Need to copy files from 1 hard drive to another

[GoodEnough]

I want to copy 30GB of files from SATA HD #1 to SATA HD #2.
My desktop PC needs one SATA ribbon for the Win7 OS.
It has one other spare SATA ribbon.
I could disconnect my DVD Drive for the 2nd SATA, but the cable is not long and I'd have to somehow dangle the HD.

What are some options?
Get a USB enclosure for drive #2?
Will USB be too slow?

 

[boomerang]

Just dangle it. You should be able to find a means to give it some support for the duration of the copying process. I've done it lots of times. Just don't let any circuitry make contact with any conductive surface. Or, you're talking about getting an enclosure, just get a longer SATA cable.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Spend $15-20 and get a USB3.0 SATA HDD dock?

 

[Fardringle]

Sit it on a book, cardboard box, or something else that is not conductive that will keep the second hard drive supported at a height that won't put too much strain on the SATA port/cable.

 

[Charlie98]

Spend $15-20 and get a USB3.0 SATA HDD dock?

This. I got one to do just what the OP is doing, and I find I use it far more than I thought I would...

 

[GoodEnough]

I will try the prop it up method, but I might as well get a enclosure for times I want to actually access the files, and use the external drive.

I like to keep rarely accessed archive drives unconnected, to increase drive life.
Is that a generally sound idea?

 

[bruceb]

I keep my external drive connected to the USB Hub at all times. But the Power to the Drive (a small dc adapter) stays OFF until I need to use the drive. You should have no issues connecting it to the SATA cable without an enclosure. If you do it via USB expect it to take a while to move 30GB of data.

 

[GoodEnough]

Can someone recommend a USB enclosure for a 3.5" Desktop SATA drive?
Not sure if Ebay ones are junk, and too many choices.

 

[bruceb]

Corky had suggested this one a while back:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._drive_docking_station-_-17-707-380-_-Product

• Universal docking station lets you connect an IDE and a SATA 2.5"/3.5" HDD or SSD to your computer
• USB 3.0 with UASP for optimal performance
• Replacement for UNIDOCK3U & UNIDOCK3UEU

It runs about $80

 

[GoodEnough]

Ouch, $80 is impossible to justify when the Ebay generics are $10.

 

[bruceb]

Perhaps, but like most anything, you get what you pay for.

 

[Charlie98]

I got a Xigmatek for something like $25 on sale... It's 100% solid.

 

[bruceb]

That one is not available at present. And it only holds one drive. The Startech can hold 2

 

[Burpo]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xigmatek-Se...025410?hash=item3f33cd3242:g:x-YAAOxyUylTSD4h

 

[Charlie98]

That one is not available at present. And it only holds one drive. The Startech can hold 2

The OP only has one drive... and he can buy two for less than one of the Startech cradles...

Burpo delivered the goods.... :thumbsup:

 

[bruceb]

He can buy whichever one he wants. The Startech can also do IDE type drives and SSD drives. The one you linked to does not do IDE and I am not sure if it can see a SSD ... Also the Startech has individual drive Power ON / OFF buttons.

 

[Charlie98]

He can buy whichever one he wants. The Startech can also do IDE type drives and SSD drives. The one you linked to does not do IDE and I am not sure if it can see a SSD ... Also the Startech has individual drive Power ON / OFF buttons.

Yes, it does both 2.5" and 3.5" drives, spinners or SSD. The power switch is on the back. It does not do IDE drives... so you got me there. But the Xigma is in trendy white with cool ventilation and a streamlined case, for better MPG. $25 vs $80...

 

[mikeymikec]

When I want to do something similar to this, I tend to have the tower standing upright, then a stable object next to open side of the tower of the correct height to sit the extra hard disk on.

 

[lakedude]

I like to use some type of adapter or enclosure for work like this, especially if there is a chance that there will be more than one bootable drive. I like to get the system booted up from the OS of choice and plug extra drives in after the system is completely up so there is no chance of any boot confusion.

I could be mistaken but I seem to recall a system that booted using parts of 2 different disks and generally making a mess of things.

That Star Tech IDE/3.5/2.5/SATA/USB thing looks cool but it is a bit expensive IMHO.

 

[LTC8K6]

When I want to do something similar to this, I tend to have the tower standing upright, then a stable object next to open side of the tower of the correct height to sit the extra hard disk on.

I've always done it basically that way.

Never had a problem.

 

[Ketchup]

Just got one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/NEXIN-DataSen...p/B00IOVJZKI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Works great.

 

[bigboxes]

Corky had suggested this one a while back:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._drive_docking_station-_-17-707-380-_-Product

• Universal docking station lets you connect an IDE and a SATA 2.5"/3.5" HDD or SSD to your computer
• USB 3.0 with UASP for optimal performance
• Replacement for UNIDOCK3U & UNIDOCK3UEU

It runs about $80

I may have to look into adding that to my options when it comes to back ups. I still have a stack of HDDs, both SATA and IDE, lying around. Also, good for testing.

I've used external enclosures for quite a while.

 

[MrTeal]

Just dangle it, or if that just feels a bit too hairy shove a box beside it. Hard drives are not damaged by alternate orientations, it will be fine.