How to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop (netbook). What to do if the computer does not see the external hard drive via USB - all the reasons and solutions Device for connecting the hard drive to the computer

Hello, we continue to figure out how to connect hard drives and other IDE and SATA devices. Today I got my hands on the AGESTAR FUBCP USB controller. As has already become clear, it is designed to connect devices via a USB interface.

This method is perfect for those who often have to work with hard drives and copy information.

I suggest you take a closer look at this cunning device and figure out how it works.

The adapter kit includes:

the usb - sata/ide adapter itself;
12V power supply with molex connector;
cable for power supply;
Warranty card, instructions, driver disk.

In total, the adapter has 3 interfaces: SATA,IDE 40 pin(for connecting IDE drives 3.5″), IDE 44pin(for connecting IDE drives 1.8″/2.5″).

For greater clarity, I suggest looking at the photo below. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Below is a photo of the adapter from the back, where you can see the power button and power connector.

The instructions included in the kit are completely in Russian, so it’s quite easy to understand. The entire process of connecting hard drives can be divided into 2 sections:

HDD connection 2.5″

For such disks, you need to connect the USB adapter to the corresponding connector and connect the black USB wire to the computer. In most cases this will be sufficient.

In rare cases, when the hard drive requires more than 0.5 mA power, you will also need to connect the red additional power wire.

HDD connection 3.5″

With 3.5 inch HDDs things are a little more complicated. The difference is that they do not have enough power via USB. This is why the adapter comes with a separate power supply with a molex connector. So, if there is a need to connect a SATA drive, then we must connect it to the SATA connector of the controller, connect the USB cable and be sure to plug the power cable into the adapter.

For a 3.5″ IDE HDD you need to do the same, but the power cable must be connected directly to the hard drive. It was with this disk that I carried out all the tests.

In general, the diagram for connecting an IDE hard drive to a computer via USB will look like this:

The HDD is detected in the system without installing any drivers. Judging by the instructions, which I read from cover to cover, installing drivers is only necessary if you have Windows 98.)) After a few seconds and a couple of familiar Windows windows, I could use the hard drive as a regular flash drive.

Backup

I can't help but say about the backup system, which is also provided by this adapter. The most observant readers may have noticed the small black button “ backup" on the device body (see photo with captions above). So, clicking on this button allows you to launch a utility for copying files from your computer to a connected hard drive. Of course, before this, the program must be installed from the disk that comes with the kit.

To install, you need to run the “Setup.exe” file from the “PCCLONEEX_LITE_2_01_31_JMICRON/PcCloneEx” folder. The following is a completely standard installation process, which I will not dwell on.

After the program is installed, you need to click on the “backup” button. A window appears asking you to select files for backup.

After checking the files or folders, click on the adapter button again and confirm your action in the pop-up window. When copying is complete, the program will display a corresponding message. Later, when the program is minimized, double click on “backup” starts a backup of previously selected files in the background.

To be honest, the advantage of such a copying system is very doubtful, but it’s still nice that the developers have provided for it.

Yes, by the way, the cost of this USB adapter is about 600 - 700 rubles. Only you, dear readers, can judge whether this is a lot or a little, but I don’t even question the usefulness and convenience of this device.

That's all for me, rate it, share with friends, write in the comments. ?

Hard drives with a sata interface are still the most capacious storage devices on the market. They are ideal for backing up information, as well as for transferring large amounts of data when the speed of the Internet connection or the capacity of devices with Flash memory is not enough.
However, stationary hard drives installed inside the computer case are designed for the sata interface and are connected directly to the motherboard. This method is fraught with several difficulties; moreover, it is impossible on laptops, while connecting a sata hdd via usb is no problem to any modern PC.

Let's talk a little about computer terminology in Russian. Sata is the name of the most common interface for hard drive controllers (hard drives, hdd). Previously, the ata (ide) standard was also used, but is now considered obsolete. A controller is a device that controls the drive. Usually it is located directly on the computer’s motherboard; therefore, to physically access it, you need to disassemble the PC case. But in many cases this is redundant, and laptops do not have standard means for connecting additional hard drives.

However, these difficulties can be solved by connecting the HDD via a USB port (English: universal serial bus - that is, “universal serial bus”), which is equipped with any modern PC. How to connect sata hdd via usb? This can be done using special external sata controllers (adapters) that convert sata signals to usb.

Since you can connect a hdd via USB to any computer, the method is universal. In particular, it allows:

1. Use the hard drive on a laptop, net-top or all-in-one PC

Many modern users prefer various types of portable or compact computers, such as laptops, to traditional full-size system units (so-called “desktops”). Other popular form factors are mono-blocks (the system unit and monitor are combined into one device) and net-tops (small system blocks the size of a thick book). The advantages of these types of PCs are obvious: they are easy to transport, they make less noise, take up little space, and so on. But their compactness completely excludes the installation of new devices inside the case. For owners of such computers, an external USB controller can be useful for copying large amounts of information and creating backups, since connecting a sata hdd via usb is the only way to use a sata disk in such a system.

