ALL IN ONE HDD Docking

reguk

Hi

First post!

I have bought one of the above. It is one of those docking stations where you simply plug in your HDD and use it like a card reader, very clever and cheap.

OK you have to unplug the esata connector to use just the USB connection at the rear when reading an old ATA/IDE drive but that's no problem.

My problem is that te old drives have those 40 pins connectors and fiddling around pushing it into place in the dock slightly bent some of the pins. Poor design so I thought I would improve on it.

I used my old ribbon cable, inserted one of thos 'female to female' connectors (see ebay item 200396375437). That way I had more control over the connection, rather than blindly shoving the delicate pins into the docking station and risking bending them again.

But now it doesn't recognise the drive. Yes, I have power plugged in! [ED] and I have set jumpers to 'master

Any clues??

Thanks, in advance

reguk

PS I have found the transfer rate to ve VERY fast compared to the original slots that were on my ancient PC. Even plugging peripherals such as my camera directkly by USB isn't as fast.

reguk

Wow! This is a busy place, mind if I BTT?

fwor

I'd guess either the ribbon cables are round wrong way by 180 degrees on the "male to male" adaptor (it looks like a male to male to me, anyway!), or damage to the socket from the previous "bent pin" episode, or possibly that you are plugging a "master" device into a ribbon with a socket intended for a "slave" (IIRC some ribbon cables have a tiny punched hole in their length to achieve this).

reguk

Tried a new cable and 180 degree swap, but no joy. I'll just have to limit my use of this HDD. The SATA slot is a lot easier and much more secure.

I wish I had bought one of these things when the power went on my old SAT external HDD - as I said, very fast and has all standard card slots on the front. Cost the same, all told, for the new power supply for the old external drive when it failed.

Thanks for the suggstions