I need to get a new external HDD for my laptop and I'm thinking of getting an eSATA drive. My question is this: Can any HDD be turned into an eSATA drive by housing it an enclosure which has an eSATA port or is there something special about SATA drives? I'm not sure whether I should buy an already enclosed SATA or buy the HDD and the enclosure separately (cheaper option). Thanks for your help.

On 05/05/2008 in message <O7GdnX4gPtmzW4PVnZ2dnUVZ_uCdnZ2d@internode> pbl
wrote:

A good external enclosure is the ANTEC MX-1 EC, it's on Amazon UK at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ANTEC-COOLED.../dp/B000PJ4JDK

It does USB2 and eSATA and has a built in fan for cooling, you need to add
your own HD. You also need an eSATA connection on your laptop so make sure
you do (I would think they are rare on laptops).

Whether or not eSATA will work depends on how your computer is set up. If
you want hot plugging you need to have your SATA ports set up in the BIOS
as AHCI. If they are set up as ATA or Normal or Off (depending on the
terminology used in your BIOS) then you won't get hot plugging, although
turning the PC off, plugging the eSATA drive in and then turning the PC on
again should allow you to see the drive.

Changing to AHCI on an already installed system is not trivial, although
it can be done. If you want to do it then post again and people will point
you to the various guides that exist. Don't just change your BIOS settings
whatever you do or you may not be able to boot your PC!

PS - You should set Windows mail to post in plain text to newsgroups.

--
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK

"Jeff Gaines" <whitedragon@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:xn0fptlt93p60c000@msnews.microsoft.com...
I second the recommendation of the ANTEC MX-1 enclosure. I have one on my
desk and it keeps the drive cooler than the ones inside my tower and will
work with SATA drives up to 750Gb. I also found that hot plugging worked on
my computer with the sata ports set to IDE mode. I am using a gigabyte
GA-P35-DS4 motherboard with Vista 64.

"Jeff Gaines" <whitedragon@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:xn0fptlt93p60c000@msnews.microsoft.com...

pbl:
First of all, we're assuming that your laptop supports SATA capability,
right? The laptop presently contains a SATA HDD, does it not? Because if it
doesn't go no further with this...

Anyway, assuming that your system does support SATA capability...

I'm not sure where Jeff is getting his information re achieving
"hot-plugging" ("hot-swapping") capability for SATA HDDs. It is true that
this capability must be supported by the motherboard (together with the HDD
itself) but you would be hard-pressed to find any motherboard or HDD
produced during the past few years having SATA-II capability that does not
support "hot-plugging"/"hot-swapping". It is *not* necessary to set your
BIOS to AHCI mode as it involves SATA HDDs to achieve this capability. As a
matter of fact it could be counter-productive to do so in many instances.

Assuming we're not dealing with a RAID configuration, in general the BIOS
"default" setting for detecting a SATA HDD in the system will work just
fine, e.g., the IDE setting or some similar label (if differs from
motherboard to motherboard). Assuming your system does contain a SATA HDD
and it's functioning just fine you should be OK with the present BIOS
settings.

Understand that an eSATA port basically provides a more secure connection
than a "normal" SATA port. The latter provides "hot-plugging"/"hot-swapping"
capability just as well as an eSATA port as long as the system supports that
capability as described above. Usually a better-shielded cable is used with
an eSATA connection since the SATA HDD will be used as an external device
and the heavier shielding provides add'l security re data transfer. Frankly,
we've never run into any problems re data corruption/data loss even using
non-shielded SATA data cables.

No doubt the Antec external enclosure Jeff recommends will do the job just
fine. It is well, as he suggests, to have an enclosure that provides USB
capability as well. Virtually every SATA enclosure coming on the market has
both types of connectivity. And virtually all of them are equipped with an
eSATA port rather than the "normal" port so that's no longer even a
consideration.

