eSATA type I to SATA type L connection DAMAGES HDD?

Hi!

I have Lenovo X61 and a Cardbus SATA device with SATA (not eSATA) type L in.
And I have external HDD enclosure with eSATA (not SATA) type "I" in.

How can I connect them now? It's all ok, when I connect HDD using only one SATA to SATA cable.
But I have to connect my laptop to a HDD enclosure, so I tried to do it using two cables one is eSATA-eSATA connected to eSATA-SATA bracket (usually used in desktops, something like that: www dot satacable dot com/images/sata-2-esata-dual-pci-port-bracket.jpg. I also had to connect HDD to power line separately). But I got only errors and even BAD sectors in that case! What's wrong?

 

I've got an eSATA-SATA cable that I plugged into my desktop and comes out through a hole to connect to eSATA drives (also needed to get power from a USB port), and it works fine. So I don't think there is anything inherently wrong in what you are doing. Getting errors suggests a cable / connector problem where the signal is getting corrupted.

If the HDD is SATA-2 then you could check the manufacturer's site to see if there is an option to force it to run at SATA-1 speed.

John

 

what u want to do is get an e-sata to sata cable

sata 2 devices are backwards compatible with sata 1, so as long as you have the necessary cables, it will run fine.

just make sure u dont force a sata cable into an esata socket or vice versa

 

I see no reason for a e-sata --> sata connection to have problems.

You have to think there is no such thing as e-sata hard drives. They are all SATA drives and the enclosure simply has an e-sata connection, and inside of it is a normal sata drive.

The only real difference between the connections is that sata is the internal type conector and e-sata stands for external-sata thus the external connection.

 

On reading the original post more carefully it seems as if the problem is from trying to use an eSATA connector in an SATA L shaped socket. As already suggested, get an eSATA - SATA cable with the right connectors at each end.

John

 

What's wrong is that you're making life complicated for yourself. HDD SATA -> Enclosure -> eSATA -> bracket -> pci-e card -> laptop. Why not just connect the hdd directly via SATA (forgot the enclosure and bracket) or get a eSATA card?

 

Thanks for suggestions!

hehe299792458:
All eSATA Cardbus cards that I tried are sooooooooooo slow and crappy so the only case where the speed is normal - is with this noname card.

It works perfectly when connected thru SATA cable, but in that case I have to find external power for an HDD. I'm not connecting HDD to a desktop I'm connecting it to laptop, so maybe it's some problem with grounding? The bracket that I use is metal and it is supposed to be plugged into a metal case of a desktop, maybe that's the cause?
I will buy normal eSATA-SATA connector, but I have to be sure that it won't cause such problems again.

Does anybody have experience connecting external eSATA HDD into LAPTOP (not desktop).

Thanks!

 

Yeah I have a 160GB 2.5" somewhere that has dual connections. USB & E-Sata and it performs using E-Sata just like it does if you take the HDD out and use it as a Sata Drive (the drivers full speed, the SATA interface is wayyy faster than any HDD)

Most 2.5" enclosures will use the USB connection for power, some have a DC input also so you can use a power brick with them, as the E-Sata connection unlike USB does not carry any power.

 

I have three different 2.5"enclosures with USB + eSATA and I've had no problems with the eSATA on any of them. Via ExpressCard eSATA adaptor on my previous notebook but my Dell E6400 has a built-in eSATA port.

John

 

People! I'm connecting eSATA external HDD with eSATA connector into SATA-in on laptop. I don't have eSATA on laptop. Only SATA - there's significant difference.

eSATA -> SATA. (not eSATA-eSATA or SATA-SATA).

So does anyone have experienced success with SUCH a connection?

 

No problems connecting an e-sata 500gb Seagate HDD to a sata pcmcia card in several laptops using a sata to e-sata cable.
Had a problem using an e-sata bracket with the pcmcia card until I trimmed the cable on the bracket so it pushed all the way into the connetor on the card

 

cashwo

Thanks! Do you put your HDD into enclosure, or Seagate has an eSATA port onboard?

 

HDD was in an e-sata enclosure, also worked ok with a bare HDD and external power, and with a desktop dvdrw with external power

 

cashwo

Thanks! Can you tell me, where have you bought this cable?

 

Cable was bought online from scan.co.uk product no LN16803