2. Connect the drive without disassembling the desktop computer case

With a USB controller, you don't have to disassemble your computer case to install the hard drive. This will save you from unnecessary operations and simplify the process of copying information. Also, an external controller is indispensable in cases where it is not possible to remove the casing: the necessary tools are missing, the system unit is under warranty, or it is a sealed computer in the organization, which is prohibited from opening.

3. Connect an old hard drive with an outdated ata (ide) interface to a modern computer whose motherboard does not have a controller for this interface

The presence of an ata (ide) controller on modern motherboards is rare. But what if you need to copy some information from an old hard drive, for example, ten years ago? There are ATA controllers that are installed inside the case, but we recommend using a USB adapter for these purposes, since connecting an HDD via USB to copy information from an old device is easier and more convenient than installing an additional component on the motherboard.

Types of adapters that allow you to connect hdd via usb

There are a large number of manufacturers producing external controllers for drives, but the variety of models can be divided into two types:

1. External box
External boxes are a special case into which a sata hard drive is placed. Such devices are largely designed for constant use. For example, when you need to increase the amount of free information on a net-top. External boxes allow you to secure the hard drive with bolts for reliability and close it with a protective cover. Accordingly, frequent replacement of the drive is not provided. An example of such a form factor is the DEXP BS-U35YA U3 model.

2.Adapter
This design does not provide for fixing the drive in the housing. Adapters are used for short-term use: for example, when you need to connect a hard drive to a laptop, copy the necessary information and disconnect it. This form factor is more compact, which is convenient for transportation. It is better suited for frequent changes of connected drives (for example, in computer services or technical support departments). Also, unlike external boxes, which are designed for one type of interface, adapters can provide the ability to connect hard drives of different standards: 2.5”, 3.5” sata and ide (for example, the AGESTAR FUBCP model).

How to properly connect sata hdd via usb adapter

Connect the hard drive to the adapter.
Connect the power supply to the drive.
Connect the power supply to a 220 V network.
Connect the adapter to the PC's USB port. The operating system must detect the new device and provide access to the drive partitions.

Disconnection procedure

Use the “safely disconnect devices” feature in your operating system to stop the drive.
Disconnect the adapter from the PC.
Disconnect the power supply from the 220 V network.
Disconnect the hard drive from the adapter.

The correct procedure for connecting and disconnecting ensures the safety of the drive and the information on it.

Perhaps you have an unwanted hard drive, removed from an old computer or laptop, that's sitting around collecting dust. If so, it will cost very little to turn it into a removable, portable USB 2.0 or 3.0 drive. Find out how.

An old drive from a laptop or desktop computer is not very suitable for connecting to new equipment - of course, it does not reach the speed and capacity of the new drives that are connected to the computer. However, you can insert the old disk into a special case (adapter) and turn it into a portable USB drive.

A special adapter is not just a piece of plastic - it includes a set of corresponding inputs and is an adapter for USB. Thanks to it, the hard drive, which is designed to be connected to the motherboard via the appropriate connectors (IDE or SATA), can be connected to a USB port, that is, make it portable.

The prices for adapters are quite reasonable, on average about 1000 rubles. Also, the cost depends on the USB interface - an adapter with USB 2.0 will be cheaper for USB 3.0 (the difference is in data transfer speed).

Types of hard drives by interface

The adapter itself is not universal and you need to select the appropriate model for a specific drive. You should pay attention to the size of the drive (2.5″ or 3.5″), as well as the cable and power cable (ATA/IDE lub SATA).

Wheels 2.5″ much thinner and are mainly equipped with laptops. They can be connected via an ATA/IDE cable or a SATA cable.

Wheels 3.5″ slightly thicker and are usually installed in a desktop computer. Also divided into ATA/IDE and SATA.

Sometimes certain combinations may occur - a new connector can be connected via controller to the "old" motherboard (SATA/IDE). Determining the hard drive is a key point, because you need to select the appropriate pocket (adapter) for the given size and interface of the drive.

How to choose the right adapter

When choosing an adapter, you should study the properties and find the right model that matches the method of connecting the hard drive and its connector. Below is an example of randomly selected USB adapters for various types of hard drives.

2.5″ SATA: NATEC Rhino 3.0;
2.5″ IDE: Logilink 2.5;
3.5″ SATA: ITEC MySafe Advance 3.5;
3.5″ IDE/ATA: PRO-TECH 3.5;
3.5″ IDE / SATA: Tracer 731.

Installing a hard drive into the adapter

Installing a hard drive into the adapter is not difficult. Depending on the model, it may vary slightly and usually takes no more than a minute. Place the drive into the adapter housing, and then connect the wires to the appropriate connectors.

Connection features

Depending on the adapter model, interface and type of hard drive, there may be one or two USB cables on the outside. A USB cable is used to connect to a computer port, and a second one may be required for additional power.

