Solved my new-old HDD doesn't work

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

This relates to anybody been buying new-old HDDs?

I attached the USB-SATA adapter to the drive. I plugged it in and my laptop made the 'drive detected' sound. But File Explorer didn't open. Trying to get any instance of File Explorer to see it doesn't work. The indicator light on the adapter is lit, but I don't feel any vibration from the drive. CrystalDiskInfo doesn't see it.

it sat too long and the platter won't move?
there are 4 pins on the drive that aren't engaged by my adapter (shown in the left below). Does this drive oddly need separate power?

[edit:] I unplugged and replugged the adapter from the drive several times, to maybe scratch better contact. What I observe:

the light comes on immediately
the 'drive detected' sound is made by the laptop and the light flashes for a second
after another second or so, I feel very a slight vibration from the drive if I hold it in a certain way. So it is spinning.
after many seconds, the vibration stops but the light stays on steady
File Explorer never sees the drive at any point

Fabler2 · Dec 16, 2022

This is what a sata to usb cable should look like,

Though the 4 pins look odd.

Berton · Dec 16, 2022

I wouldn't worry about those pins, my USB cases are the same. The sound of the USB being plugged in could just be from the interface in the case the drive plugs into, my drive docks do the same, I don't eject the drive but the dock it is in, accomplishes the same thing.

Fabler2 · Dec 16, 2022

You might need to initialize it in disk management.

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

Fabler2 said:
This is what a sata to usb cable should look like,

View attachment 47745
Though the 4 pins look odd.

Thanks, that does match my adapter.

Bree · Dec 16, 2022

Bob1212 said:
This relates to anybody been buying new-old HDDs?

I attached the USB-SATA adapter to the drive. I plugged it in and my laptop made the 'drive detected' sound. But File Explorer didn't open. Trying to get any instance of File Explorer to see it doesn't work. The indicator light on the adapter is lit, but I don't feel any vibration from the drive. CrystalDiskInfo doesn't see it....

the light comes on immediately

the 'drive detected' sound is made by the laptop and the light flashes for a second

after another second or so, I feel very a slight vibration from the drive if I hold it in a certain way. So it is spinning.

after many seconds, the vibration stops but the light stays on steady

File Explorer never sees the drive at any point

File explorer would not be expected to see a drive that has not been initialised and formatted. To do that you'd first need to open Disk Management.

Both Disk Management and CrystalDisk Info should see the drive whether it's initialised or not. If they don't try another SATA cable, or an external USB enclosure. A 2.5" drive does not require external power, only a 3.5" drive would.

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

Berton said:
I wouldn't worry about those pins, my USB cases are the same. The sound of the USB being plugged in could just be from the interface in the case the drive plugs into, my drive docks do the same, I don't eject the drive but the dock it is in, accomplishes the same thing.

Thanks, you led me to see if the HDD is ejectable. It does show in the list as "Eject Best USB Device" [odd name]; then when I eject it it says it "removed the SCSI (UAS)" device, so it detects that much.

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

Fabler2 said:
You might need to initialize it in disk management.

Thanks, but Disk Management doesn't see it.

WAI · Dec 16, 2022

Indeed. I have two of these but as mentioned only laptop 2.5 work as the power is held through USB but only 3.5 desktop need external power but if you had a splitter of two USB to one then the HDD could power

Bree · Dec 16, 2022

Bob1212 said:
It does show in the list as "Eject Best USB Device" [odd name]

The name is that of the SATA to USB adapter, not the drive that's attached to it. My external USB enclosure shows the same thing....

Berton · Dec 16, 2022

As mentioned the 3.5" drives need more, 5VDC plus 12VDC. The older 2.5" PATA/IDE drives were critical on whether more power was needed, usually had a Y-cable for added power from a second USB drive. maybe the difference between needing more than 1Amp and needing less. USB 3 does provide more in its socket on the computer but always a possibility a self-powered USB 3 hub will help.

WAI · Dec 16, 2022

Bree said:
The name is that of the SATA to USB adapter, not the drive that's attached to it. My external USB enclosure shows the same thing....

View attachment 47747 View attachment 47748

That's bc the USB to Sata cable is it's own device ss windows is not able to read or say eject the drives bc those adapters aren't designed to do that but it's completely fine to do so meaning you can eject the HDD off the adapter while plugged in

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

Bree said:
File explorer would not be expected to see a drive that has not been initialised and formatted. To do that you'd first need to open Disk Management.

Both Disk Management and CrystalDisk Info should see the drive whether it's initialised or not. If they don't try another SATA cable, or an external USB enclosure. A 2.5" drive does not require external power, only a 3.5" drive would.

Thanks, but neither sees the drive. Now being Christmas, it might take two weeks to get another adapter or enclosure. This new-old drive took eight days to travel <100 miles via shipped-by-Amazon to me.

You seem to be saying that it's not likely the drive? Or just to try cheaper replacements first.

When I go to eject it, Windows identifies the new-old HDD as "Best USB Device"; then after ejected as "SCSI (UAS)".

I might pull the HDD from my dead laptop to try.

Bree · Dec 16, 2022

Bob1212 said:
I might pull the HDD from my dead laptop to try.

That would be a good test to verify that the SATA/USB cable is working.

Bob1212 said:
You seem to be saying that it's not likely the drive?

No, I'm saying that you need to be sure that it's not the cable that's faulty. If you can rule out the cable as the problem then it's more likely to be the drive that's not working.

Bob1212 · Dec 16, 2022

WAI said:
That's bc the USB to Sata cable is it's own device ss windows is not able to read or say eject the drives bc those adapters aren't designed to do that but it's completely fine to do so meaning you can eject the HDD off the adapter while plugged in

Is it bad to detach the HDD from the adapter while the adapter is plugged into USB-C? I'd read somewhere to unplug from USB-C first. The plugs on the Dell laptop are really really tight, so I'd instead rather pull the drive alone if that's allowable (for these experiments).

WAI · Dec 16, 2022

Yes it's fine as long as windows is done copying files. I've never had bad experience, those just act like USB sticks

glasskuter · Dec 16, 2022

Bob1212 said:
Does this drive oddly need separate power

Any 3.5 inch hard drive requires separate power. Usually a 2.5 inch drive does not. Always use powered adapters.

WAI · Dec 16, 2022

glasskuter said:
Any 3.5 inch hard drive requires separate power. Usually a 2.5 inch drive does not. Always use powered adapters.

wouldn't a y-spliter usb work for 3.5? I thought it would but not completely sure

glasskuter · Dec 16, 2022

WAI said:
wouldn't a y-spliter usb work for 3.5

When using a USB-sata adapter with a 3.5 drive the usb port supplies power to the drive is insufficient to power a large drive. If you are talking about opening your case and Y-splitting power from a ATA 15-pin power supply connector, then yes it will work but you would also have to connect the drive to the motherboard using a sata cable.

Even though a powered usb adapter connects to a usb port, it does not pull power from the usb port but from an AC power adapter.
In none of these posts have I seen the suggestion of using a hard drive docking station which is what I use. You might want to look into that solution since it can be used with any sata drive no matter the size.