All things considered, it's probably best to purchase the drive & the
enclosure separately. While I'm not sure there's any great savings any more
to do this (at least here in the U.S. where the commercial SATA external
enclosures w/drive have fallen dramatically in price), you can select the
precise SATA HDD you want and should the need arise, find it reasonably easy
to uninstall it from the enclosure and install it in your laptop. Take a
look at newegg for their various offerings. You would probably want one that
accommodates 2 1/2" drives.

There's also another way to go for you to consider. Coincidentally I just
posted the following message in another newsgroup that bears on your
situation...

Another consideration would be to purchase an ExpressCard with an eSATA port
so that you could connect a SATA external HDD to that device. See, for
example, http://www.meritline.com/1x-e-sata2-...xpresscard.htm

This assumes, of course, that your notebook is equipped with an ExpressCard
slot. If it has the older CardBus (PCMCIA) slot then you would need the
latter type of device. They come with both a "normal" SATA port as well as
an eSATA port. Do a Google search on "Cardbus with SATA port" for various
models.

The great advantage of the SATA interface over the USB interface is data
transfer speed. Considerably superior to USB. Also, (at least in theory)
with the ExpressCard device, the external SATA HDD connected to that device
is bootable assuming the drive contains a bootable OS obtained via a
disk-cloning program such as the Acronis or Casper programs. We're still
experimenting with that aspect. But we have never been able to achieve
"bootability" with the CardBus device.
Anna

On 05/05/2008 in message <#gVe7HrrIHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl> Anna wrote:

I guess I must have had the only one in existence :-(

It was SATA 1 from memory and I had to convert to AHCI to get hot
plugging. Good to know it's easier with newer boards / SATA 2.

--
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK

They are not rare. They are just SATA cables and you have to be sure that
you get I to I or L to I as needed.

"Jeff Gaines" <whitedragon@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:xn0fptlt93p60c000@msnews.microsoft.com...

On 05/05/2008 in message
<4CCD1F15-292F-40E4-8404-B9A61AAEBADE@microsoft.com> Colin Barnhorst wrote:

Assuming you are responding to my point about eSATA connections on a
laptop I would certainly be interested to know which laptops have them. My
Lenovo R50e certainly doesn't!

--
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK

For laptops without a eSATA port but with an ExpressCard/34 slot, there are
several adaptors like:
http://www.iogear.com/product/GPS702e3W6/
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16839113007

For laptops with eSATA onboard see for example the ASUS C90S (click on the
specs link below the thumbnails):
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/spec/spec_C90S.asp
Or if you prefer the specs on the ASUS site (I hate the slowness of the ASUS
site some days):
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...&m odelmenu=2

There are some others but all I know of are gaming laptops so far. I have
not tried booting off a hard drive connected to one of these onboard ports
like on the C90S because I don't have a laptop so equipped but it should
work. I know it is more of a problem booting off of a hard drive connected
to an eSATA ExpressCard adaptor, however.

"Jeff Gaines" <whitedragon@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:xn0fptvogh4c6h002@msnews.microsoft.com...

"Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:8196115D-8137-4DB2-A2FD-E5D62D9B53BD@microsoft.com...

Jeff & Colin:
Notebooks equipped with an eSATA port are indeed a rare commodity. To the
best of my knowledge ASUS is the only major player that has released a few
models with an eSATA port. I'm not aware of Acer, Dell, Gateway, Compaq,
Sony, etc. having *any* models with an eSATA port. If they're out there,
they're few & far between, that's for sure. More's the pity, of course.

Some time ago I had occasion to work with one of the ASUS notebooks that
came equipped with an eSATA port (I can't recall the model #) and we were
able to boot from that port with a SATA HDD that had been the recipient of
the cloned contents of the notebook's internal HDD. That was no surprise, of
course, since every eSATA port that we've worked with on various desktop PCs
have proven to be "bootable". (For that matter it really makes *no*
difference whether the port is a "normal" SATA one or an eSATA one). A
bootable external SATA HDD connected to either type of port will boot.
Obviously we're talking about motherboards that support SATA capability.

