Better IDE/SATA to USB adapter?

[Slickone]

I have one, like this, although not a Vantec (though I'd think they're all basically the same rebadged item), that never worked. I've tried it on 3 PC's (two XP, one Win7). What's the next step up from this product, that works?

 

[Zap]

You may want to troubleshoot as to why it didn't work across 3 systems. I think usually the USB adapter part works, but the PSU is crappy and fails. See if you can temporarily hook the HDD up to an internal power connector while using the USB adapter.

 

[blastingcap]

I have one, like this, although not a Vantec (though I'd think they're all basically the same rebadged item), that never worked. I've tried it on 3 PC's (two XP, one Win7). What's the next step up from this product, that works?

The power bricks on the cheap ones run hot and dangerous; they are the ones with the small circular holes in the power brick, and possibly other power bricks as well. Vantec is okay going by reviews. I am personally using a Rosewill USB 3.0 one that seems to work fine and appears to use the same OEM that Cables2Go uses. The USB 2.0 Cables2Go one had insanely high ratings btw: http://www.amazon.com/Cables-To-Go-3.../dp/B000UO6C5S

Mainly I just use it to format and Erase hard drives to prep them for sale, which takes up to 20 hours. The Rosewill does fine. However, it must be connected to a rear port or else it'll go weird on me... maybe because not all front ports are supplying all the power it needs via USB 3.0 or because the front ports are on a different USB 3.0 controller; I don't know, but I've seen it happen on two different z77 mobos already and doubt that any other company's flavor is any better.

 

[KeithP]

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/UltraDock_v5.php#pricingavailability

...and it is available for the low price of $249.

-KeithP

 

[Elixer]

For what it is worth, I have used those IDE<->SATA cable adapters, and I have found that they are really iffy.
The ones where you hook up the 3.5" floppy power connector to are a bit better, but it didn't always work on all IDE drives.
In the end, I said screw it, and just dug out a old motherboard, and then just tied it into the network, and I was golden.