EggXpert

First, of all I should state that my technological knowledge is limited.  About a year ago I installed a new hard drive on my Dell laptop, a Hitachi Travelstar 7K100 60 GB 7200 RPM ATA-6 hard drive.  Since then I've switched to a Mac and would like to convert this hard drive to an external one to pull up old documents and pictures.  I can't seem to find any enclosures listed that specify they are for ATA-6 (or maybe I'm not looking in the right spot?).  Any suggestions on a good, cheap, compatible enclosure?

ATA-6 is just another name for Ultra ATA 100, therefore something like this enclosure, should work.

yes, all the laptop hd is 2.5' and just find a external enclosure with IDE interface.

you can choose one of these:

you can also choose an one with usb and firewire

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090092+1053807124+1054107130+1054207135&name=USB+%26+1394 

 

Okay, then now I feel really stupid!  I bought one with an IDE interface and could not figure out how to connect the two....seems I need to try again! Thanks!

Laptop IDE and Desktop IDE are two different connectors. If you purchased one with IDE interface for 3.5" hard disks, it wont work with laptop 2.5" hard disks without a special adapter.

No, ironically I purchased the exact one you linked to SergeiV.

Humm, well that's odd. What was the problem that you were facing with it?

a 44 pin or 40 pin ide hd?

Not sure, I don't have it in front of me right now.  This is the exact drive.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822146046 

1 x ATA-100 - 44 PIN IDC

not know much about these IDE HDDs  oops  

My laptop hdd is a 44 pin and plugs into a 40 pin connector.

(well i just said that because 4 of the pins are not used.)

Dragonfire2008:

My laptop hdd is a 44 pin and plugs into a 40 pin connector.

(well i just said that because 4 of the pins are not used.)

The other 4 pins supply power. 

So you have the drive and the enclosure...were you able to get everything installed and working? 

Never mind!!!  An adapter/tray was in the way.  (The four pins by themselves are not connected.)

NOT TRUE!!!   For example, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145136 (VANTEC NexStar3 NST-260U2-BL)

is specified as an external hard drive enclosure for a 2.5" IDE drive, but the internal IDE connector in this product cannot begin to connect with the ATA-6 (Ultra ATA/100) 2.5" IDE drive I have (Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 [model: HTS726060M9AT00] seen at http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/menuitem.5b9d7243bfa3d65befca8644eac4f0a0/ ).

I have not yet found a drive enclosure that will work with my ATA-6 2.5" drive, it appears the "Cables To Go 35559" may be discontinued.  I will respond here if I find one.