Using USB 2.0 IDE Adapter on external 'internal' drive - HELP!!!

celebritymusic · February 22nd, 2006, 09:08 PM

Hi

I have just bought a 200GB IDE internal HD to use for backup, and have also bought a USB 2.0 to IDE adapter to use the HD as a pseudo external drive. The idea was that when I have fileld up this HD, I can buy another cheap IDE drive without having to fork out heaps for a proper external drive.

I'm having a little trouble with the setup though.

The adapter doesn't need a driver in Win XP, which I am using. When I plugged everything in, the computer detected new hardware, but I can't seem to locate the HD in My Computer anywhere.

What is the typical procedure for setting up this kind of poor mans external drive? Do I need to go into the bios at all to detect the HD when using it via USB?

Also, when powering down the computer, I suspect that the HD will keep running since it's connected to an external power supply. Is it safe to just turn the HD power off at the wall after the computer has shut down, or is there another way of doing it to protect the HD?

Thanks!

Shaun

jrsweger · February 23rd, 2006, 01:30 AM

If you go to MY COMPUTER and right click then click on MANAGE, does the drive show up? You will likely have to partition and format the drive for it to work as well as be recognized properly. It is also possible that the drive letter assigned is a duplicate. If that is the case you can change the assigned drive letter.

celebritymusic · February 23rd, 2006, 02:02 AM

OK

The pc I'm testing it on now has one OS hard drive, and two ther drivs set up in a raid config. i've plugged this 4th HD into a spare power and IDE cable, set it to slave, and went into BIOS after booting up.

There is no sign of the drive anywhere in bios.

What am I doing wrong?

Shaun

ps -I've tried attaching the HD internally, because I thought that would be an easier way to partition it before I use it as an external drive attached to the USB-IDE converter.

jrsweger · February 23rd, 2006, 02:08 AM

Brand of the drive? If you put the drive onto the same IDE cable as the other existing drive, did you change the drive select jumper of the existing drive? (WD drives are very particular about this) Most WD drives to be a stand alone master require no jumpers but when you add a slave you need to install a jumper to either the CS or MA pins.

JPMiller · February 23rd, 2006, 03:22 AM

Before you can use it as an external, you will have to slave it internally and use either the manufacturer's tools to set it up as an extra storage drive... or format it and partition it with the windows utility...

celebritymusic · February 23rd, 2006, 03:30 AM

Hi

Cool - that's what I'm doinf now - it's formatting as we speak. Hopefully Windows will recognise it externally once it has been formatted.

Shaun

cysus · February 23rd, 2006, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celebritymusic

Cool - that's what I'm doinf now - it's formatting as we speak. Hopefully Windows will recognise it externally once it has been formatted.

Thats the way it always works for me

ck42866 · February 24th, 2006, 12:15 AM

did it work?

celebritymusic · February 24th, 2006, 12:20 AM

Hi

Yeah - it worked on one PC, and I'll try the other PC tomorrow :-)

Thansk for all your help guys!!!

Shaun