it up through USB. that way there is no issue with it wanting to boot to the disk. You can get one at Micro Center or New Egg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156102

I have recovered more drives than i can remember with a device like this....paid for itself in seconds....

[KoryBricker]

In the disk manager, if you right click on the drive, what options are listed? You may need to just assign it a drive letter. Windows stores "extra" information in the file system for drives and depending on the OS you previously used, it probably is still storing the previous drive letter as C: (since you mentioned it was previously a boot drive). Since you already have a C: drive in this new machine, it is conflicting and just leaving the drive assignement blank.

It's kind of a pain but can be pretty usefull if you have a mix of drives that can be connected/unconnected (ie USB drives) and you want to keep paths to files on the drives the same etc

[I`m Batman]

If it shows up the diskmanager... normally you just have to assign it a drive letter.

I got one of those usb thingy too. I love it.

[Kim-n-Dean]

In the disk manager, if you right click on the drive, what options are listed? You may need to just assign it a drive letter. Windows stores "extra" information in the file system for drives and depending on the OS you previously used, it probably is still storing the previous drive letter as C: (since you mentioned it was previously a boot drive). Since you already have a C: drive in this new machine, it is conflicting and just leaving the drive assignement blank.

It's kind of a pain but can be pretty usefull if you have a mix of drives that can be connected/unconnected (ie USB drives) and you want to keep paths to files on the drives the same etc

That's what I was talking about when I said all the settings are grayed out. I can't assign it a drive letter.

In the past, I would simply connect a damaged (boot) drive to an open IDE port, and most times, never had to assign a drive letter. It would just pick up the next available letter. I would get the info I wanted and toss the drive. This drive has all it's settings grayed out.

[TurboGizzmo]

Pic to help illustrate

[TurboGizzmo]

That's what I was talking about when I said all the settings are grayed out. I can't assign it a drive letter.

oh humm back to the drawing board....

[I`m Batman]

Try changing the jumper to Slave or Cable Select and see what happens.

[Kim-n-Dean]

Try changing the jumper to Slave or Cable Select and see what happens.

As already stated, the master/slave is set properly. The cable select is also correct.

I'm just gonna get one of those adapters Jeff showed.