When connected via a USB cable, the hard drive should be immediately detected by the system and available for data transfer.

When the first computers appeared, all programs, games and other files took up virtually no disk space. Now things are completely different, and it is often necessary to install additional storage media. Therefore, every user should know how to connect a second hard drive to a computer. In fact, this is not difficult to do, you just need to follow simple instructions.

First, the device must be purchased in a store. Please note that the hard drive has several connection interfaces. After purchasing the purchase, you can begin installing the device.

Preparing for installation

How many hard drives are already connected to the motherboard? Most often, a computer has only one hard drive, so installing a second drive is not difficult. In most cases, the HDD is located directly under the DVD-ROM, so finding it will not be difficult;
Is there additional space to install a second hard drive? If it is not possible to install a second or third disk, then you will have to purchase a USB drive;
What type of cable is used to connect the hard drive to the computer? If the purchased device does not have the same interface as on a PC, it will be difficult to install it.

Please note that you will need a 3.5-inch hard drive. There is no need to buy small disks designed for laptops.

Physical disk connection

If the system unit has not yet been disassembled, disassemble it. Now it is recommended to get rid of static electricity. This is done by any means known to you. If you wish, you can purchase a special grounding bracelet in the store.

After some minor manipulations, the hard drive will be secured in the case; now all that remains is to connect the hard drive. Before plugging in the power cable and cable, it should be noted that the procedure is slightly different for the IDE and SATA interfaces.

IDE interface

When connecting a drive with an IDE interface, it is recommended to pay attention to such a nuance as setting the operating mode:

Master (main).
Slave (subordinate).

If you are installing an additional hard drive, then you must enable Slave mode. To do this, you need to use a jumper (jumper), which is installed in the second place. The first row includes Master mode. It is important to note that on modern computers, the jumper can be completely removed. The system will automatically determine which hard master is.

At the next step, you need to connect the second or third hard drive to the mother. To do this, the IDE interface is connected to a cable (wide, thin wire). The second end of the cable is connected to the IDE 1 Secondary socket (the main drive is connected to the zero socket).

The final connection step is power supply. To do this, a white chip with four wires is connected to the corresponding connector. The wires come directly from the power supply (a box with wires and a fan).

SATA interface

Unlike IDE, a SATA drive has two L-shaped connectors. One is for the power connection, and the second is for the data cable. It should be noted that such a hard drive does not have a jumper.

The data cable is connected to a narrow connector. The other end is connected to a special connector. Most often, there are 4 such ports on the motherboard, but there are exceptions and there are only 2 ports. One of the slots may be occupied by a DVD drive.

There are cases when a drive with a SATA interface was purchased, but no such connectors were found on the motherboard. In this case, it is recommended to additionally purchase a SATA controller that is installed in a PCI slot.

The next step is to connect the power. An L-shaped wide cable is connected to the corresponding connector. If the drive has an additional power connector (IDE interface), it is enough to use one of the connectors. This completes the physical connection of the hard drive.

BIOS setup

When all manipulations with the hard drive are completed, you should turn on the computer and then enter the BIOS. It is important to note that launching the BIOS on each computer is carried out differently. To do this you need to use the key:

Delete;

After entering the BIOS, you need to proceed to configuration settings. It is important to assign booting from the drive on which the operating system is installed. If the priority is set incorrectly, the system simply will not boot.

If one of the disks does not appear in the BIOS, it means that the hard drive was connected incorrectly or the cable was damaged. It is recommended to inspect all wires and reconnect (don't forget to turn off the computer).

Once the BIOS setup is completed, you can boot into the operating system. After this, all that remains is to assign a letter to the drive.

Final stage

Since connecting the hard drive to the computer is not enough, you need to make the final setup directly from Windows. On some computers, this procedure is carried out automatically. To check this, you should open “My Computer”, and then see if a new disk has appeared.

If nothing happens, you need to launch the control panel. Then select “Administration”. Once a new window opens, you will need to select “Computer Management”. In the left column, you need to find the “Disk Management” tab (on some computers “Disk Manager”).

At the bottom of the window, select disk 1 (if more than 2 hard drives are connected, select the disk with the highest number). This will be the new hard drive;
You must assign a letter to the logical volume. To do this, right-click on the disk and then select “Assign letter”;
As soon as the disk is assigned a new letter, it must be formatted. The procedure can take a long time, it all depends on the size of the hard drive. When formatting, it is important to select the NTFS file system.

When the formatting process is complete, a new disk will appear in the My Computer root directory. If for some reason you cannot connect the HDD using the built-in manager, it is recommended to use third-party programs.

An excellent tool for working with hard drives is Partition Manager. In addition, such a utility allows you to split the disk into several logical volumes.

Conclusion

Connecting a hard drive takes no more than 15 minutes. If you follow the instructions, there shouldn't be any difficulties. Modern computers do not require additional BIOS settings, of course, if the disks are not installed in a completely new computer. Also, do not forget that how big the connected hard drive can be depends on the operating system.