We have never been able to boot from a CardBus (a/k/a PCMCIA) equipped with
either a SATA or eSATA port. We've concluded that it's just not a bootable
device.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we're still experimenting with various
ExpressCard devices to determine their potential "bootability". Every one
we've come across is equipped with an eSATA port and they're supposed to
provide boot capability. However, our experience has been mixed to date
although we were able to boot from a SATA HDD connected to an Addonics eSATA
ExpressCard.

Colin, if you've had any direct experience with an eSATA ExpressCard I'd
like to hear about it.
Anna

We had this conversation a month or more ago. Remember? I don't have any
new reason to revisit it.

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:%23svdV$vrIHA.672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

On Mon, 5 May 2008 18:32:31 +1000, "pbl" <pblnews@internode.on.net>
wrote:

picture on my hard drive

"Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:E9E07530-63B6-4F16-9C18-7D27381CA8E7@microsoft.com...

Colin:
No, I really don't recall our "conversation a month or more ago". But do I
detect a note of annoyance in your response? If so, may I ask why?
Anna

Anna wrote:
Perhaps because (some people) have limited patience and perseverance (old
school values)? (Usually it's the young-ins who have this limitation
:-).

No annoyance. The thread went on and on and explored all the ins and outs
of booting and installing Windows with BIOS changes, etc. There just isn't
anything new I have to add. Most of the dialog was between you and another
fella and I mostly listened in.

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:%23XcmSoxrIHA.2520@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

"pbl" <pblnews@internode.on.net> wrote in message
news:O7GdnX4gPtmzW4PVnZ2dnUVZ_uCdnZ2d@internode...
I need to get a new external HDD for my laptop and I'm thinking of getting
an eSATA drive. My question is this: Can any HDD be turned into an eSATA
drive by housing it an enclosure which has an eSATA port or is there
something special about SATA drives? I'm not sure whether I should buy an
already enclosed SATA or buy the HDD and the enclosure separately (cheaper
option). Thanks for your help.
---

Thanks very much Jeff, Anna, Robert, Collin & Bill for your replies.

Just for clarification - I have a Dell XPS M1530. It has an internal 200 GB
7200 RPM SATA drive but it does not not have an eSATA. I have an
ExpressCard/54 slot. It will fit a 34 mm ExpressCard but it doesn't feel
secure. There are a few 54mm eSATA II ExpressCards including a Belkin model.
For speed and size I am after a 3.5" drive and using it in my computer would
not be an option.

I need to write/record music in real time via a firewire audio interface and
prefer to get it away from my system drive. At present I have this USB
drive:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digi...sbs_ce_title_4
but unfortunately it is really SLOW and is only useful for backing up.

Thanks for the heads-up on the ANTEC cooled enclosure. If anyone has a
suggestion for a 3.5" SATA drive to go with it I am all ears.

"OldDuke" <none@nobody.net> wrote in message
news:gn4v1491bpdfkma2mq9dji2a7u3uhvta6e@4ax.com...
The person you are responding to didn't. Or did you imagine they did?

On 06/05/2008 in message <O#OmyA1rIHA.3420@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl> pbl wrote:

The hardware groups feel the most reliable one currently is the Samsung
SpinPoint HD501LJ 500GB SATAII. Do not under any circumstances get a HD
that is made in China, they are proving very unreliable.

--
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK

"pbl" <pblnews@internode.on.net> wrote in message
news:O%23OmyA1rIHA.3420@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

pbl:
First of all, I think you are wise to consider an external enclosure to
house a SATA HDD that provides SATA-to-SATA connectivity to your laptop via
the ExpressCard slot. And since your ExpressCard slot is the 54mm variety it
will, as you know, accommodate the 34mm variety of ExpressCards as well.

Virtually all SATA external enclosures on the market today are equipped with
an eSATA port. And most of these external enclosures also are equipped with
a USB interface as well.

