The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Planning to use USB Enclosure to transfer files..

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by cdahmedeh, Feb 15, 2008.

  1. cdahmedeh

    cdahmedeh Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hello,

    I'm planning to get my laptop by the end of spring. I have this USB Hard Drive, but I discovered it was simply a USB to IDE enclosure. I'm planning to take my Desktop hard drive and put it in the enclosure. My questions are :
    -Is is at reliable method, can I loose any files if it put the Hard Drive in the enclosure ?
    -How long will it take to transfer about 180 gigs of data ?
    -Is there any more reliable method such as transfer via Ethernet or router ?

    Experiences, feedback would be nice...

    Thanks
     
    cdahmedeh, Feb 15, 2008
    #1
  2. sipp11

    sipp11 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    >> Yep, it's reliable as long as you don't shake it while accessing data or ask OS a permission before unplugging it. Otherwise, it's the same possibility of losing data as other hard drives.

    >> That's depending OS as well! mostly around 15-20MB/s depending a chipset.

    >> using NAS, I think it's the better way since every computers these days are attached to the network. I mean both convenient and reliable but slower comparing to direct connection.
     
    sipp11, Feb 16, 2008
    #2
  3. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    792
    Messages:
    2,708
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    You will NEED an additional Power supply for your HD... which is just an adapter u can buy from the same store where u buy the Casing.. this is because USB ports can't power a 3.5' desktop HD
     
    Nocturnal310, Feb 16, 2008
    #3
  4. cdahmedeh

    cdahmedeh Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It comes with a four pin power adapter.. I tested it with an old hard drive and it seemed to work ok
     
    cdahmedeh, Feb 16, 2008
    #4
  5. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    466
    A four pin that plugs directly into a HDD is not going to work with an HDD enclosure.
     
    Greg, Feb 16, 2008
    #5
  6. cdahmedeh

    cdahmedeh Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No, the converter has two plugs. One that's usb, the other one is a 4-pin mini-din connector, that supplies power to the enclosure which is than linked to the hard drive. I have an adapter which has that Mini-din plug and I tried and it works perfecly
     
    cdahmedeh, Feb 17, 2008
    #6