In comp.sys.mac.misc Chris Osborn <fozztexx@fishbulb.home.fozztexx.com> wrote:
Actually, the missing pin is the manufacturers "cheap" way of keying IDE
cables, drives and adapters instead of spending the money on a proper
keyed sockets and plugs. Just happens that the pin they pull is not in
use on any current IDE devices. Don't recall if it ever was used, but
the practice of removing one pin makes it a pain when you have standard
40-pin cable ends.

Joe Heimann

( before e-mailing, remove "NOSPAM" from address )


Well, I could buy a cheap ribbon cable that has no covered holes, but
instead I chose to cut pin #20 from the adapter, after triple-checking
where was pin #1 in all connectors. The advantage of this method is
that the adapter becomes "keyed", impossible to connect it reversely.
I even inserted the removed pin in the corresponding hole of the same
connector.

Now, I have two questions, about a new laptop HD:
1) Since it's for replacement (I will try Drive Image 2002 to clone
current HD), can this one-time laptop HD operation be done with the
disk not fixed to the chassis of the enclosure which is designed for
3.5 drives?

2) Before making an image in the new disk, what should I do first to
make sure it will boot: FDISK, FORMAT, SYS, all of them ?

thanks for reading

visitor2NOSPAM@terra.com.br wrote:
I'm using one of these:

http://www.techimo.com/articles/i82.html

And it's fine. Dual firewire ports mean i can plug my DV cam into the
back of the enclosure and capture straight to the external drive. Also,
there's no fan so it's almost silent. The heat is conducted away from
the drive by the mesh and aluminium plates. nice!

Squid