Can you run a desktop HD with a laptop?

CREATIVE!11

CREATIVE!11

CREATIVE!11

Soldato
Joined
21 Apr 2007
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Well I asked this question in laptops while back but it's not as busy as a forum and I don't know why but I expect it's more something GD (I realise it's wrong subforum mods any chance of a brush over this time?) would have tried LOL.

Basically though, I bought a male to female Sata cable so I could plug my desktop HD into my laptop but it doesn't seem to work just says no HD detected even though I feel it running. Do the power requirements differ? or could my desktop hd be broken.

Reason i'm trying this is laptop hd died so thought well I've got a spare desktop HD so I can try that.

Anyone done this or know anything about it? I can't really test desktop HD but i'm wondering if I should persue this or not cause i'm not even sure if this is supposed to work, maybe power requirements differ for desktop HD's? if so what else could I do.

Thanks

Edit: Yes the adapter includes the power

Do not hotlink images.
 
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Begbie said:
Have you also plugged power into it? Sata only carries data.
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Indeed, you'll need to supply additional power to the drive. A USB to IDE kit would do the trick, as it'll come with the requisite transformer, which you can then put an IDE to SATA power adapter on to. The kit I linked to includes both, but I'm not sure if it's available in the UK.
 
Couldn't tell you why its spinning, since its a variable voltage or maybe PWM etc.. motor 5v might cause some action somewhere but definetly won't power the hdd properly for usage. :)
 
many desktop hard drives will still do something when you give 'em 5v, just not fully spin up.
 
Justintime said:
Couldn't tell you why its spinning, since its a variable voltage or maybe PWM etc.. motor 5v might cause some action somewhere but definetly won't power the hdd properly for usage. :)
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how do you guys think I should proceed any cheap solutions other than buying new laptop HD or something expensive?

so hoped cable would work... was only 3 quid :(
 
To be honest, apart from splicing in 12v to the lines from an external psu which i guess can be done (never done it myself, would be the yellow and black but it might cause an issue with the laptop potentially causing damage) theres nothing apart from USB enclosures, which if you can't boot from it or its USB 2.0 (33mb/sec would be painful), it'd be pointless. Laptop hdds can be had for real cheap if you look.
 
There are very inexpensive wall adapters you can buy that have a molex connector at the other end. Shove a SATA - Molex onto that and you're grand.
 
Monkeynut said:
There are very inexpensive wall adapters you can buy that have a molex connector at the other end. Shove a SATA - Molex onto that and you're grand.
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Forgot about those, would work. A bit much when for under a score he could probably get a 250gb laptop hdd or something :D
 
I have a spare 120gb internal drive that you are welcome to, took it out of an old sky box.

Send me a message via trust :)
 
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