The beauty of having SATA-to-SATA connectivity is really twofold...
1. Data transfer will be considerably speedier than the USB interface.
Significantly so since for all practical purposes the system treats the SATA
HDD (even while it's "external" to the system) as an internal HDD.
2. The external SATA HDD is potentially bootable, assuming that (for
example) you cloned the contents of your internal (boot) HDD to the external
SATA HDD through a disk-cloning program, e.g., Acronis True Image,
Symantec's Ghost, or our favorite, Casper 4.

From your description of your objective as to how you'll be using the
external SATA HDD I realize you're not particularly interested in that drive
being potentially bootable, but it is an important element for you to
consider possibly for the future.

At least in theory, an ExpressCard with an eSATA port should serve as a
bootable device. So far our experience with a few of them has been erratic.
In one case (an Addonics card) we could consistently boot with a connected
SATA HDD. In two other cards we could not do so (at least on a consistent
basis). I have to add that I've only worked with the 34mm variety of
ExpressCards in this area and *not* any 54mm card. I would be *most*
interested in your experience with your Dell so if you do go that route I
would be really appreciative of learning of your experience, particularly
the "bootability" aspect. Have you heard anything particular about the
Belkin card you mention?

BTW, for others who might be interested, our experience with the older
CardBus (PCMCIA) cards equipped with a SATA or eSATA port led us to conclude
that these devices did *not* provide boot capability although they were
quite useful in terms of fast data transfer.

Incidentally, unless you're dead-set on using an external SATA HDD as a
storage device and not a bootable device, you may want to consider a SATA
external enclosure that accommodates a 2 1/2" SATA HDD rather than a 3 1/2"
drive. The advantage here is that should the need ever arise where for one
reason or another you wanted to replace your laptop's internal HDD, you
could use the SATA HDD installed in the external enclosure. Again, we're
assuming it would be a bootable device. There might be, however, a slight
decrease in data transfer speed re the external SATA HDD as compared with a
3 1/2" HDD, so if your primary or exclusive interest is using the external
HDD as a storage device, then the 3 1/2" drive would be more appropriate for
your needs.

I really don't have any special recommendations for a SATA external
enclosure. We've worked with a few of them (having both SATA or eSATA ports)
and they've all pretty well done the job. Heretofore our recommendation was
generally to purchase the enclosure and the HDD separately but we note in
the past year or so prices of the "one-piece" commercial units have fallen
so dramatically that you might want to consider purchasing one of those
units. I would add that we prefer an enclosure that has the ON-OFF switch
and accompanying LED on the front of the unit facing the user. We find that
much more convenient, but this is just a personal preference. Anyway, take a
look at the newegg offerings.
Anna

"Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:100FC1E0-E479-4A83-B6AB-C8D2087EF7F9@microsoft.com...

Colin:
Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Anyway, I am interested in your experience (or for that matter with anyone's
direct experience) as it pertains to using an ExpressCard (either the 34mm
or 54mm variety) particularly with reference as to whether a SATA HDD
connected to that device can be bootable.
Anna

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:eojBS43rIHA.3604@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
for a 3.5" drive for the additional speed. But I'm unfortunately having a
battle with Dell at the moment about the M1530 display and because they are
being terribly uncooperative they are processing a refund. This is a huge
diappouintment becuase I love this new laptop except for the crappy grainy
WSVGA display. I expect I will be repurchasing a similar if not the same
laptop when the problem gets sorted but in the meantime I will be going back
to my old WinXP laptop with a PCMCIA port. I know you can purchase PCMCIA to
eSATA adapter but would this work as I recall your first bit of advice to be
about laptop compatibility with SATA drives??

Regarding the Belkin card, I don't know anything special about it. It is a
54 mm card and I haven't found too many ot them. Yes the 34 mm cards will
fit but not snuggly and although you can get a plastic extender for the 34
mm variety but I have not had much success with them.

Thanks again for your help.

pbl.