Cheap hot swappable removable hard drive racks. Does such a thing exist?

[Jeff7]

I'm thinking of using removable hard drive trays to expand my long-term storage capacity. However, finding hot-swappable things that don't cost $100+ seems difficult. Newegg's offerings are odd too:
Their super cheap offering is a Bytecc thing. The product link says "hot swappable." Ok, and it's only $10, probably made of paper-thin plastic too.

Looking at the slightly better-built products, like this one, they don't mention hot swap anywhere. What gives?


Is there a cheap hot-swap drive bay? Even something that is USB or Firewire based would do fine.

This is going on a Windows XP system too - would that little "Safely Remove Hardware" icon appear and let me shut down the drive before removing it?



Other option: Am I just going to have to start looking at SATA drives and trays? I hadn't wanted to buy even more stuff, but it looks like IDE is rather resistant to hot swapping, and it looks like there isn't much of a market out there for USB/Firewire removable trays.

 

[tiap]

Lian-li makes lots of trays and racks in all combinations and prices, but the device itself determines if it's hot swap or not. I have hot swapped ide before by accident and it worked but probably not recommended. Racks and trays were 20.00 a set with rear fan.

 

[TheGreenGoblin]

I know Promise has an ide controller which supports Hot Swapping when used with one of their hot swap drive bays. I can't remember the exact model but it shouldn't be too pricey.

 

[Blazer]

VANTEC from newegg,using 2,sata HS encloser with fans and lcd monitor screen,not elcheapo i thought they might be,very happy!

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.a...ctory=1453&DEPA=0&bop=and&InnerCata=43

 

[Blain]

And free shipping too! :laugh:

 

[Zepper]

Doesn't mention hot swap, Blain...

PATA was never designed with hot swap in mind. A cheap drive rack that has a power off/on switch can be made hot swappable under Win98/98SE by a setting that is unique to that OS (set drive as removable). Other versions of Win might require something like that Promise system but it IS pricey for PATA stuff. I'm not even sure if it is still available - yup $78 for the bays plus a promise RAID controller. There are USB to IDE converters available that would convert a standard cheap mobile rack like the one mentioned by Blain to work via USB - but IDK how well it would hot-swap.
.bh.

:moon:

 

[Blain]

I was supplying him with the "Cheap" option. For hot swap, USB 2.0 is the best thing going, down the "cheap" road.

Jeff,
How about one of the removable racks mated up with something Like this external enclosure (uses regular power cord)?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Blain
I was supplying him with the "Cheap" option. For hot swap, USB 2.0 is the best thing going, down the "cheap" road.

Jeff,
How about one of the removable racks mated up with something Like this external enclosure (uses regular power cord)?

Yeah, I'm starting to think I might have to build/adapt my own.


Either that, or just live with a USB->IDE convertor, and keep the bare hard drives in those nice "Seashells" - nifty plastic drive cases that Seagate used to use for shipping hard drives. Supposedly good for impacts of up to 300Gs.


That Vantec thing looks decent; be nice if they didn't bother with the little LCD - it would be cheaper then.

SATA is hot-swappable by itself, right? If so, any SATA enclosure should support hot swap, correct?

 

[Blain]

Horrible looking... But works :laugh:

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Blain
Horrible looking... But works :laugh:

Indeed....I believe the term here might be "ghetto" but I'm not sure if the context is proper.


How's about this Kingwin rack kit and this extra tray.
They're SATA, so that should be hot-swap......right?

 

[Blain]

Kingwin may have your IDE answer... But not if you want to swap out your "C" drive.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Blain
Kingwin may have your IDE answer... But not if you want to swap out your "C" drive.

Their Swap Manager utility is a demo version from someone else. You have to pay for it if you want to use it for more than 15 days.


I'm looking at something from Vipower. Might be just what I need - USB 2.0 encolsure that supports IDE hard drives. Link.

 

[Blain]

Yep, sounds like you're set.

 

[Jeff7]

Yeah; the Vipower things can be bought right at their website too. $8 for the rack itself, but $29 for each tray, as each one has the USB->IDE bridge built right in.

Guess I've got to just do the math now:
Cheaper to get the USB-> IDE thing, and use cheaper PATA drives, or to move to a SATA solution, and hope that the onboard SATA controller on my NF7-S rev2.0 works.


Edit: I think I'm going to go with a SATA solution. I was going to get Kingwin's new KF-91-BK, but I can't seem to find the extra trays for sale anywhere. It looks mostly the same as the KF-81-BK anyway, and there are trays easily available for that one.